David Ragan will return to Front Row Motorsports to drive the #38 Ford Fusion in 2017, the team announced Friday.
Ragan, who drove the team’s #34 car from 2012 to 2015, spent the 2016 season in the #23 car with BK Racing. The Unadilla, Georgia native left BKR last week.
“We’re really excited to have David back,” team owner Bob Jenkins stated. “He’s a big part of Front Row’s history, bringing us our first win. He’s got a lot of experience in his career – things that you can’t teach – that will be big assets to us and our partners.”
“It’s a nice homecoming, coming back to Front Row Motorsports,” Ragan said. “I’ve always had a great deal of respect for Bob Jenkins, how he put together his team and grew it the right way over the years. We’ve celebrated some pretty big highlights together, and now we need to go make more.”
Ragan’s arrival fills the gap left by Chris Buescher when he left the team for JTG Daugherty Racing’s new #37 car for 2017. With Ragan moving to the #38, Landon Cassill will drive the #34. Cassill drove the #38 in 2016.
Ragan recorded FRM’s first win at the 2013 Aaron’s 499, with his teammate David Gilliland finishing 2nd. In 2015, he drove for the team at the Daytona 500 before leaving for Toyota’s Joe Gibbs Racing and Michael Waltrip Racing, driving the #18 and #55 in substitute roles for the injured Kyle Busch and Brian Vickers, respectively. He joined BK Racing and the #23 car in 2016, where his best finish was 16th at the Daytona July race.
Prior to joining FRM in 2012, Ragan drove Roush Fenway Racing’s #6 car. In 2011, he won his first career premier (then Sprint Cup) series race at Daytona’s Coke Zero 400. FRM, a technical ally of RFR, will continue racing with Roush engines and equipment in 2017.
Cassill started competing in NASCAR’s top series in 2010, driving for Circle Sport, BK and Hillman Racing. His best career finish is 4th place at Talladega with Hillman in 2014. The former Hendrick Motorsports development driver joined FRM in 2016.
The Cesar Rapids, Iowa native expressed excitement at Ragan becoming his teammate. “I’m really looking forward to working with David. I’ve raced alongside him for years and respect him as a competitor. He has a ton of experience with different teams and manufacturers that will make him a great teammate.”
Featured image courtesy of NASCAR.com
