Crew chiefs Blickensderfer, Kelley join Front Row Motorsports

Front Row Motorsports has finalized its crew chief lineup for its three Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series teams.

Drew Blickensderfer moves over from Richard Petty Motorsports where he most recently worked with Darrell Wallace Jr. He will now work with the No. 34 team of Michael McDowell in McDowell’s second season at FRM.

Mike Kelley has left Roush Fenway Racing (which has an alliance with FRM) to lead Matt Tifft and the No. 36 team. Tifft will be competing for Rookie of the Year honors as he moves into the Cup Series. A two-time Xfinity Series champion crew chief, last year Kelley guided Roush Fenway’s No. 60 team. However, he does 36 races as a Cup Series crew chief on his resume, working with Ricky Stenhouse Jr. for 35 events in 2014 and one race in 2016.

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Seth Barbour will continue to lead the No. 38 team of David Ragan.

FRM also announced that Donnie Wingo will continue to serve as competition director while Derrick Finley, who had served as McDowell’s crew chief last year, will become technical director.

A crew chief for Wallace at RPM has not yet been announced.

“Drew Blickensderfer has been a great leader at Richard Petty Motorsports over the past six seasons, including leading Bubba Wallace in his history-making rookie season,” RPM said in a statement. “We wish him the best in his future endeavors. We will announce a new crew chief at the appropriate time. Director of Competition, Philippe Lopez, will continue to lead the competition business as we prepare for the 2019 season.”