Front Row Motorsports shakes up competition department

Front Row Motorsports has announced several changes to its competition department, including a new crew chief for Noah Gragson and the No. 4 team.

Grant Hutchens will take the reins of Gragon’s team beginning this season. Hutchens most recently worked at Team Penske in several engineering roles and as the 2025 test team crew chief. His NASCAR career has also included stops at Evernham Motorsports and Richard Childress Racing.

Hutchens assumes the role as Drew Blickensderfer moves into the competition director position. Blickensderfer will work alongside Seth Barbour, the technical director.

Additionally, Front Row announced that Jonathan DeHart has joined the organization as the aerodynamics manager. DeHart previously held roles at GM Racing as the IndyCar aero car chief and at Hendrick Motorsports as body production manager.

“We are very fortunate, and I am extremely excited, to add experienced, talented people like Grant and Jonathan to leadership roles in the organization,” said team owner Bob Jenkins. “With the inclusion of our Truck Series teams, we operate five full-time teams and I’m equally as excited to have Drew turn his attention to providing direction and guidance to our crew chiefs and competition group as a whole. Having Drew in this new role for us and Seth being able to focus on the technical aspects within our team, it puts us in a better position to execute on the track and achieve our goals in 2026.”

Front Row Motorsports fields three Ford Mustang Cup Series entries for Gragson, Todd Gilliland (No. 34) and Zane Smith (No. 38). Layne Riggs (No. 34) and Chandler Smith (No. 38) drive the organization’s Craftsman Truck Series entries.