With a continued increase in performance and commercial success, Front Row Motorsports has exercised its option on drivers Michael McDowell and Todd Gilliand for the 2024 NASCAR Cup Series season.

Both drivers will compete in all NASCAR Cup Series events.

McDowell, a Glendale native and 2021 Daytona 500 champion, continues to be the leader at Front Row. Since joining the team in 2018, McDowell has hit the prime of his NASCAR Cup Series career. He has collected 29 top-10 and seven top-five finishes for the team. This season, McDowell is currently 17th in the championship standings and battling for the team’s second playoff appearance.

McDowell has been instrumental in developing and strengthening partnerships with Love’s Travel Stops, Fr8Auctions.com, Chicago Pneumatic, Horizon Hobby and others to help strengthen the No. 34 Ford Mustang team.

“Both Michael and Todd are like family to me,” Bob Jenkins, Front Row Motorsports owner, shared in a statement. “They have been determined to make the team better each season and they just keep fighting to do that. I’m proud of both and now we will be focused on the remainder of 2023 and prepare for 2024 to be even better.”

McDowell’s racing life got started in north Glendale as a kid.

“Friday and Saturday nights during the summer, practicing and racing at PKRA (Phoenix Kart Racing Association),” he told the Glendale Independent of the track located at 22500 43rd Ave. E, when asked about his favorite memories growing up in Glendale. “It was a fun time in life, racing with my family and our friends. It was a great community out there and it was a special time.”

He calls ISM Raceway, 7602 Jimmie Johnson Drive, Avondale, his home track.

McDowell is in his sixth season with Front Row, having joined the team prior to the 2018 season. In his 358th career start, McDowell scored his first Cup Series win in the 2021 season-opening Daytona 500.

The Front Row NASCAR Cup Series program will continue their season at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Road Course this weekend. The NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series returns to action at the Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park this Friday.