Front Row Motorsports
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| Owner(s) Name | Bob Jennkins, Brad Jenkins, Jeff Stec |
| Racing Series | NEXTEL Cup |
| Number of Championships | 0 |
| Car Number(s) | #34, #61 |
| Driver(s) | Kevin Lepage, Chad Chaffin |
| Primary Sponsor(s) | Oak Gloves |
| Shop Location | Denver, North Carolina |
| Homepage | Front Row Motorsports |
Front Row Motorsports is a relatively new team to the NASCAR Nextel Cup circuit. It is owned by restaurant entrepreneuer Bob Jenkins and fields the #34 and #61 Oak Gloves entries driven by Kevin Lepage and Chad Chaffin. The team began running part-time in 2004 as Means-Jenkins Motorsports under a partnership with Jimmy Means. Jenkins became the full team owner in 2005.
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[edit] Car #34 history
The 34 car made its debut on 2004 at Atlanta Motor Speedway with Todd Bodine driving the car as the #98 Lucas Oil Chevy. At the time, the team was owned by Chris Edwards and was known as Mach 1 Racing. He finished 41st after dropping out within sixteen laps. Bodine drove in eight races with the team that year, as well as his brother Geoffrey, Larry Gunselman, Randy LaJoie, Chad Chaffin, and Derrike Cope filling out the driving duties that year, driving a total of 26 races. The team was schedule to go full-time with LaJoie in 2005, but due to sponsorship limitations and lackluster performance by LaJoie, the team only ran a limited schedule. Although it attempted many races, two drivers (Ted Christopher and P.J. Jones) qualified for a race with the team that year, each with a start apiece.
In the fall of 2005, their website announced that the team was up for sale, but that was quickly rescinded. Later that year, Front Row Motorsports moved into their shop to operate the #34 in addition to their current team. In January 2006, it was announced the team's remaining equipment will be auctioned off, and the combined team began running at the 2006 Daytona 500. Randy LaJoie attempted the first two races, under #64, but was replaced by Chad Chaffin for the next eight races. Chaffin would then go to the newly acquired #61 team after Kevin Lepage's departure for BAM Racing and Chad Blount would take over the #34 car for two races, however he was unable to get into the field and was released. Carl Long, Greg Sacks, Mike Skinner would attempt the next three races with Skinner making the 3M Performance 400 and finishing 37th on the lead lap. Johnny Miller returned to FRM to run the road course at Infineon. Kevin Lepage will drive the car for the rest of the 2006 season.
[edit] Car #61 History
The team was formed in 2005 by Hermie Sadler when his team, SCORE Motorsports, sold out. Sponsor PEAK Fitness saw a good opportunity and bought the team. The team agreed to keep Sadler with engine support from Robert Yates Racing. With additional support from ACE & TJ Show and East Tennessee Trailers, the team decided to attempt all 36 races. However, the team definitely struggled early. The team missed three out of the first four races, with the one start at Las Vegas was 33rd after a crash. The team rebounded, making 7 of the next 9 races, but after Dover, Sadler and Stec separated. The team's best run to that point was with a 29th at Texas and Talladega.
Stec went then to Mike Garvey, and with sponsorship from Jani-King, the team made its first race at Pocono. There Garvey led the team's first ever lap and finished on the lead lap with a 25th place finish. It was the best run for Garvey in six races. Nonetheless, Garvey finished all six races. After Garvey did not qualify at New Hampshire, Stec parted ways with Garvey.
While Garvey was driving the #66 with limited expierence, Jimmy Spencer took the reigns at Michigan.
Stec then convinced Kevin Lepage to join the #66 team. This combination proved effective. LePage made all but one of his attempts. This included at 6th place start at Kansas, 13th at Atlanta and 17th at Charlotte. Finishwise, LePage set the team best finish of 21st at Charlotte and finished all but one race. All this led to LePage getting the full time ride in 2006.
On a side note, Hermie Sadler returned to the team for a one-race deal at Martinsville in the fall. He finished 32nd in the Jerry Kilgore Ford. LePage would have been the driver, but Sadler brought needed sponsorship.
In 2006, the team switched to the #61, and received addition sponsors from AMP Energy Drink and Roadloans. The team missed just two races, and were hoping to expand to a second car with Carl Long driving, but that plan fell through. The team was inside the top 35, but then barely fell out once the new top 35 were locked in, leading the team to rough times. In April 2006, it was announced the team was sold to Front Row, and would continue to run full-time in 2006 with Lepage driving. However, just weeks after this merge was announced, Lepage left Front Row Motorsports, heading to BAM Racing and the #49 Dodge Charger. Chad Chaffin took over the #61 car after Lepage's departure. Brian Simo drove the #61 car for the road course at Infineon, and Boris Said at Watkins Glen International.
[edit] Car #92 history
FRM fielded the #92 Chevy for multiple drivers in 2005. It debuted at the 2005 Daytona 500 with Stanton Barrett driving, but it did not qualify. After missing the next three races, the team finally got into a race at the Food City 500 at Bristol Motor Speedway, where Barrett finished 41st after suffering oil pressure problems. After the spring Dover race, Tony Raines drove the car at the Chevy American Revolution 400 at Richmond International Raceway, finishing 35th. Then Hermie Sadler and Eric McClure began sharing the ride, although McClure has yet to qualify for a race in the car. Johnny Miller ran the car at Watkins Glen, finishing 29th. Another driver, Chad Chaffin, has also taken over driving duties, failing to qualify in his initial attempt at Martinsville Speedway, and then qualifying 43rd the next week at Atlanta Motor Speedway before surrendering the car to Bobby Hamilton Jr.. Late in the year, the team formed an equipment-sharing partnership with Mach 1 Racing, and that eventually turned into the team moving into Mach 1's shop and hiring their old crew.
Chad Chaffin began the 2006 season with the #92 team, however after two races he was moved to the #34 team. Chad Blount would then take over the car until Talladega where FRM decided the team shut down the #92 operation. The team just made one of the eight races it attempted and cited lack of performance as a reason for the team's shut down. It returned briefly at Watkins Glen with Johnny Miller driving.
