Matt DiBenedetto, Corey LaJoie top Front Row Motorsports’ list of targets for 2020
By Jordan Bianchi for
The Athletic - Sep 2, 2019
Just a few weeks ago, Front Row Motorsports anticipated its current driver lineup of Michael McDowell, David Ragan and Matt Tifft would return intact for the 2020 NASCAR Cup Series season, providing continuity for the organization as it attempts to build itself into a contender.
Those plans were altered on Aug. 14 when Ragan unexpectedly announced he would no longer compete in every Cup race in 2020, taking a step back from a full-time schedule to spend more time with his family. That decision, which Ragan disclosed to FRM a week before he made it public, put into motion a process for FRM to determine who will supplant Ragan as the driver of its No. 38 Ford.
FRM has wasted little time, already speaking to representatives for several drivers, general manager Jerry Freeze told
The Athletic. Those include representatives for Matt DiBenedetto and Corey LaJoie, two drivers whose names have been bandied about publicly.
DiBenedetto’s contract was not renewed by Leavine Family Racing, making him a free agent at the conclusion of the 2019 season. The 28-year-old has earned widespread praise for delivering LFR its best-ever results this season, including a runner-up finish at Bristol Motor Speedway two weeks ago and four other finishes inside the top 10.
But despite elevating the single-car team performance to heights it had not experienced previously, LFR opted to make way for star prospect Christopher Bell in its No. 95 car via an alliance with Joe Gibbs Racing and Toyota, a move first reported by
The Athletic and expected to be finalized in the coming weeks.
The repeated setbacks DiBenedetto has encountered throughout his star-crossed career has transformed him into a fan favorite. And with FRM having an unexpected opening, this pairing of driver and team could realistically materialize and benefit both parties.
Freeze is among the many who recognize DiBenedetto’s talent, and believes DiBenedetto could elevate the Bob Jenkins-owned team. Front Row had discussions with DiBenedetto last year as it was adding a third car, a seat eventually occupied by Tifft.
“It is such a puzzle to put together, and I don’t know that people really appreciate that,” Freeze said. “They just see, Matt DiBenedetto setting the world on fire and he’s looking for a job, just hire him. Yeah, that might be.
“I know he’s weighing out all of his opportunities, and he’s high on our list, too. It just seems like a natural fit, and I won’t say that it won’t happen, but I won’t say that it will happen either. It’s just all those little dominoes have to line up.”
For his next opportunity, DiBenedetto is seeking a team that can provide him with equipment good enough to contend. FRM has two wins in 973 combined starts. It earned its most recent checkered flag when Chris Buescher won the weather-shortened 2016 summer race at Pocono Raceway, which effectively clinched FRM its only playoff berth. (Ragan gave FRM its second win at Talladega Superspeedway in 2013.)
“As far as criteria, I have to win at this point,” DiBenedetto said. “I know I can win and so that would be my only criteria. I feel like at this point, I’ve got to continue climbing the ladder, however that is, and winning is priority.”
FRM has no timetable on when it will select Ragan’s replacement, while McDowell and Tifft are set to return, Freeze said. McDowell is the highest ranked among FRM teammates in the Cup standings, sitting 28th overall. Ragan is 30th, and the rookie Tifft is 31st.
Whoever is selected to replace Ragan will have to fill a large role that goes beyond on-track performance.
FRM regards Ragan, 33, as a linchpin. Freeze cites his ability behind the wheel and willingness to help court potential sponsors as a big reason why FRM was able to grow from an organization with little outside funding upon his arrival in 2012 to one that now touts several mainstay sponsors.
“We’ll miss David without a doubt,” Freeze said. “He brought us our first win. He is an absolute threat to win every time you go to Daytona and Talladega, which is big for us. Then there’s a whole host of other tracks that he’s performed really well at for us over the years. So we’re going to miss this talent. We’re going to miss him as an ambassador with our partners.
“So we’ll miss him first and foremost, but it is an opportunity to get somebody else in the stable that maybe has some relationships to bring along and can help. We’re kind of weighing all that out right now, and hopefully talent too and that’s what it’s all about. Trying to marry up the guy with the most talent and maybe has a little help to come along in the form of sponsorship that helps offset some of those expenses we’ve got.”
The 27-year-old LaJoie is another name mentioned as a potential replacement. (NBC Sports first reported the possibility.)
LaJoie is in his first season with GoFas Racing, having moved into the ride when DiBenedetto vacated it to pursue opportunities that could better provide him with competitive equipment. He is under a one-year contract with the single-car team.
On the track, LaJoie has impressed by recording a better average finish (25.4) and more points per race (11.6) than what DiBenedetto (27.0 average finish, 10.2 points per race) accumulated with GoFas last season. And off the track LaJoie has showcased his personality on a weekly podcast where he often riffs unfiltered on variety of topics.
“(LaJoie’s) one that I think we’ve got some interest in, too,” Freeze said. “He’s done a really good job in the GoFas car, and I’ve heard there’s some stuff going on with (GoFas) next year that maybe it’s not good for Corey and his future there. So, he’s certainly one that we’ve got an interest in for sure. It seems to be a good fit.
If LaJoie does go to FRM, that would leave GoFas weighing its options for its No. 32 Ford in 2020.
Go Fas team owner Archie St. Hilaire told
The Athletic his single-car team is negotiating to enter into a technical alliance with a Ford-backed organization he would not identify. St. Hilaire hopes a decision on an alliance will be finalized within the “next two to three weeks,” then the team will focus on locking up a driver.
Industry speculation is that GoFas would align with Stewart-Haas Racing. That potential partnership could entail SHR Xfinity driver Cole Custer being elevated to Cup and taking over the ride currently occupied by LaJoie.
But St. Hilaire dismissed the speculation that Custer is a candidate for his team. He indicated his preference is to re-sign LaJoie and has begun negotiating a one-year extension. (St. Hilaire said he only offers contracts that are a year in length.)
“I don’t see Cole Custer coming to our team,” St. Hilaire said. “The kid has a world of opportunity, and I think it’s a little different than Bell going to (LFR). We’re hoping to sign Corey and if we cannot work out a deal there are some other drivers out there, but we’re pretty happy with where we’re at.
“I don’t really want to take on a young kid (Custer) like that who’s here for a year then goes (elsewhere). Let’s take Corey, build with him and move up the ladder.”
