A new year, new team, and new number but something is different about Noah Gragson. Whether it is confidence, excitement, or just the year of the mullet, 2025 could be a big year for Gragson in his third year of Cup Series competition.
Year of the mullet pic.twitter.com/GnKSJciAA6
— Noah Gragson (@NoahGragson) February 2, 2025
Could 2025 Be Noah Gragson’s Break Out Season?
Something about Noah Gragson is different in 2025. There is an aura around him, whether confidence or just experience. Gragson will be heading into his third season in the Cup Series. Three years, three teams, but this year is with his 2024 crew chief Drew Blickensderfer.
Whatever it was, it was on display at the Cook Out Clash this weekend. Gragson made a three-wide pass, on a track that is only two lanes wide. Making that pass work on Kyle Busch, one of the greatest stock car drivers of all time, and Justin Haley. That move helped put Gragson third in his heat race and locked into the Clash.
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Gragson’s Cup Career So Far:
Gragson got his first Cup starts racing part-time in 2022. Starting the season off, he would qualify for the Daytona 500 with Beard Motorsports but would wreck out. He would make two additional starts for the team. He would make ten starts for Kaulig Racing, where he was believed to be heading following his Xfinity career.
But when Alex Bowman suffered a concussion at Texas in the fall race of 2022, Gragson assumed his duties as the reserve driver for Hendrick Motorsports. Driving the #48 Camaro for Hendrick, he made five starts
Coming off of an Xfinity career that was one for the record books, eight wins including four in a row, expectations were high for Noah going into Cup. But his 2023 Cup season was lackluster. A struggling Legacy Motor Club and a mid-season departure from the team was not how he wanted to get started in Cup Racing.
A new 2024 season brought a new team in Stewart-Haas. Taking over the #10 Ford, Gragson bounced back from his 2023 season. Two top-five qualifying spots at Dover and Kansas, back to back. A third-place finish at Talladega was the best finish of the season. It was the season he needed to increase his driver stock. An average start of 21.6 and finish of 19.6, a solid effort for his first full-time season.
Gragson’s efforts in 2023 got the attention of Front Row Motorsports. Michael McDowell was heading to Spire Motorsports at season end, and Stewart-Haas would be closing its doors. FRM looking to add to its youthful roster signed Gragson to a multi-year contract.
Gragson said at the press conference for the announcement “…I didn’t know if I had the potential to run in the Cup Series just based on how the 2023 season went, and to be able to get my feet underneath me with the opportunity at Stewart-Haas, it definitely opened people’s eyes”
Gragson’s Limitless Potential at Front Row Motorsports
We have seen it on track already, but the potential for Gragson to do great things with Front Row Motorsports is possible. Whether making a three-wide move stick at Bowman Gray or getting that first Cup win and making the playoffs, the right stuff is there.
He’s joining a group of drivers he has raced with before, Todd Gilliland at Kyle Busch Motorsports and Zane Smith at JR Motorsports. It is an incredibly young team, the average age is 25 years old. He is back with his SHR Crew Chief Drew Blickensderfer.
He’s got a solid foundation with his team, and a Front Row Motorsports that is getting increased backing from Ford Performance. They are a Tier 1 partner with the manufacturer and an alliance with Team Penske.
The combination of excellent equipment, a returning crew chief, and an aura of confidence in Noah that cannot be beat in the garage. I think he can go out and score that first win.
Based on his results from 2024, I think Talladega, Dover, or Kansas could be where Gragson breaks out. If he makes the playoffs, I don’t think it would surprise anyone if he makes the Round of 12.
Gragson winning in Cup would be the party of the Cup garage, not seen since Clint Bowyer was racing. A popular driver, with immense potential for excellence in Cup.
Featured Image: IMAGO/Icon Sportswire. 7/19/2024
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