On Sunday, March 1, 2026, Front Row Motorsports (FRM) heads to the Circuit of the Americas (COTA) in Austin, Texas, for the fourth race of the NASCAR Cup Series season. This 2.4-mile road course event, consisting of 95 laps, will be broadcast live at 3:30 PM ET on FOX, PRN, and SiriusXM channel 90. FRM will put its competitive drivers—Noah Gragson, Todd Gilliland, and Zane Smith—to the test as they look to improve their positions in the series standings.
FRM Drivers’ Championship Standings and COTA Track Experience
Heading into the race, Zane Smith sits fifth in the NASCAR Cup Series points, while Noah Gragson holds 12th, and Todd Gilliland is positioned 35th. Each driver carries experience at this challenging Texas road course, with Smith boasting two victories in the NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series at COTA in 2022 and 2023. Gragson enters his fourth Cup Series start at the track, aiming to surpass his best finish of eighth place in 2025. Gilliland brings a strong record with two top-10 finishes in four Cup Series starts and a notable win in the inaugural Truck Series race at COTA in 2021.
Noah Gragson and the No. 4 Ford Team Aim to Impress at the Home Race for Rush Truck Centers
Noah Gragson and his No. 4 Ford Mustang Dark Horse team face one of their biggest challenges of the season at COTA, racing close to Rush Truck Centers’ home base in New Braunfels, Texas. With a longstanding partnership, Rush Truck Centers supports the team by transporting their race cars using Peterbilt Model 579 tractors, a symbol of their dedication to the commercial vehicle industry for over 60 years. Rush Truck Centers operates more than 150 dealerships across North America, with several locations serving the Austin area specifically.
Circuit of the Americas is a track we have circled on our calendar every year,
said Gragson.
Austin is fun city and we get to race in the backyard of everyone at Rush Truck Centers, with their colors on the car. I felt like we surprised a lot of people last year with our 8th place finish, but we had a great car and played the strategy right to walk out with a solid top-10. With the momentum coming out of Daytona and Atlanta, we’re hoping we can keep that going and put on another good performance in front of Rusty and everyone at Rush.
— Noah Gragson, NASCAR Driver
The No. 4 team is supported by a skilled road and pit crew, including crew chief Grant Hutchens from Omaha, Nebraska, car chief Joey Forgette of Iron Mountain, Michigan, engineers Dillon Silverman and Scott Bingham, and spotter Nick Del Campo from Blauvelt, New York, among others. Their coordinated efforts on race day are crucial to maximizing performance throughout the event.
Todd Gilliland and No. 34 Team Seek to Build Momentum at COTA with Love’s Travel Stops Backing
Todd Gilliland and his No. 34 squad enter the Circuit of the Americas with a focus on regaining strong form after a challenging start to the season. Despite frustrations, Gilliland remains optimistic that COTA’s dynamic road course will offer a prime opportunity to climb the leaderboard. The No. 34 team enjoys steadfast support from primary sponsor Love’s Travel Stops, which has released an updated Love’s Connect App featuring enhanced rewards for customers across its 640 locations in 42 states.
It has been a frustrating start to the season, and I definitely feel like we missed out on easy points, but COTA provides a great opportunity for us to rebound and gain some momentum,
said Gilliland.
I have always enjoyed Austin. The racing, the town, and the overall energy around the weekend is exciting. Hopefully, we can cap it all off with a strong result.
— Todd Gilliland, NASCAR Driver
The No. 34 road crew includes crew chief Chris Lawson of Medway, Ohio, car chief Joe Marra from Somers, New York, engineers Marc Rullo and Kevyn Rebolledo, and spotter Brit Andersen. The pit crew is made up of professionals such as front tire changer Danny Olszowy and rear tire changer Austin Chrismon, highlighting the experienced team behind the driver’s efforts.
Zane Smith Looks to Continue His Strong Run in the NASCAR Cup Series at COTA
Zane Smith, whose recent top-10 finish at EchoPark Speedway has him firmly positioned fifth in the standings, heads into COTA with confidence. Having dominated at this venue previously in the Truck Series with consecutive wins, Smith and the No. 38 team are eager to capitalize on their momentum. Smith’s partnership with Aaron’s is highlighted by the ongoing Fastlane 5000 Sweepstakes, offering fans opportunities to win prizes through March 31, enhancing fan engagement across Aaron’s sizable retail footprint.
COTA is one of my favorite tracks on the schedule,
Smith remarked.
I dominated in the Truck Series there, so I always have a lot of confidence heading into this weekend. The team and I are really clicking right now, and we’ve been in contention the last two races. I think this weekend will be a good one for us.
— Zane Smith, NASCAR Driver
Supporting Smith is a dedicated team including crew chief Ryan Bergenty, car chief Will Norris, engineers Jacob Clamme and Chris Yerges, and spotter Ryan Blanchard. Their combined expertise contributes to a finely tuned vehicle and strong race-day strategy.
Front Row Motorsports’ Organizational Strength and Sponsor Partnerships
Established in 2004 by Bob Jenkins, Front Row Motorsports competes fiercely in both NASCAR’s top tier Cup Series and the CRAFTSMAN Truck Series. The team celebrated prestigious achievements in recent years, including a 2021 Daytona 500 victory and the 2022 CRAFTSMAN Truck Series title. Headquartered in Mooresville, North Carolina, FRM fields multiple competitive entries in these major NASCAR competitions, with a consistent focus on growth and excellence.
Key partners such as Rush Truck Centers, Love’s Travel Stops, and Aaron’s strengthen FRM’s capacity to perform at the highest level. Rush Truck Centers is a leading provider of commercial vehicle solutions spanning dealership services, aftermarket parts, and financing. Love’s Travel Stops continues to innovate convenience store experiences for drivers across North America, emphasizing rewards and customer value. Aaron’s offers a technology-enabled lease-to-own model for home goods, reaching consumers through over 1,200 stores and an e-commerce platform.
Anticipating the Impact of COTA on the Season and Front Row Motorsports’ Prospects
The upcoming race at the Austin road course is critically important for Front Row Motorsports as all three drivers seek to strengthen their championship bids. With Zane Smith’s high standing, Gragson’s home region connection and prior success, and Gilliland’s determination to rebound, the team aims to translate their passion and preparation into results. The intense competition at COTA, coupled with the enthusiastic energy of the Austin motorsport community, makes this event a defining moment early in the 2026 NASCAR season.
Success at COTA could provide momentum to the No. 4, No. 34, and No. 38 teams, influencing strategies and confidence for upcoming races. Equally, strong performances in front of loyal partners Rush Truck Centers, Love’s Travel Stops, and Aaron’s reinforce critical sponsor relationships beneficial to FRM’s long-term ambitions. As the race unfolds, Front Row Motorsports’ commitment to precision and teamwork will be on full display, thrilling NASCAR fans and enthusiasts who follow every lap and pit stop closely.
