Matt Johnson
Front Row Motorsports driver Noah Gragson came into the season viewed as one of the likeliest to be on the hot seat in 2026 based on his performances last year. Judging by the early results this season, it appears Gragson’s future in the Cup Series is still iffy.
During last week’s Door, Bumper, Clear Fan Day Show, The Athletic ‘s NASCAR reporter Jordan Bianchi said he believes there’s a 60-40 chance of Noagh Gragson keeping his seat in the Cup Series next season.
Related: Another Cup Series Driver on The Hot Seat
- Noah Gragson stats: 181 points, 1 top 10, 2 laps led, 28.077 average starting position, 23.385 average finishing position
That aligns pretty well with what Bob Pockrass of Fox Sports reported a few weeks ago. Gragson does have a “strong personality” that could help with sponsorship, but the lack of on-track success could eventually compel Front Row Motorsports to make a change.
Gragson, who turns 28 in July, is winless through 188 career Cup Series races. He finished 34th in the Cup Series standings last season, recording just three top-10 finishes with a 25.67 average starting position and a 25.17 average finishing position.
There’s been minimal improvement from the No. 4 team in 2026. He’s on pace to finish with fewer top-10 finishes over the last two seasons than he had in 2024 alone, and his average finishing position (23.39) is still one of the worst among full-time drivers in the Cup Series.
Who could replace him? Pockrass suggested a few weeks ago that Layne Riggs and Chandler Smith could be options to replace Gragson in the No. 4 car at Front Row Motorsports. However, FRM may not be able to land the same level of financial support from sponsors.
Smith, who turns 24 in June, has raced three times in the Cup Series for FRM, and he’s currently fourth in the Truck Series standings right now with 362 points, one win and seven top-10s in 11 races.
Riggs, who also turns 24 in June, just won Friday night’s Truck Series race in Nashville and sits atop The Chase standings. However, unlike Smith, he’s never raced at the Cup level, and the absence of experience in the Next Gen car might make Smith a better option.
