Front Row Motorsports (FRM) has confirmed several leadership changes within its Competition Department that will take effect before the start of the 2026 NASCAR Cup Series and NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series campaigns.
Drew Blickensderfer, an experienced crew chief with more than 15 years of experience on top of the pit box in the NASCAR Cup Series, will be transitioning into the role of Competition Director for Front Row Motorsports.
The two-time DAYTONA 500-winning crew chief (2009, 2021) will work alongside the organization’s current Technical Director, Seth Barbour, who will continue to lead the organization’s technical direction and engineering efforts.
Grant Hutchens will take over the role as shot-caller for Noah Gragson and the No. 4 Ford Mustang Dark Horse team in 2026. The Omaha, Nebraska-native will be in his first full-time role as a crew chief, bringing immense NASCAR experience to Front Row Motorsports – which includes stints at Evernham Motorsports, Richard Childress Racing, and Team Penske.
Hutchens has been with Team Penske since 2016, joining Ryan Blaney’s team during his rookie season in the NASCAR Cup Series, and served in several different lead engineering roles before assuming the position as the team’s test team Crew Chief in 2025.
In addition to Hutchens, Front Row Motorsports has also hired Jonathan DeHart to serve as the team’s Aerodynamics Manager, overseeing the team’s aerodynamic operations. DeHart is a former IndyCar Aero Car Chief for GM Racing and Body Production Manager for Hendrick Motorsports.