Brett Moffitt to drive No. 34 for Front Row in next 3 races
Brett Moffitt has a ride for NASCAR’s western swing.
The Michael Waltrip Racing driver will pilot the No. 34 for Front Row Motorsports for the next three races. The No. 34 is open because its original driver, David Ragan, is filling in for Kyle Busch at Joe Gibbs Racing. Moffitt will drive at Las Vegas, Phoenix and Auto Club Speedway.
Moffitt filled in for Brian Vickers at Atlanta in MWR’s No. 55 and drove it to an eighth-place finish despite sustaining crash damage early in the race. His performance was so exceptional that it elicited a statement from MWR on Monday afternoon.
“We are proud of how the entire No. 55 Aaron’s Dream Machine team has performed while Brian Vickers was recovering from his December surgery,” MWR co-owner Rob Kauffman said. “The race in Atlanta showcased the progress of the entire organization, as well as a promising young driver in Brett Moffitt. Brett has been in the MWR system the past couple of years and we’re enthusiastic about his potential. Brett is under a multi-year agreement with Michael Waltrip Racing. MWR would love to get back to a three-car team and grow with him into the future. Before this past weekend we stated that we felt his name should be mentioned among the impressive crop of young drivers coming into the sport, and the Atlanta result validated that claim. While we work towards a fully supported in-house program, it is MWR’s desire that Brett get more quality opportunities in either of NASCAR’s top divisions and we will work diligently to make that happen.”
But since MWR doesn’t have a third team for Moffitt and Vickers is returning to the Sprint Cup Series at Las Vegas, Moffitt didn’t have a ride, making him an appealing option for Front Row Motorsports.
“I’m excited about the opportunity to run some races for Front Row,” Moffitt said in a Front Row release. “After last weekend, I’m obviously eager to get back into a car and keep racing. I’m grateful to Bob Jenkins and his team for giving me the chance to do that. I’ll do my best to get some good finishes for them. I’m also thankful that Michael Waltrip Racing is allowing me to pursue this opportunity. I think it’s going to benefit everyone in the end.”
Joe Nemechek drove the No. 34 car at Atlanta and was involved in a late-race crash with Greg Biffle and a host of others.
Moffitt drove in seven Sprint Cup Series races in 2014 and before Atlanta, his highest finish was 22nd.
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Nick Bromberg is the editor of From The Marbles on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at [email protected] or follow him on Twitter!
