Both drivers will compete in Thursday’s Gatorade Duel No. 1 to determine their starting positions in Sunday’s season-opening points race. Ragan will start ninth in the 60-lap qualifying race and Gilliland will start 23rd. Both have guaranteed starting positions in Sunday’s 500-miler, but the outcome of the duels sets the starting grid for the main event.

The race weekend marks the debut of ModSpace on the Nos. 34 and 38 Fords. The modular construction provider joins Front Row in 2012 as a primary sponsor on Gilliland’s car for multiple races and as an associate sponsor on both Gilliland and Ragan’s cars for the entire Sprint Cup season.

“ModSpace is very excited to kick off the 2012 Cup season with Front Row Motorsports this weekend,” stated William Mann, vice president of ModSpace Motorsports. “Since we announced our partnership, Front Row Motorsports has done a great job representing our brand. Both David Gilliland and David Ragan are strong on superspeedways, so there is a great deal of promise that either of these drivers may win the Daytona 500.”

Gilliland agrees the team is capable of delivering a victory.

“It’s been great to finally get in the car and go racing here in Daytona,” said Gilliland. “The team made a lot of changes in the off-season to improve our performance, and we also welcomed a great partner in ModSpace. I feel really good about our chances at this track, especially knowing how well we ran last year. So, I hope to be standing in Victory Lane on Sunday thanking partners like ModSpace for their support.”

The last time Ragan was in a points race at Daytona, he was getting champagne sprayed in his face – a scene he believes he can return to with Front Row Motorsports.

“Absolutely we can get there,” said Ragan. “This team has proven that it can run up front at the plate races and that’s where we intend to be. I’m really proud of (crew chief) Jay Guy and the guys for our top-15 qualifying run on Sunday, which got us a good starting spot for Thursday’s duel. I think we can give ModSpace and all our partners a pretty good run. I absolutely like our chances.”

Thursday’s qualifying races will air at 1 p.m. (ET) on SPEED. Sunday’s Daytona 500 will air on FOX, with coverage beginning at noon (ET).

About Front Row Motorsports:
Front Row Motorsports is a Statesville, N.C.-based race team in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series. Formed in 2005 by restaurant and transportation entrepreneur Bob Jenkins, the team has competed in NASCAR racing in each year since its inception, expanding full-time to the premier Sprint Cup Series in 2009. The team partners with Ford Racing, Roush-Yates Racing Engines, ModSpace, Maximum Human Performance and Scorpion Coatings to field the No. 34 Ford driven by David Ragan and the No. 38 Ford driven by David Gilliland. For sponsorship inquiries contact Robin Johnson, Chief Marketing Officer, at (704) 904-4347.

“The pit stops in the ’150′ races are very important – just as important as anything else,” said David Gilliland, driver of the No. 38 MHP/Power Pak Pudding Ford for Front Row Motorsports. “These qualifying races determine your starting position for the Daytona 500, so every spot counts, and those spots can be gained on pit road. Our pit crew has been training and practicing hard back at the shop, but Thursday’s 150 race will be the first chance this year for our tire changers, our jackman and our fuel guy to jump off the wall in a real race when it really counts.”

Front Row made two significant moves in the off-season to improve their pit road performance. First, they took advantage of several other teams downsizing to add talented free agents to their over-the-wall line-up. The team also added the support of performance nutrition supplement company Maximum Human Performance (MHP).

MHP joined Front Row earlier this month for a multi-year partnership as the pit crews’ sponsor. The partnership includes guidance from MHP’s fitness and nutrition experts to help the crews be stronger and faster on pit road, where tenths of a second can change everything.

“The Sprint Cup Series has 43 top-level drivers – the best of the best – and it’s very hard to pass cars out on the track,” Gilliland continued. “But if you gain a second on pit road with a quick stop, that’s just like passing five or six cars on the racetrack.”

“Front Row has put together a really good group of guys on this crew – I mean, some top-level talent,” said David Ragan, driver of the No. 34 Scorpion Truck Bed Liners Ford. “And it’s great that MHP can come in and bring so much to the table. They’re working with our coach and pit-crew guys, helping to get them in the best shape possible and help their muscles recover better and, ultimately, live a healthier life. And that should translate into faster pit stops and reliability on pit road all season long.”

About Front Row Motorsports:
Front Row Motorsports is a Statesville, N.C.-based race team in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series. Formed in 2005 by restaurant and transportation entrepreneur Bob Jenkins, the team has competed in NASCAR racing in each year since its inception. The team partners with Ford Racing and Roush-Yates Racing Engines to field the No. 34 Ford driven by David Ragan and the No. 38 Ford driven by David Gilliland. For sponsorship inquiries contact Robin Johnson, Chief Marketing Officer, at (704) 904-4347.

RELATED:  VIDEO AND AUDIO OF DRIVERS DISCUSSING PIT CREW ROLE

Scorpion will also be the official bed liner, window film and protective coatings line of Front Row Motorsports and David Ragan. Company experts will also work with the team’s operational managers to develop applications to improve and maximize the life and performance of team equipment and vehicles throughout the season.

“This is another example of a multi-race sponsor that is not only going to help fund our racing efforts, but is also going to help us get the most useful life out of our trucks and equipment with their protective coatings,” said Front Row Motorsports owner Bob Jenkins. “Racing is a tough business and our guys are really hard on the equipment to say the least. Our Ford trucks are critical to our success, and we greatly appreciate Scorpion’s support.”

Cloverdale, Ind.-based Scorpion was launched in 1996 and is a world-wide leader in protective liners, window films and coatings. Scorpion boasts a highly durable, completely UV-stable truck bed liner that can be customized to fit any purpose and also offers premium films for automotive, commercial-residential, and paint protection films. In 2008, the company launched Al’s Liner, a professional-grade line of products designed for the “do-it-yourself” automotive community.

The deal marks Scorpion’s first partnership in NASCAR. With Ragan’s restrictor-plate racing history, including a win last July at Daytona International Speedway, the February 26 Daytona 500 provides the perfect platform to introduce the company to an audience of millions of race fans. And the Brickyard 400 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, one of the most famous racing venues in the world, will be the perfect place for Scorpion to showcase its entry into NASCAR in the company’s home state of Indiana.

“The partnership with Front Row Motorsports and the No. 34 car of David Ragan marks a very exciting chapter in our company’s history,” said Clayton Tomasino, CEO of Scorpion. “This sponsorship will not only connect our products with millions of NASCAR fans, but more importantly, it will showcase how our products can withstand punishment and protect equipment in the roughest of environments.”

“Our off-season upgrades continue to pay dividends, and Scorpion is further proof that Front Row Motorsports has a very compelling value proposition for potential sponsors,” said team general manager Jerry Freeze. “We make great partners because Front Row and Scorpion share some of the same ideals. We both work very hard to deliver the best product and best service possible to our customer at the best value.”

For more information about Scorpion, visit www.Scorpioncoatings.com and www.Alsliner.com.

About Front Row Motorsports:
Front Row Motorsports is a Statesville, N.C.-based race team in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series. Formed in 2005 by restaurant and transportation entrepreneur Bob Jenkins, the team has competed in NASCAR racing in each year since its inception. The team partners with Ford Racing and Roush-Yates Racing Engines to field the No. 34 Ford driven by David Ragan and the No. 38 Ford driven by David Gilliland. For sponsorship inquiries contact Robin Johnson, Chief Marketing Officer, at (704) 904-4347.

As the team has made continued improvements during the off-season, including hiring Pat Tryson, moving Jay Guy to work with David Ragan and adding two additional sponsors in Maximum Human Performance (MHP) and ModSpace, the team is stronger than ever to win at tracks where it has been in contention in the past. This has Ragan more than optimistic heading into Saturday night’s Bud Shootout.

“Yeah, of course we can win the Shootout,” said Ragan. “But, not only that race, I feel we can win our ’150′ and the Daytona 500. Front Row Motorsports last year, they had some of the fastest plate cars in the garage. I’m comfortable with the Ford Fusions and the power from Roush-Yates engines, so I think all the ingredients are in place. It’s just making it happen. But, no, I will not be surprised if we won any or all races at Daytona. We hope we don’t see any shocked expressions Saturday night if the MHP Ford is leading.”

Although the team may not be looked upon as a heavy favorite heading into Speedweeks, the stats show a finishing average of 8.5 for the last four races at Daytona for Ragan and Gilliland. It makes this duo one of the best in the field. As a veteran at Front Row Motorsports, Gilliland knows the plate races create tremendous opportunity for a win.

“Last year we just had a great plate program,” commented Gilliland. “This year is the same. We have added great people to the organization and our cars should be just as fast on the plate tracks. Our focus is going to be on plate races, short tracks and the road courses. The intermediate tracks, we’re going to make a lot of progress, but Daytona is a place we can win.”

Team general manager Jerry Freeze agrees with Gilliland and is happy with the team’s position for Daytona.

“We’ll know more after Saturday night, but there is no reason we can’t compete for a win this weekend and next. We’ve added some great sponsors with MHP and ModSpace for this year. That has helped us take that next step to win at certain places. Our Davids are some of the best at plate tracks so we feel good about where we stand for Daytona.”

Front Row Motorsports will start its season this Saturday night during the Budweiser Shootout. Ragan will make his debut for the team in the No. 34 MHP/Power Pak Pudding Ford. The race is scheduled to air live on FOX at 8 p.m. (ET).

About Front Row Motorsports:
Front Row Motorsports is a Statesville, N.C.-based race team in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series. Formed in 2005 by restaurant and transportation entrepreneur Bob Jenkins, the team has competed in NASCAR racing in each year since its inception, expanding full-time to the premier Sprint Cup Series in 2009. The team partners with Ford Racing and Roush-Yates Racing Engines to field the No. 34 Ford driven by David Ragan and the No. 38 Ford driven by David Gilliland. For sponsorship inquiries, contact Robin Johnson, Chief Marketing Officer, at (704) 904-4347.

“Both parties are looking forward to this sponsorship, as this is truly exciting,” said Jeff Fabian, VP of Marketing for Mirka Abrasives, Inc. “Both Front Row Motorsports and Mirka Abrasives, Inc. are poised in our respective industries for great success due to mutual commitment and investment in innovative technology, the company and their people. It’s a winning attitude and desire that has allowed this relationship to form, and we at Mirka are excited to start the race season with this partnership.”

Front Row Motorsports will use Mirka’s most advanced and innovative dust-free sanding system in the market today called Autonet®. The Mirka dust-free system uses a patented and unique electric sander, Mirka® CEROS. When combined with the vacuum system, it generates a highly efficient system allowing the garage environment to become more efficient and dust-free.

“We were blown away by this technology with how efficient and clean the shop is running,” said Front Row Motorsports General Manager Jerry Freeze. “You don’t notice how much dust is created when sanding the cars until it’s all gone. Best of all, the system is completely electric, which gives us the portability to take it anywhere. We may even bring this system on the road. Good-bye, sanding dust, forever.”

Mirka’s associate sponsorship will be represented on both the No. 34 and No. 38 Fords throughout the 2012 season.

About Front Row Motorsports:
Front Row Motorsports is a Statesville, N.C.-based race team in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series. Formed in 2005 by restaurant and transportation entrepreneur Bob Jenkins, the team has competed in NASCAR racing in each year since its inception. The team partners with Ford Racing and Roush-Yates Racing Engines to field the No. 34 Ford driven by David Ragan and the No. 38 Ford driven by David Gilliland. For sponsorship inquiries contact Robin Johnson, Chief Marketing Officer, at (704) 904-4347.

Tryson comes to Front Row Motorsports with more than 15 years of experience atop the pit box and race-winning credentials, earning victories with drivers Kurt Busch, Elliott Sadler and Mark Martin. He most recently worked for Michael Waltrip Racing, where he served in crew-chief and consultant roles.

“We made some pretty big changes this off-season to really take this team to the next level, and adding Pat is just one more critical piece that we’ve put in place for our 2012 season,” said team general manager Jerry Freeze. “With Jay Guy on the No. 34 car and Derrick returning full-time to the competition director role, the depth and experience of our leadership team is better than it’s ever been before.”

Tryson has worked with some of the sport’s best organizations and drivers over the years. This season will be his first time working with Gilliland, but he is ready to step in and help the team.

“I like what this team has done in the last few years, doing the right things and making the right changes to get better every season,” said Tryson. “Gilliland’s a competitive driver – he’s got the fire in his belly – and I’m really looking forward to working with him.”

Gilliland, who scored a season-best third in last year’s Daytona 500, is ready to hit the track next week in Daytona Beach with Tryson running the No. 38 program.

“He’s a great ‘get’ for this team,” said Gilliland. “There’s just so much that he brings to the table with all his experience. I can’t wait to get started.”

About Front Row Motorsports:
Front Row Motorsports is a Statesville, N.C.-based race team in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series. Formed in 2005 by restaurant and transportation entrepreneur Bob Jenkins, the team has competed in NASCAR racing in each year since its inception. The team partners with Ford Racing and Roush-Yates Racing Engines to field the No. 34 Ford driven by David Ragan and the No. 38 Ford driven by David Gilliland. For sponsorship inquiries contact Robin Johnson, Chief Marketing Officer, at (704) 904-4347.

MHP will also be the official sport supplement line of Front Row Motorsports and an official sponsor of the Nos. 34 and 38 pit crews. Company experts will work with the team’s pit crew coach and trainers to develop nutritional and fitness plans to improve and maximize the performance of the over-the-wall crew throughout the season.

“This is really going to be a unique program,” said Front Row Motorsports owner Bob Jenkins. “Sponsors, of course, help make your race programs better across the board via funding, but this is a case where they’re also going to make our pit crews healthier, stronger and faster. Everyone knows that a couple seconds on pit road can make a huge difference on the track. This partnership is focused on getting our athletes in the best shape possible to deliver maximum performance when it matters most.”

Fairfield, NJ-based MHP was launched in 1997 by bodybuilder Gerard Dente to develop premier science-based, research-driven sports supplements to help athletes achieve their greatest physical potential. The product line is used by world-class athletes, pro bodybuilders, powerlifters, strongmen and fitness enthusiasts alike. Products are sold in vitamin/supplement retail stores and online at www.MHPStrong.com.

The deal marks MHP’s first partnership in NASCAR. With Ragan and Gilliland both being skilled restrictor-plate racers, the February 18 Budweiser Shootout and the February 26 Daytona 500 at Daytona International Speedway provide the perfect platform to introduce the company to an audience of millions of race fans.

“I am really excited about the opportunity to work with a first-rate racing team like Front Row Motorsports,” said Dente, CEO of MHP. “This unique sponsorship will not only connect our brand with millions of NASCAR fans, but more importantly it will showcase how our supplements will help improve the performance of their pit crew and drivers. I’m looking forward to working with pit crew coach Gary Smith and seeing how improvements in the pit crews’ speed and strength translate into better track times for the team.”

“MHP could have teamed up with any team in the sport, and they selected Front Row Motorsports,” said team general manager Jerry Freeze. “In the off-season, we upgraded our driver line-up, our pit crews and shop personnel, and our front-office leadership. It is reassuring when prospects like MHP conduct in-depth due diligence and confirm that our value proposition is compelling.

“Plus, it will be even more compelling after MHP helps get our over-the-wall guys performing at their maximum performance potential. That was an area that needed improvement, and in MHP we have a partner that is going help us do just that – continually improve.”

For more information about MHP, visit www.MHPStrong.com.

About Front Row Motorsports:
Front Row Motorsports is a Statesville, N.C.-based race team in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series. Formed in 2005 by restaurant and transportation entrepreneur Bob Jenkins, the team has competed in NASCAR racing in each year since its inception. The team partners with Ford Racing and Roush-Yates Racing Engines to field the No. 34 Ford driven by David Ragan and the No. 38 Ford driven by David Gilliland. For sponsorship inquiries contact Robin Johnson, Chief Marketing Officer, at (704) 904-4347.

Comments from the Owner of the No. 44 Lucas Oil Dodge, Bobby Labonte:

“Well, I got to know Earl when I saw him race over at the dirt track in Talladega years back. He was racing for Dunn-Benson Motorsports and we just kept talking after that. I always wanted to give back to grassroots racing because it’s where we all came from.  We had the quarter midget track up and running for children, so the dirt late model series was something we felt was a good next step.  That, and I just really like this form of racing. It’s exciting, fun to be around and I think it’s really growing. The opportunity came about to purchase the team and it’s been great.

“Hopefully we can continue to get the entire series and these drivers some more recognition.  Clint Bowyer is involved and has his own team.  Tony (Stewart) does a lot with the Prelude.  I think the fans get to see and learn a lot about the cars at that event because it’s so big now.  But, these guys are racing these cars all over the country, sometimes two or three nights in a week.  It’s just not the Prelude.   It’s pretty cool to watch a race and I’m proud to be a part of it. The Lucas Oil Series has great support now and hopefully new fans can keep coming out, too.

“It’s been good having the team.  Earl and the guys have won a lot of races, a few championships and we’ve been able to have a fun time with the team.  Last season was a challenge for everybody.  We’re working on the new Longhorn chassis, and it’s coming along, but I think everyone is excited about this season.  I don’t have to worry about the guys while they are on the road. Earl is a champion, he knows what he needs out of the car.  We just work hard to make sure they are getting what they need.

“I check in as much as my schedule allows when the guys are on the road.  We text a lot.  We’re hoping that we can one day have live radio, webcasts or something like that.  But, we’ll chat during the week. The shop is in our building in Trinity, so I see the crew guys more often. Earl still lives in Jacksonville so we talk more on the phone, text or I see him when he’s in town.  We’re always communicating.

“I know last season everyone was disappointed.  This year, we have a good plan. We have cars that are strong. Our engine program is solid.  We like the plan.  Earl feels good about it, too. We don’t know what the season will bring, but hopefully we can get Earl right back to victory lane.  That’s the goal right now.  If we can get a win early, that will help everyone.”

The team will travel to Golden Isle Speedway in Brunswick, Ga., to kick off its season February 12.

The new motorsports partnership expands an existing business relationship between the Berwyn, Penn.-based company and Front Row Motorsports owner Bob Jenkins.  ModSpace is currently working with Jenkins’ quick-service restaurant company to build new Taco Bell/Long John Silver’s locations.

“I’ve been impressed with ModSpace and their modular construction concepts and the experience they bring to the table,” Jenkins said.  “Our companies share some of the same ideals, so it’s a natural fit to team up.  I’m excited they’re going to partner with us on the racetrack now, too.”

The new motorsports partnership will help with another type of “building” – the continued growth of Jenkins’ Sprint Cup team, which is coming off the best season in its young history.  The first appearance of the No. 38 ModSpace Ford is scheduled for the April 14 race at Texas Motor Speedway.

ModSpace is a leading provider of modular buildings, portable storage and services for temporary or permanent space needs.  Building on more than 40 years of experience, ModSpace serves a diverse set of customers and markets – including commercial, construction, education, government, healthcare, industrial/energy and special events – through an extensive nationwide branch network throughout the United States and Canada.

“We are thrilled to partner with Front Row Motorsports for this upcoming Sprint Cup season,” stated William Mann, Vice President of Motorsports for ModSpace.  “In the modular construction business, we understand the importance of speed while still delivering a high-quality product, so this motorsports alignment is perfect for our business model.  ModSpace looks forward to a great season from both the No. 38 and No. 34 teams.”

ModSpace has constructed buildings for renowned clients ranging from the Professional Golf Association (PGA) to General Motors, IBM and the U.S. Army.  For more information on the company and its projects, visit www.ModSpace.com.

About Front Row Motorsports:

Front Row Motorsports is a Statesville, N.C.-based race team in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series. Formed in 2005 by restaurant and transportation entrepreneur Bob Jenkins, the team has competed in NASCAR racing in each year since its inception, expanding full-time to the premier Sprint Cup Series in 2009.  The team partners with Ford Racing and Roush-Yates Racing Engines to field the No. 34 Ford driven by David Ragan and the No. 38 Ford driven by David Gilliland.

Ragan joins Front Row after completing a 2011 season that delivered his first Cup win (Daytona International Speedway in July), two poles, and four top-five and eight top-10 finishes.  The 26-year-old Unadilla, Ga., native is already a NASCAR veteran, first joining the national stock-car ranks at the age of 18 and quickly ascending to premier-level Sprint Cup racing.  His No. 34 team is locked in to the starting line-up entering the 2012 season, including a guaranteed starting spot in the prestigious Daytona 500 next month.

“Front Row has made great progress in the last few years, and I look forward to helping them advance to the next level,” Ragan said.  “I think the team appreciates what I can bring to the table, and I think it’s a good opportunity for both of us.  I’ve also enjoyed a long relationship with Ford and I’m glad that I’ll get to keep working with them.”

Gilliland returns for his third season with Front Row and his seventh in the Cup series.  The 35-year-old Riverside, Calif., native will return to the No. 38, the number he drove as a Sprint Cup rookie as well as the car he drove in his first season with Front Row.  The No. 38 team is also locked in to the field entering 2012.  Last season, Gilliland raced his way to a third-place finish in the Daytona 500 to start off an impressive 2011 run, in which he proved to be a force on superspeedways and road courses.

“We’ve gotten better year to year and even week to week in the time I’ve been with Front Row, so I’m excited to be back for a third year and to have David (Ragan) as a teammate,” Gilliland said.  “It’s good to be back in the ‘38’ car, too.  It was my dad’s number, and I’ve also had some pretty good days at the racetrack with that number on the door.”

Front Row Motorsports, which is owned by restaurant and transportation entrepreneur Bob Jenkins, enters its fourth full-time season in the Sprint Cup Series.  The team turned in its best results in its young history in 2011, earning one top-5, two top-10, three top-15 and five top-20 finishes in 2011, including the history-best third at Daytona.

“I am committed to building a competitive race team by employing the same fundamental business principles that have worked for my other successful endeavors, and it all begins with the people,” Jenkins said.  “We took some pretty big steps in our race program last year and adding David Ragan is another giant step in the right direction.

“When you look at some of the large, storied teams in NASCAR that have been running for decades, we’re still pretty young by comparison,” Jenkins continued. “But I like the upgrades we’re making and the improvements we’re seeing, and I am confident we will be able to compete with them on a consistent basis in the not-too-distant future.  Ragan is a proven competitor and race winner, Gilliland had a really solid season for us last year, Roush Yates engines are the best in the sport, and Ford continues to provide invaluable support, so I feel like 2012 is really going to be our year to step up to the next level.  Plus, I now have two Davids to engage Goliath, and we know how that day ended.”

Sponsorship for the Front Row Motorsports entries is being finalized and will be announced soon.

“We’ve worked hard to build an organization that can deliver compelling value propositions for our partners, and we can win immediately on that front given our size, efficiencies and cost structures,” said Jerry Freeze, Front Row Motorsports’ General Manager. “Fortunately, a few leading corporate partners have taken notice and others are conducting their due diligence.  That’s very encouraging and bodes well for our future.”