Chris Lawson

Christopher W. Lawson (born November 6, 1985) is an American professional stock car racing crew chief who works for Front Row Motorsports as the crew chief of their No. 34 Ford Mustang Dark Horse in the NASCAR Cup Series driven by Todd Gilliland. He previously worked with Gilliland in the NASCAR West Series for Bill McAnally Racing, where the duo won two consecutive championships in 2016 and 2017 and twelve races together, as well as in the Truck Series for FRM. He is the 2022 Truck Series championship-winning crew chief with driver Zane Smith at FRM. Prior to becoming a crew chief, Lawson was a driver for underfunded, start and park teams in NASCAR and ARCA until 2011.

Racing career Driving career Lawson gained notoriety in 2011 as the driver who replaced Jennifer Jo Cobb at Bristol Motor Speedway in the 2nd Chance Motorsports No. 79 entry after Cobb left the team on the day of the race after a dispute with team owner Rick Russell on being told to start and park in that race. Rookie of the year contender Charles Lewandoski was initially set to be the team's substitute driver, but was unable to get prepared in the car in time for the start of the race, so Russell then got Lawson to jump in Cobb's car and start and park it. Lawson had failed to qualify for the Bristol race in another start and park entry, the No. 03 for R3 Motorsports. He was the only DNQ for the race, and was still at the track when it was about to start. This race would end up being Lawson's last as a driver.

Crew chiefing career

In 2019, Lawson served as Tanner Gray's crew chief in the ARCA Menards Series for DGR-Crosley.

On December 14, 2023, FRM announced that Lawson would not continue as crew chief of the No. 38 truck in 2024 with new driver Layne Riggs and would take a step back to become a consultant as he would pursue other projects outside of NASCAR. However, the consultant work and side projects did not end up happening as Lawson would sign with Rick Ware Racing on January 16 to be the crew chief of their No. 51 car driven by Justin Haley in the NASCAR Cup Series for the 2024 season.

On December 12, 2024, Front Row Motorsports announced that Lawson would be returning to their team in 2025 as the crew chief of the No. 34 car in the Cup Series where he would reunite with Todd Gilliland.

Motorsports career results NASCAR (key) (Bold – Pole position awarded by qualifying time. Italics – Pole position earned by points standings or practice time. * – Most laps led.)

Nationwide Series NASCAR Nationwide Series results Year Team No. Make 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 Pts Ref 2007 Jimmy Means Racing 52 Ford DAY CAL MXC LVS ATL BRI NSH TEX PHO TAL RCH DAR CLT DOV NSH KEN MLW NHA DAY CHI GTY IRP CGV GLN MCH BRI CAL RCH DOV KAN CLT MEM TEX PHO HOM N/A 0 2009 Jimmy Means Racing 52 Chevy DAY CAL LVS BRI TEX NSH PHO TAL RCH DAR CLT DOV NSH KEN MLW NHA DAY CHI GTY IRP IOW GLN MCH BRI CGV ATL RCH DOV KAN CAL CLT MEM TEX PHO HOM 141st 55 2010 Ford DAY CAL LVS BRI NSH PHO TEX TAL RCH DAR DOV CLT 122nd 83 Chevy NSH KEN ROA NHA DAY CHI GTY IRP IOW GLN MCH BRI CGV ATL RCH DOV KAN CAL CLT GTY TEX PHO HOM 2011 R3 Motorsports 03 Dodge DAY PHO LVS BRI 88th 3 2nd Chance Motorsports 79 Ford BRI CAL TEX TAL NSH RCH DAR DOV IOW CLT CHI MCH ROA DAY KEN NHA NSH IRP IOW GLN CGV BRI ATL RCH CHI DOV KAN CLT TEX PHO HOM

Camping World Truck Series NASCAR Camping World Truck Series results Year Team No. Make 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 Pts Ref 2009 Fast Track Racing Enterprises 47 Chevy DAY CAL ATL MAR KAN CLT DOV TEX MCH MLW MEM KEN IRP NSH BRI CHI IOW GTW NHA LVS MAR TAL TEX PHO HOM 106th 64

ARCA Racing Series (key) (Bold – Pole position awarded by qualifying time. Italics – Pole position earned by points standings or practice time. * – Most laps led.) ARCA Racing Series results Year Team No. Make 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 Pts Ref 2011 Fast Track Racing 18 Dodge DAY TAL SLM TOL NJE CHI POC MCH WIN BLN IOW IRP POC ISF MAD DSF SLM KAN TOL 132nd 120