This loss felt personal. Moments like these hit harder than any rough race weekend, because they remind everyone that behind the cars, the strategy, and the noise, this sport is really about the people. Recently, the NASCAR world was shocked to learn that Johnny Roten, the Performance Director of Front Row Motorsports, had suddenly passed away at 60. He wasn’t just another name on a team sheet. Roten was part of the heart and soul of the group.

Johnny Roten wasn’t a short-term hire or someone who just came in to help here and there. He had been with the team for the past three years, helping them grow, improve, and find their identity. Front Row Motorsports described him as “integral” and said his “presence and personality” meant so much to everyone around him. That alone shows what kind of person he was.

Across NASCAR, people felt the loss deeply because Roten wasn’t just a Front Row employee. He had spent more than 30 years in the sport. He worked with different teams, helped create fast cars, and mentored younger mechanics and engineers. He built a reputation as someone who knew the technical side of racing inside and out, but also cared about the people he worked with. NASCAR often talks about being a tight community, and Roten truly represented that.

Michael McDowell, who spent seven years at Front Row Motorsports, also paid tribute to Johnny Roten on social media. In a post on X, the Cup Series driver wrote, “Johnny was a great man that worked his tail off for us to have success. He would do whatever it took to get it done. Very sad for all of his Family, Friends and teammate’s. He will be missed.” 

Front Row Motorsports fields three Cup Series teams and two in the Truck Series. And Johnny Roten was an important part of the operations at Bob Jenkins’ side for the last three seasons. He oversaw the transition when FRM grew from two charters to three at NASCAR’s highest level, and expanded their Truck operations as well.

In a sport where big-name drivers and big wins get most of the attention, Roten was one of those behind-the-scenes people who made it all possible. He didn’t look for camera time or praise. He focused on solving problems, finding speed, and supporting everyone around him. And when someone like that is suddenly gone, you really feel it.

A loss felt throughout the Garage

Front Row Motorsports shared their heartbreak in an emotional message: “We are deeply saddened by the sudden loss of our Performance Director, Johnny Roten. Johnny has been an integral part of Front Row Motorsports for the last 3 years and the NASCAR community for well over three decades. His presence and personality will be deeply missed.” These words weren’t written just because they had to. They came from people who truly cared about him. To them, Roten wasn’t just a coworker. He was family.

Roten’s career covered some of the biggest changes in NASCAR’s history. From the older Cup cars of the 1990s to the aero-focused vehicles of the 2000s, to the new technology teams use today, he saw it all. People who worked with him often said he had the rare ability to mix old-school racing instinct with modern engineering. That combination earned him the trust of teams to make major performance decisions.

He also made a huge impact on younger crew members and engineers. Many looked up to him for advice. People in the garage often said he wasn’t the type to just give orders. He took time to explain things, help people learn, and push them to be better. In a sport where pressure never goes away and tiny mistakes can make or break a race, having someone calm and experienced around is special. Roten was exactly that kind of leader.

Even teams outside of Front Row Motorsports felt the loss. When you spend more than 30 years in NASCAR, you meet almost everyone at some point: drivers, crew chiefs, engineers, officials, fabricators. Nearly everyone had some kind of story about Johnny Roten. Some remembered his jokes. Some remembered how well he handled tough situations. Others remembered how he checked in on people when he sensed they were struggling. That’s the kind of person who stays with you long after the engines stop.

The garage will keep moving, and the races will go on, but this week everything feels heavier. Johnny Roten reminded everyone that NASCAR is not just about speed, trophies, or horsepower. It’s about the people who make the sport run. And sadly, this week, the sport lost one of its good ones.