User blog:Ajaxcupseries/Life Without Laquon: Will Dexter Andrews Motorsports Continue Rise Potentially Without Young Superstar?

The Fallon Corner - August 2025

When the fate of your organization’s championship hopes heading into a season rely on the FBI - you KNOW you have severely messed up.

Dexter Andrews Motorsports has entered rather uncharted territory in ASCA lore, where they have a 22 year old five time Cup Series winner already in their stable; but may have to figure out a way to replace him sooner than later.

The questions surrounding Laquon Scransen coming through the ranks were never about his talent, which as proven since joining the big leagues in 2021 the Compton native certainly doesn’t lack, but more so his inability to stay out of trouble off the track.

Who can forget when Scransen paid Diego Orkedi’s house a visit during the 2022 offseason and proceeded to spray the place up with bullets before speeding off?

Or when the then sophomore driver pulled out a gun and threatened Chris Barrymore following their run in entering the closing stages of the 2023 Windows 300 while STILL on probation for the prior incident?

Many throughout the garage area knew deep down that Scransen’s off track antics were not sustainable, but that didn’t stop DAM from inking the kid to a decade long, $80M extension midway through that 2023 season.

After all, Scransen had brought the team their first Craftsman wins in a non plate race plus their first championship as a ROOKIE. At the Cup level, it was more of the same with the No. 42 more relevant on a weekly basis than it had ever been with predecessors James Walton or Ryan Braun behind the wheel.

When the former Rookie of the Year was arrested AGAIN for multiple drugs charges following his win at Michigan last year, many almost immediately shrugged it off as yet another case the young superstar would be able to beat. To his credit, Scransen himself did he and his sponsors a great job of PR going out and winning the very next event to take home a cool million in the All-Star Race.

The then third year talent bailed himself out of a Compton jail cell and despite already having a suspended sentence, surprisingly finished out the rest of the season without any further legal ramifications - collecting two more points paying victories and finishing fourth in the final standings.

However, during the past month or so the Feds clearly were tipped off to further illegal activity surrounding one of the sport’s promising young talents, and have officially opened an investigation likely aiming to take him down via a RICO charge.

If Scransen is indicted on such and potentially convicted, he would serve a minimum of 20 years which would effectively end his ASCA career well before his prime.

Considering the FBI’s incredibly high conviction rate, Dexter Andrews Motorsports must now begin planning for the future that will likely NOT include their rising star who’s carried them to prominence.

The pairing of rookie Marcus Edwards and Scransen would’ve likely been a tough one to beat throughout the remainder of the decade, but if Scransen is gone: who replaces him?

The short term answer is longtime driver for the team Derek Lewis, who was brought back via a one year deal to play the reserve driver role and take over immediately if Scransen faces any jail time midseason.

However, the 26 year old has finished dead last in points back to back seasons and was originally let go by the team at the end of last year for a reason - the team thinks they can do better.

Dexter Andrews Motorsports likely regrets letting hotshot 18 year old four star prospect Gunner Thorson walk in the offseason to Taylor Motorsports, but it was a necessary evil the team would argue considering the rise back to prominence from one of their other formerly highly rated prospects: Aiden Romo.

The now third year Craftsman regular went from super bust to dark horse title threat thanks to a solid sophomore campaign that saw Romo come oh so close to his first win at San Diego had it not been for a late race pit penalty.

At the age of 21, he may be no Laquon Scransen but given the right crew chief and equipment Romo has proven he can develop into a promising young talent.

Whether or not he can transfer those skills to the next level remains to be seen, but if he can’t; maybe Gavin Lawson can.

Another kid born in 2004, while Lawson’s father may be a high ranking official at the team that doesn’t mean the talent isn’t there for him either. A couple top 10 finishes in five starts last year proves that the now Craftsman rookie can hang with the big boys, he just needs more experience.

And if all else fails - don’t forget Noah Booth is in the pipeline too.

Having spent time in the open wheel ranks the past couple years, the 23 year old will get his first crack behind the wheel of a bulky stock car for the team later this season. While Booth is on the older side when it comes to prospects, age is just a number if the ability to develop into something special is there.

Overall, while the loss of Laquon Scransen would be an astronomical blow to Dexter Andrews Motorsports’ championship hopes in the short term - Scransen’s success has created a pipeline of promising prospects ready to usurp his superstar status within the team if needed.

Whether its Edwards, Romo, Lawson, Booth, or even Scransen if he beats the case; I think its safe to say DAM will be in good hands the rest of the decade regardless of what plays out.