RICHMOND, Va.: Strategy and a little luck paid off in a huge way for Michael McDowell and Front Row Motorsports Sunday afternoon at Richmond (Va.) Raceway.
The No. 34 Love’s Travel Stops Ford Mustang has continued week after week to show speed in the NASCAR Cup Series but had lacked in carrying that speed to the checkered flag.
In the Toyota Owners 400, a gutsy gamble to stay out paid off when a caution waved inside the final 30 laps of the race that put McDowell not only in contention for a top-10 finish but a top-five.
McDowell capitalized on the pit strategy and withstood another late race caution to finish sixth – his first top-10 since finishing third at Talladega (Ala.) Superspeedway last fall.
“I think the strategy was a good call,” said McDowell. “A lot of that was our car was really good on the long run and I think we were gonna be 15th or 16th, so you might as well go for it and see if you can’t come up with something good and it worked out. I thought it was a great call by Travis Peterson. The Love’s Ford Mustang was pretty good all day. “
McDowell said his No. 34 Front Row Motorsports Ford Mustang wasn’t as good on the short run and if he had a longer run to the checkered flag – a better finish was likely.
“We needed a little bit more speed on the front end and not lose so much track position early on, but the long run speed was great,” McDowell explained. “Had a couple of those runs gone a little longer, I think we would have actually been a little bit better yet, so I’m proud of everybody.
“Phoenix was a good race for us and this obviously being a good race, so I feel like our short track program is turning the corner, at least I hope so. I’m optimistic about that.”
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