TALLADEGA, Ala.: In the two superspeedway races of 2021, Front Row Motorsports’ Michael McDowell has averaged a finish of second after earning his second top-five finish of the season in Sunday’s GEICO 500 at Talladega (Ala.) Superspeedway.
McDowell, the 2021 winner of the Daytona 500 entered the 10th race of the NASCAR Cup Series season without the luxury of his race winning Ford Mustang as that’s enshrined in Daytona until next February – but that didn’t seem to matter for a car that was teammate Anthony Alfredo’s earlier in the season.
Despite starting 23rd, McDowell cautiously worked forward in the race and was able to capture a stage point by finishing eighth.
Throughout Stage 2, the No. 34 Love’s Travel Stops Ford Mustang found himself part of the Talladega shuffle but by the end of stage, McDowell had crafted his way back to fourth with a positive outlook for the third and final stage.
In Stage 3, McDowell kept his presence inside the top-10, even through green flag pit stops with about 30 laps to go. When the penultimate caution of the rave waved at Lap 171, McDowell sat 10th.
Quickly on the restart, he was able to take advantage of track position and move back into the top-five when the final caution waved at Lap 184 setting the field up for overtime.
Restarting fifth and with guidance from crew chief Clayton Hughes, McDowell was able to make moves in the two-lap shootout with help from his fellow Ford friends.
Coming to the white flag, McDowell sat fourth locked on the bottom groove with eventual winner Brad Keselowski. As the cars roared onto the backstretch, McDowell with drafting help from Kevin Harvick had moved to second and eyed his second career Cup victory.
Entering the frontstretch, McDowell made his move to try and take the win by moving to the top lane trying to get side-by-side with Keselowski but without the benefit of a drafting partner tucked underneath him, McDowell had to charge on the outside alone – and slipped to third at the checkered flag getting beat by William Byron by one-one thousandths of a second.
“I felt like it was pretty close,” said McDowell. “I am just so thankful to everybody at this Front Row Motorsports team. We have fast superspeedway cars. This Ford Mustang was fast. It has been a great season for us. I really felt like I was in a good spot again working with Brad (Keselowski) and drug back off of him coming off of Turn 4. I thought I would have the run but just didn’t suck him down enough.”
While McDowell didn’t get the win, he did end a six-race inconsistency streak with finishes inside and outside the top-20 and 30.
McDowell also praised Cup championship spotter Hughes – who took the guiding role at the beginning of the season.
Clayton is a huge asset, a big part of our success that we’re having here at these speedway races and everywhere,” spoke McDowell. “Him and I are gelling together really well. He knows what I need, is able to give me the information so I can make good decisions. He does a great job. It’s been a big step for us this year.”
Knowing chemistry is important for a driver and spotter, McDowell admits it took a while to find that right combination. He says Hughes fits perfectly.
“So much is chemistry and personality and how it all gels and fits,” he said. “That relationship is very unique and special. It’s taken me a little while to find that. Clayton and I do really well together. We’ve had some success already, so it’s a good package and I’m thankful to have him.”
Since sliding from ninth to 17th in the championship standings over the last six races before Talladega, McDowell said he considered the day great — and yes, even his year especially being able to run in the top-10 and having a win already in the books.
“It was a great run, and I am glad there is another Ford Mustang in victory lane,” added McDowell. “I am thankful to all our partners. It has been a great year. To get a top-five and to be running in the top-10 and have a win says a lot for this team and Bob Jenkins for giving me the opportunity.
“It’s a dream come true. This is what I’ve worked so hard to be in a position like this: to run well consistently, to have the opportunity to perform. I’m so thankful to Bob Jenkins, everybody at Front Row Motorsports, for not only allowing me to be a part of their team but growing it and building it.
“We’ve come a long way in four years. I do take a lot of satisfaction in being a part of that process, continuing to add to the stats and the performance for our race team.”
Not even halfway through 2021, McDowell is already looking ahead to 2022 where he hopes the performance gap shrinks between the front and back of the field.
“The future’s bright for us,” sounded McDowell. “We want to keep building this momentum, keep getting better, roll that into the NextGen car next year, try to feel like we can close the gap to the bigger teams even one more step.
“Like I said, the future’s bright, and really looking forward to it.”
Needing momentum on his side and hopeful to stay in the Playoff picture with 16 or less winner this season, McDowell captured several stage points – but said he wished he had a second victory to tally in case the unpredictableness of more than 16 winners this season which could potentially leave drivers on the sidelines of the 10-race Playoff run –even with a victory this season.
“I would rather be in Victory Lane and having two wins,” McDowell admitted. “I’d really not worry about it.
“But it is a great day. We wanted to score stage points, make sure we capitalize on these opportunities that we have at superspeedways and road courses, the races we have coming up, because we need the points. I’m not sure where we’re at now in the points, but we were pretty close to that 16th with a win.
“I feel like we’re doing a good job of managing what we can manage. But winning a race, winning another race, would obviously put us in a really good spot. Having Brad Keselowski check that box is not bad because we knew he was going to win a race at some point throughout the year. Obviously really strong in the points. That’s kind of a double win for me on that aspect because obviously there could be another surprise winner here in some of the other places.
“If I couldn’t win, I’m glad Brad was able to because we anticipate he’ll be able to win a few more before the Playoffs start.”
Exiting Talladega, McDowell moved four spots in the championship standings to 13th heading to Kansas Speedway next week where he earned finishes of 16th and 19th last season for FRM.
Follow Chris Knight on Twitter @Knighter01.
