By Caleb Whisler, Staff Writer
With the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series returning to ISM Raceway, Michael McDowell reflects on his career, but remains excited about the future.
As a young child, McDowell had high expectations and knew that he would be racing in the Cup series one day. At the age of 33, the veteran driver was able to realize how difficult and humbling NASCAR is.
“I look back and think about how crazy I was. I was out of my mind. It is something that I take very seriously that I am one of 40 on a race weekend. I know there are a lot of talented guys out there, probably more talented than I am to be in that spot. It is not something I take for granted,” McDowell stated.
McDowell entered into the top-level of NASCAR in 2008 with Michael Waltrip Racing. In 2010, McDowell thought that his career in NASCAR was complete, but other opportunities. In 2017, for the first time in his career, McDowell was able to run a full-time schedule with Leavine Family Racing. In 2018, McDowell joined Front Row Motorsports seeing more gains in performance.
“The last two years for me to actually see performance gains. Last year was my first year running full-time in nine seasons in the Cup Series. To be able to put together a solid season and to come back and start off this year pretty well, yeah, it is very rewarding, especially for all those times that I came here and start-and-parked and ran only 30 laps and was just trying to keep a job and provide for my family,” McDowell continued.
“To go through those four or five years of just really struggling, trying to figure out why I am here, what am I doing? To have the experience and understand the cars, know the racetracks and race competitively is something that is very rewarding.”
For most of his career in Cup, McDowell had to start-and-park after a couple of laps in each event that he participated in. When the charter system was implemented in the 2015 season, the start-and-park system began to fade away. Without that system, the veteran driver understands that he might not be in the position where he is now.
“The opportunity for me to start and park was great for my career as far as being able to stay in the sport and still get experience and spend time. I agree with you. Had that not been in play, I am not sure I would be here.I also think about that there are probably four or five cars in the race this weekend that have a charter that are running full distance but operating on similar budgets that we did as a start and park.” McDowell continued.
“We had to go all out to make a race. You remember when there were 45 or 50 cars trying to make a race. You didn’t cut any corners. You had the best engine you had and the full allotment of tires for practice, best radiators, everything just to make the race. We spent a lot of our money just to make the race back then. Now because you don’t have to do that, I feel like five years ago I would just be in one of those cars doing that.”
Although reflective of his career to this point, McDowell is excited about the future of FRM. Last weekend at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, FRM was able to get both cars into the second round of Cup qualifying, something they were only able to do five or six times previously. Before retiring from the race early due to debris in the radiator, McDowell was running towards the front of the field. The performance last week gives the organization extra motivation moving forward.
“We left there pretty excited about where we are at as a race team and where we could potentially be. A lot of great things are happening right now at Front Row. It is showing all the hard work everyone has put in back at the shop and to have a little speed is always nice. We just have to keep pushing, keep fighting,” McDowell stated.
In just three races in 2018, McDowell has had one top-10 finish and has led 11 laps.