Better Late Than Never ? Michael McDowell Having the Season of His Life as Front Row Motorsports Cling Onto Playoff

Nothing ever goes as planned in this accursed world, but one has got to make the most of everything, a mantra that Michael McDowell believes firmly. With an intriguing journey into this season’s playoffs backed by notable talent, Front Row Motorsports still has a shot at the NASCAR Cup Series Championship.

With its 19th season in the Cup Series, the team is leveling up quite steadily. Till now, it has made it to the playoffs twice: Once with Chris Buescher in 2016 and then with Michael McDowell in 2021. However, both finished last in the round of 16. But it’s better to make the playoffs with a 16th than stay below that line. There is a bright ray of hope for the No. 34 team, as his improvement over the last couple of years has been remarkable.

The Sisyphus of NASCAR- Michael McDowell

Dale Earnhardt once said, “The winner ain’t the one with the fastest car. It’s the one who refuses to lose.” McDowell is unbelievably one such driver who never refuses to admit defeat. The journey at NASCAR has been a roller coaster ride for this 38-year-old.

For a long time, this speedster was known as a driver who escaped a horrendous crash during the qualifying laps at Texas Motor Speedway in 2008 for Michael Waltrip Racing. In 2009, he started and parked for all eight of his Cup Series starts. 2010 saw McDowell fall short of finishing 23 of his 24 starts, with 22 of those being start-and-parks. In the 2013 season, he suffered 111 DNFs throughout the 127 races in the Cup Series. With no formal education, McDowell never had a Plan B. Motorsports was his only passion and the only means to earn a livelihood.

In a montage from last year, the Arizona native opened up about his struggles and said: “I came into the sport with a big contract and a multi-year deal. And nine months later, I was without a job and my wife was pregnant, expecting out first child and just so much happening in that period of time…I remember, just opening up my Bible and just praying like ‘Lord, what do you want me to do?”

It takes a lot to hang in there and not get the desired results, even after giving it all. In a recent tweet by Dustin Albino, the Jayski.com journalist adores the perseverance that this man has shown even after suffering 111 DNFs out of his 127 Cup starts.

However, the best thing about time is that it changes. McDowell made a run for the first race of 2021, the Daytona 500. With about five laps to go, he took a big run around turn 2 and wheeled past a contact to earn the title of champion. For him, it was the biggest breakthrough in his career. Fast forward to 2023, and the Ford Mustang driver is sitting in the 16th spot in the Cup Series standings, 17 points above the cutline. He is just five races away from the hour of judgment, and although he should not be sitting back and relaxing, both the team and the driver are hopeful about the outcome.

The bridge between Front Row Motorsports and the playoffs

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With today’s race at Richmond and the upcoming races at the Indianapolis Road Course, Watkins Glen, and Daytona, McDowell is confident in how he is going to plan the time ahead of him. Having top 10 and top 15 speeds for the team in recent races definitely looks like a run for the P1 and definitely not just mere luck.

When asked by a Frontstretch reporter about his strategy for the upcoming races, McDowell said:

“Just taking it race by race, so much can happen in the next five weeks so just gotta qualify well today at Richmond and run well tomorrow. And just take it one week at a time…I’m just focused on our race.”

The way he mentioned the names of fellow NASCAR stars like A.J. Allmendinger and Bubba Wallace as worthy competitors clearly shows the amazing sportsman spirit that he bears in his heart. He said that it is going to be tough, but he will not leave any stone unturned.

With the recent successes of this driver, there has been some murmur within the industry that he is a potential candidate for the famous Stewart-Haas Racing team in the coming season. McDowell is naturally pleased with all of this. What does the 2024 season have in store for this humble, down-to-earth, God-loving NASCAR icon?

Read more: A Heroic Call By Michael McDowell And Front Row Motorsports Warrant Him A Playoff Chance