Michael McDowell Feels Indy Win Could Protect Them From NASCAR Shrewdness

In a stunning display of skill and determination, Michael McDowell claimed victory at the Indianapolis Road Course on Sunday, cementing his position as a force to be reckoned with in the NASCAR Cup Series. He drove the #34 Ford and triumphed in a nail-biting finish, crossing the line just one second ahead of Chase Elliott, while Daniel Suarez claimed the third position from his pole-sitter start. However, the victory carried more profound implications beyond the checkered flag.

In a recent episode of the ‘Actions Detrimental’ podcast hosted by Denny Hamlin and Jared Allen, NASCAR driver Michael McDowell made waves with his insights following his victory at the Indianapolis. The win secured McDowell a spot in the NASCAR Cup playoffs and ignited a conversation about technology and strategy’s critical role in modern NASCAR racing.

Unveiling NASCAR’s Hidden Tech Battle: The Hawkeye Advantage

During the discussion, McDowell stated, “If I do my job well, we’ll have a Hawkeye before the end of the year. If I do it well, that’s the plan. That’s the goal.” This prompted the JGR driver, Denny Hamlin, to explain, “So I’ll take it down to 6th-grade level. He just said we’ll have a Hawkeye by the end of the year. The fact that Y’all doesn’t is amazing. It’s absolutely amazing. It’s the Hawkeye is essentially the device that scans the car, and it makes sure that the outer body of the car and the underbody of the car is legal.” 

“So it’s just versus you saw back in Days of Thunder when they put the old aluminum plate on top of the car, and it fit the template everywhere that that piece wasn’t touching. The teams would twist or move and gain an arrow advantage. You have to have a Hawkeye to get all the advantages out of your car. It’s just that it’s just a fact. I mean, the last thing, one of the last things they do, before they load in the hauler, is run it back through the Hawkeye after they set up the car.”

McDowell further revealed the challenges his team faces with Hawkeye. While NASCAR provides access to the Hawkeye, scheduling conflicts make it a competitive challenge, especially for smaller teams like McDowell’s. He highlighted the intricate dance of finding time slots to run the car through the Hawkeye, which they share with Xfinity teams and their alliance partners. This resource sharing undoubtedly puts smaller groups at a disadvantage compared to larger organizations.

Another primary topic that emerged during the podcast was the intricate interplay between the drivers’ championship and the owners’ championship.

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Unmasking NASCAR Strategy: Michael McDowell Dives into Owner’s Championship Dynamics

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During the podcast episode, Denny Hamlin delved into the nuanced world of the NASCAR Owners Championship. He highlighted how a driver’s performance directly impacts the team’s owners’ points, which hold significant financial ramifications. By earning owners’ points, a team safeguards itself against potential financial setbacks caused by a driver’s illness or injury. The 23XI owner emphasized that, although drivers bask in the spotlight, owners carry the weight of the team’s financial stability and long-term value.

“The drivers, of course, get all the fame, but as the owners, I’m going, ‘Oh no, Ouch.’ So we got to get Bubba in he’s he needs to win and or gain a bunch of points on one of those guys. I think it’s probably the nine-car that’s the next ahead of him on the owner, So it is very difficult sometimes to understand,” the 2022 Coca-Cola 600 winner told McDowell.

Jared Allen brought up the intriguing scenario that emerged last year with Kurt Busch. Despite Busch not being eligible for the driver’s championship, he raced to accumulate points for the owner’s championship, a rarity in NASCAR. The landscape became even more intricate this year due to penalties and driver substitutions. Hamlin and Allen discussed the significance of making the owner’s championship, underlining its historical importance and impact on a team’s future prospects.

READ MORE: “I Lost My Lead Engineer to Penske” – Michael McDowell Reveals How Billionaire Roger Penske Brought Him the Win