“He Wouldn’t Have Had Success,” Michael McDowell Makes Bold Statement About Hall of Famer HMS Crew Chief

While Michael McDowell has only two feathers in his cap, including his recent triumph at the Indianapolis track, the fact that he’s made the playoffs while many big guns are still warming the bench is something that’ll resonate with NASCAR aficionados for ages.

In fact, his sheer joy was palpable even during his post-race interviews as well. He tipped his hat to his crew chief, Travis, crediting him for the wide berth he gave him. Meanwhile, during a chinwag on the NASCAR on NBC podcast, Jeff Burton spilled the beans that McDowell made waves with comments about other crew chiefs, including the one in HMS.

“Not every program is right for every crew chief,” quips Michael McDowell, referring to the Hendrick Motorsports chief

After sweeping the board at the Indianapolis race with a stage win followed by a grand finale at pole position, McDowell was quick to share the limelight, emphasizing the ensemble act behind the success in his curtain call interview.

Jeff Burton revealed on the podcast that McDowell firmly believes that you can’t compare apples and oranges; every team dances to its own tune, leveraging unique strategies. The former stock car racer spilled the beans on NASCAR on NBC, and underscored McDowell’s philosophy, reiterating his statements: “Crew Chief in at Hendrick is different than crew chief in at Penske, and it’s different than crew chief in at Gibbs, and it’s different than crew chief in at Front Row.”

Further shedding light on the matter, McDowell used Hendrick Motorsports crew chief Chad Knaus, as a case in point: “Every team operates differently, and you could take Chad Knaus at the height of his career and put him in another program that didn’t work for him. And he wouldn’t have had success. It has to work. And not every program is right for every crew chief.“

Indeed, the stars aligned for Travis and McDowell in Indianapolis, steering their squad to victory. McDowell echoed this harmony in his post-race interview as well.

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“This is my guy,” professed McDowell about his crew chief

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In the aftermath of the race, a curious journalist probed McDowell about entrusting his wheelhouse to a relatively green crew chief. The racer’s retort struck a chord with NASCAR enthusiasts.

He opined that while there are many crew chiefs in the cup series who wear the mechanic’s cap well, while others wear the engineer’s hat, his team wanted someone who could juggle both roles. He mentioned that when Travis’ and his paths first crossed, he aimed to test his mettle—to stir the pot, so to speak. His spark was evident—just the fire he sought. Among the handful he considered, after the meetings, he stated, “…I left that lunch like this is my guy. If I can get him, this is my guy.”

Extending their camaraderie, McDowell affirmed that their harmonious blend has borne fruit. His candid reflections underscore that a robust crew is as pivotal as a top-notch car and an ace driver. Moreover, his revelations definitely peeled back the curtain on the inner workings of racing teams, shedding light on the pitfalls some racers encounter upon switching camps, as not all setups resonate with every driver or crew chief.

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