"David [Gilliland] and I had to go to the NASCAR trailer after the race because they wanted to make sure what happened wasn’t intentional and it wasn’t.” -Michael McDowell

As McDowell was pushed into a wall of tires, Gilliland's car spun out of control hitting the guardrail hard as Sam Hornish Jr. slid sideways hitting the sand barrel barriers driver's-side-first at the entrance of pit road. Dave Blaney, Bobby Labonte, Joe Nemechek, Michael Waltrip, Max Papis and Reed Sorenson were also involved.

"I just feel really bad that a lot of cars ended up wrecked," McDowell said. "I'm just glad everyone was okay. I also feel bad for the fans and drivers that had to wait almost an hour for cleanup before we could go back to racing."

McDowell was looking for a good day to capitalize on his road course experience and after starting 36th set by the NASCAR rulebook due to inclement weather, he had his work cut out for him. McDowell stayed steady and smooth moving into 20th-place by Lap 20. Two laps later, he broke into the top-15.

Before entering pit road on Lap 25 under green for four tires, McDowell was in seventh-place. After his stop, he was 30th. As the yellow flag waved for debris at Lap 47, McDowell was 22nd as crew chief Peter Sospenzo opted not to pit.

"I told him not to pit and to be sure to save as much fuel as possible," Sospenzo said.

The call positioned McDowell 11th on the restart at Lap 50. As others ahead of the #00 Champion Mortgage Toyota hit pit road, McDowell inherited fifth-place on Lap 57. On the next lap under green, McDowell entered his pit box for four tires and fuel.

"Peter had the guys drop rear tire pressures," McDowell said.

Once fresh tires were on and the car was loaded with fuel, McDowell went back to work while shown in 32nd-place. By Lap 63, McDowell was 25th. As the caution flag waved on that same lap for debris, Sospenzo told McDowell to stay out.

"He was six laps or so better on tires than some of the other guys," Sospenzo said. "So, we decided to stay out. I told him just to make sure we brought it home."

On the restart at Lap 66, the #00 Champion Mortgage Toyota was 24th. Staying in and around the top 25, McDowell knew he needed to pick up several spots to try to reposition his team back inside the top 35 owner points. On Lap 77 another caution occurred and on the restart four laps later, McDowell was 24th.

"We were trying to gain every position we could," McDowell said.

While trying to bring home a respectable finish, the incident between McDowell and Gilliland took place on Lap 81. Once safety works cleared the wreckage and NASCAR lifted the red flag after 43 minutes, McDowell's teammate David Reutimann tried to communicate to the Champion Mortgage team what damage the car had.

The damage was very minimal, but NASCAR forced McDowell to pit road on Lap 84 for the team to cut off a very small piece of the bumper with a jigsaw and to also make sure nothing was rubbing the left rear tire. The #00 Champion Mortgage Toyota was in really good shape, but the decision by NASCAR dropped McDowell from 23rd-place to 32nd-place as he restarted at Lap 84.

In one lap after the restart, McDowell picked up seven positions and would go on to finish in 25th-place. McDowell fought hard for every position, but remained outside the top 35 by only eight points.

NASCAR SPRINT CUP SERIES
McDOWELL 20TH IN PRACTICE

Rookie leads MWR squads at legendary road course

WATKINS GLEN, N.Y. (August 9, 2008) - After rain showers forced NASCAR to cancel Sprint Cup Series practice and qualifying at Watkins Glen International yesterday, Michael McDowell had a good run in today's practice behind the wheel of his #00 Champion Mortgage Toyota.

NASCAR SPRINT CUP SERIES
RAIN

NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Qualifying Canceled at The Glen

WATKINS GLEN, N.Y. (August 8, 2008) - Rain showers earlier today forced NASCAR to cancel Sprint Cup Series practice and qualifying at Watkins Glen International. With NASCAR setting the starting line up by the rulebook, David Reutimann will start 28th in the #44 UPS Toyota, Michael Waltrip will roll off 33rd in the #55 NAPA AUTO PARTS Toyota and Michael McDowell starts 36th behind the wheel of his #00 Champion Mortgage Toyota.

NASCAR SPRINT CUP PREVIEW
CENTURION BOATS AT THE GLEN

McDowell Tours National Baseball Hall of Fame before Racing at The Glen

COOPERSTOWN, N.Y. (August 7, 2008) – Today, Michael McDowell will be taking a tour of the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum in Cooperstown, New York before qualifying his #00 Champion Mortgage Toyota Camry at Watkins Glen International on Friday.

"The Museum represents Baseball in our culture and there are thousands of artifacts there from trophies, bats, gloves, helmets, uniforms and much more," McDowell said. "It's one of the largest destinations showcasing our National Pastime. To be able to tour the grounds will be a neat experience. My family grew up in Chicago, where historic moments were made at Wrigley Field so this will be pretty special. While we are in Cooperstown, we'll also stop by a local NAPA AUTO PARTS store to sign autographs and then we're off to Watkins Glen."

"Over the years, Watkins Glen has hosted Formula One, Indy Car, Prototype races and so many other series. There are only a few tracks that have that kind of tradition." -Michael McDowell

Qualifying takes place for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Friday afternoon. Before becoming a full-time NASCAR Sprint Cup Series driver, McDowell qualified Daytona Prototypes in the top-five multiple times next to the likes of Max Angelli and Scott Pruett at the 2.45-mile road course. His experience makes him comfortable with putting his #00 Champion Mortgage Toyota in the race on Sunday.

"I've always qualified well at Watkins Glen driving for teams like Finlay Motorsports," McDowell said. "I've also had great finishes in Daytona Prototypes there and look forward to returning for the first time in a Cup car."

In 2006, McDowell's team finished sixth with their Daytona Prototype in Sahlen's Six Hours of The Glen for Uniden Racing and one year prior he finished fourth driving for Finlay Motorsports. In 2004, McDowell along with Robert Finlay finished eighth in the Grand-Am Cup at the Glen 250.

"I have turned a bunch of laps there and it's a track I like because it has a unique tradition," McDowell said. "Over the years, Watkins Glen has hosted Formula One, Indy Car, Prototype races and so many other series. There are only a few tracks that have that kind of tradition."

McDowell visits the Baseball Hall of Fame at Cooperstown

Live coverage of the Centurion Boats at The Glen on Sunday, August 10th will air on ESPN at 1 p.m. ET and MRN at 1:15 p.m. ET.