November 9, 2009 – Michael McDowell brought the No. 36 Wave Energy Drink Toyota home in 41st place during Sunday’s Dickies 500 at the Texas Motor Speedway in Ft. Worth.  After rolling off the starting grid in 37th place, McDowell put the car through its paces.  He had to dodge a serious accident on the third lap which took out point leader Jimmie Johnson’s No. 48 car.  The accident and subsequent 38th place finish shrank Johnson’s overall lead to just 73 points over second place Mark Martin in the 2009 Chase for the Sprint Cup Championship.  Johnson’s previous lead had been 181 points.  There are only two events left in the season.

“Getting in the field Friday seemed like a complete race in and of itself,” said McDowell.  “I think it just shows how hard this Tommy Baldwin Racing team works both in the shop and at the track.  This is still a very new car we brought and we’ve gotten most of the kinks out of it.  We were happy to be here today for the folks at Wave Energy Drink and most people know that the Texas race pays pretty well, too.  I’m satisfied,” he added.

Kurt Busch won the Dickies 500 on Sunday, followed to the line by Denny Hamlin, Matt Kenseth, Mark Martin and Kevin Harvick rounded out the top-five finishers on the day.  Next week, the No. 36 Wave Energy Drink Toyota Team and the NASCAR circuit head to Phoenix International Raceway in Avondale, AZ for the running of the Checker/O’Reilly Auto Parts 500.  Coverage begins at 3:30 p.m. EST next Sunday on the ABC Network.