November 16, 2009 - Michael McDowell took home 41st place in the No. 36 Wave Energy Drink Toyota during Sunday's Checker's O'Reilly 500k at Phoenix International Raceway. After rolling off the starting grid in 38th place, McDowell drove a safe race, protecting the very same race car that Tommy Baldwin Racing intends on taking to the season-finale at Homestead-Miami Speedway next weekend.
"We made into the field with a little more ease this weekend," said McDowell. "I had a great time here this week in front of my family and friends," noted the Glendale, AZ native. "It's a credit to these guys on this Tommy Baldwin race team and what they're able to accomplish with the amount of resources we have available to us at this point. That being said, I see a pretty bright future if everything continues to fall into place. We've got one more event to go in 2009 and 2010 should see an expanded operation for all of us and it's definitely something to look forward to," he added.
Jimmie Johnson won the Checker's O'Reilly 500k on Sunday, followed to the line by Jeff Burton, Denny Hamlin, Mark Martin and Martin Truex, Jr. 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 the Homestead-Miami Speedway for the season-ending Ford Championship Weekend. Jimmie Johnson now has a commanding 108-point lead in the overall standings and needs to finish 25th or better to wrap up his unprecedented fourth Sprint Cup Championship in a row. Coverage begins at 3:30 p.m. EST next Sunday on the ABC Network.
