HOMESTEAD, Fla. (November 23, 2009) – Michael McDowell’s existence in NASCAR has been anything but normal.
In 2008, after nearly winning an ARCA Series championship the previous year, McDowell was immediately called on to compete in the grueling NASCAR Sprint Cup Series for Michael Waltrip Racing. This season, McDowell competed as a rookie in the NASCAR Nationwide Series, driving for three different race teams over the course of the year.
Three teams and 34 races later, McDowell placed 13th in the season standings, amassing five top-10 finishes and 18 top-20 finishes.
McDowell’s best stretch came behind the wheel of the No. 47 Tom’s Snacks / JTG-Daugherty Racing Ford, which saw the Phoenix native bring home three top-10 finishes (at Las Vegas, Richmond, and Nashville) and propel him into the top-10 in the season-long driver standings.
When a lack of full-season sponsorship forced JTG-Daugherty to change the direction of their 2009 season, McDowell found temporary homes in MacDonald Motorsports and K-Automotive Racing to finish out the remainder of the season. McDowell’s stint with the two underdog organizations allowed him to earn two more top-10 finishes (Iowa and Bristol) and finish the season placing 13th in the point standings.
In addition to his Nationwide Series schedule, McDowell piloted the No. 36 Wave Energy Drink / Tommy Baldwin Racing Toyota eight different times, earning a best finish of 38th at Dover International Speedway.
Not an orthodox season, but also not a bad one considering the ride-jumping.
McDowell was pleased with the season’s outcome.
“You know, this isn’t the way any driver wants to run a season,” said McDowell. “But if it wasn’t for the effort by JTG-Daugherty Racing, MacDonald Motorsports, and K-Automotive Racing with Dustin Whitney, and Tommy Baldwin Racing, I wouldn’t have been able to have this good of a season. I can’t appreciate their help enough.
“I feel now like I’m prepared for anything in this sport. This season wasn’t easy by a long shot, but I’m 100 percent grateful for the opportunity that these teams gave me this year. It was a year for learning and for personal growth – my son, Trace was born this year – and I’m excited to see where 2010 takes me.”
