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Michael McDowell |
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KANSAS CITY, KS (April 30, 2007) - To say it was an uneventful weekend for Michael McDowell and the Eddie Sharp Racing (ESR) team would be more than an understatement. Considering that he spun in qualifying, took a provisional starting position, dodged heavy rain, started the race dead-last, and nearly pulled off the top-ten finish, then yes, the Kansas race weekend was plenty eventful.
After McDowell spun his No. 2 Z-Line Designs / Make-A-Wish / Beck Dodge in qualifying, the team took a 33rd place provisional starting spot.
The rain-delayed race's first 18 laps were run under caution as ARCA officials used the 41-car field as makeshift track dryers. While McDowell officially started 33rd, crew chief Patrick Donahue elected to put two tires on the No. 2 Dodge, forcing McDowell to start 41st at the drop of the green flag.
McDowell's machine was loose-handling and in dire need of a caution-filled race to tinker with the set-up. Unfortunately, only two more caution flags waved on the day.
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"We missed on the set-up a little bit; it was clear that we weren't going to set the world on fire during the race," McDowell said. "We started so far back and really needed the cautions to fly in order to work our way up and that just didn't happen."
During a green flag pit cycle, McDowell worked all the way up to 2nd but pitted on lap 70 for fuel. Two laps later the caution flag did come out, much to the discontent of the ESR team.
"We got the caution flag we needed, only two laps too late. (Erik Darnell) was the race leader and he was behind us, so that trapped us a lap down."
From that point forward, McDowell looked to pass lapped cars. After getting by Frank Kimmel with six laps to go, McDowell settled in for an 11th place finish in his first complete race at a 1.5 mile track.
The 11th place finish puts McDowell in 5th in the ARCA point standings through five races.
Up Next: McDowell and Eddie Sharp Racing travel to Winchester Speedway in Indiana on Sunday, May 6 for the Winchester ARCA 200. |
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"The car was extremely good in race trim, I think we have a car that will challenge for the win" - Driver Michael McDowell |
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MOORESVILLE, NC (April 25, 2007) - What a difference a week makes: after running strong all season but not having the finishes to show for it, Michael McDowell and the ESR team scored a pole and a top-three finish at Salem Speedway. They hope to carry that momentum into the 1.5 mile beast known as the Kansas Speedway this weekend.
McDowell and the No. 2 Z-Line Designs / Make-A-Wish / Beck Dodge return to the track after a career-best weekend and look to continue their ascent up the ARCA point standings. The Kansas Lottery $150 Grand will be a chance for McDowell to show that the ESR team not only has short track prowess but can flex its muscles on the intermediate tracks as well.
The No. 2 Dodge was prepared for Kansas during a test at Kentucky Speedway, in which McDowell came away smiling.
"The car was extremely good in race trim, I think we have a car that will challenge for the win" said McDowell. "After the Kentucky test, it's clear that ESR is just as good on the mile-and-a-halves as they are on short tracks."
Kansas will be McDowell's second visit to a 1.5 mile track. His first was last September at Chicagoland Speedway in which he was caught up in a first lap accident.
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"The only uncertainty is experience," McDowell continued. "Chicago didn't go to our liking but the seat time I've gotten in tests has been positive. It will take a little bit of time to get re-acclimated to this type of track, but I'm certain we can be competitive by race's end."
"Salem was a big boost both for morale and for our place in the point standings. If we can keep that momentum going, it's going to be a big weekend for us at Kansas."
McFACTS:
> McDowell is currently in 6th place in the ARCA RE/MAX Series standings.
> McDowell scored his first ARCA Pole Award at Salem last weekend.
> Last weekend at Salem, McDowell led the race's first 56 laps and brought home the Accel Fast Lap of the Race Award.
> Also at Salem, McDowell was the top finishing Rookie of the Year candidate.
> McDowell has scored five top-ten finishes in his last seven races.
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| Kansas Lottery $150 Grand |
| Date: |
April 27, 2007 |
| Track: |
Kansas Speedway (Kansas City, KS) |
| Race Distance: |
100 Laps (150 miles) |
| Team: |
Eddie Sharp Racing |
| Crew Chief: |
Patrick Donahue |
| Qualifying takes place at 12:45 pm on Friday, April 27. The race begins at 4 pm that same day. |
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