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RACE REPORT
BAD LUCK MARS DOMINANT PERFORMANCE BY MCDOWELL, ESR
Mechanical problems take pole-sitter out of contention at Winchester
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WINCHESTER IN (MAY 7, 2007) - After shattering a ten year-old track record to win the pole and leading the most laps in the race, Michael McDowell and Eddie Sharp Racing suffered mechanical difficulties leading to a disappointing 22nd place finish. But there was no doubt that McDowell's No. 2 Z-Line Designs / Make-A-Wish / Beck Dodge was the class of the field this weekend.
In his first race at the half-mile track, McDowell turned a lap of 16.319 seconds, good enough not only for the pole, but to best Tim Steele's ten year-old track record. With the same chassis used at Salem Speedway (where McDowell qualified on the pole and finished 3rd), the Arizona native was optimistic about his chances for the win.
As soon as the green flag dropped, McDowell showed that he was the man to beat. The No. 2 Dodge led the first 65 laps, giving away the lead only to get four tires and fuel following a yellow flag. After the caution period, McDowell re-started 11th and worked his way back up to 4th until he felt a vibration and was forced to pit again after another caution flag waved. While attempting to climb through the field, the car gave way to mechanical difficulties when pieces of his wheel broke off and got caught in between his brake rotor and caliper, ultimately destroying the caliper. Once that happened, McDowell brought the car into the garage early and settled for a 22nd place finish.
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"We had the car to beat. That's for sure..."
Michael McDowell
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While the race didn't give the result he wanted, McDowell was pleased with the team's effort:
"We had the car to beat, that's for sure," said McDowell after the race. "Both ESR cars were fast and either one of us could have won. Winning the pole was huge and proving that we were the dominant team added to that, but we're just snake-bitten it seems. This is a team that has the potential to seal the deal (with a win) and we're just going to keep working towards doing that."
The 22nd place finish drops McDowell to 6th in the ARCA RE/MAX Series point standings after six of 23 races.
Up Next: McDowell and Eddie Sharp Racing will venture to Sparta, Kentucky to take on the Kentucky Speedway on Saturday, May 12 for the Buckle-Up Kentucky 150. |
QUALIFYING
MCDOWELL TAKES WINCHESTER POLE; SETS NEW TRACK RECORD
Wise Qualifies Fifth But Damages Car; Starting From Back
WINCHESTER IN (MAY 5, 2007) - ARCA RE/MAX Series Rookie of the Year contender Michael McDowell, in the No. 2 Z Line-Make A Wish-Beck Dodge, did not let a lack of experience at Winchester Speedway slow him down on Saturday evening.
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| Qualifying Results: Winchester |
POS |
NO |
DRIVER/HOMETOWN |
TEAM & CAR |
TIME |
SPEED |
POLE |
2 |
Michael McDowell
Phoenix AZ |
Z Line-Make A Wish-Beck Dodge |
16.319 |
110.301 |
5 |
22 |
Josh Wise
Mira Loma CA |
ESR Development Team Dodge |
16.567 |
108.650 |
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The 2007 Rookie of the Year contender earned his second career ARCA Sim Factory Pole Award, circling the .5-mile high-banked oval in 16.319 seconds and breaking a ten-year-old track record set by Tim Steele in 1997.
"It was awesome to break the track record and to get a second pole," said McDowell. "It just shows how great of a program Eddie Sharp has. I think we have a shot at the win tomorrow."
The Phoenix, Arizona native has never competed at Winchester Speedway before and did not test.
Qualifying fifth, McDowell's teammate, Josh Wise, in the No. 22 ESR Development Team entry, backed into the turn-two wall during his second of two qualifying laps. He will start Sunday's Winchester ARCA 200 from the rear of the field so that the team can make repairs to the racecar.
ARCA Sim Factory Pole Qualifying was delayed by several hours after rain showers pushed back Winchester Speedway's Saturday schedule. The Winchester ARCA 200 starts Sunday afternoon at 1 p.m.
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PRACTICE UPDATE
ESR LEADS FIELD IN WINCHESTER PRACTICE
McDowell and Wise One-Two
WINCHESTER IN (MAY 5, 2007) - ESR's two entries rocketed to the top of the speed charts Saturday afternoon at Winchester Speedway, with Rookie of the Year contender Michael McDowell leading the charge around the .5-mile high-banked oval |
| Practice Results: Winchester |
POS |
NO |
DRIVER/HOMETOWN |
TEAM & CAR |
TIME |
SPEED |
| 1 |
2 |
Michael McDowell
Phoenix AZ |
Z Line-Make A Wish-Beck Dodge |
16.602 |
108.421 |
| 2 |
22 |
Josh Wise
Mira Loma CA |
ESR Development Team Dodge |
16.694 |
107.823 |
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McDowell, who has never competed at Winchester Speedway, did not test at the Indiana-based short track. This afternoon's practice session marked his first laps around the track in the No. 2 Z Line Designs-Make A Wish-Beck Dodge. Michael Waltrip Racing development driver Josh Wise, in ESR's No. 22 car, was second quickest.
"The car was good," said Wise, who is completing a partial ARCA RE/MAX Series schedule this season. "I told the team I wanted to come race here because I made my ARCA debut here last year and the car was tight, so I told the team to make it wider. They just made it a lot wider and then we tightened it up a little bit when we got here."
Team owner Eddie Sharp credited his driver's positions at the top of the charts to good people, hard work, and the advantages that come when two teams work together as one
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2 CAR RACE PREVIEW
WITH A HEAD OF STEAM MCDOWELL SETS SIGHTS ON WINCHESTER
McDowell and ESR are looking for a win at the half-mile track
MOORESVILLE, NC (May 3, 2007) - Pole? Check. Top-five finish? Got it. Adversity? Overcame it. The last two races for Michael McDowell and Eddie Sharp Racing have acted as high notes for the 2007 season. Now, McDowell looks to raise the bar even higher.
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Michael McDowell |
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McDowell and the No. 2 Z-Line Designs / Make-A-Wish / Beck Dodge will venture to Winchester Speedway in Indiana for this Sunday's Winchester ARCA 200, the sixth race of the 2007 ARCA RE/MAX Series season.
For Winchester, ESR brings the very chassis that McDowell drove to a pole and 3rd place finish two weeks ago at Salem Speedway. After last week's 11th place finish at Kansas, the team sits in the top-five in point standings and is hoping to continue that ascent.
McDowell, who makes his first career start on the Indiana half-mile track, likes his chances for not only a good points day, but also a victory:
"We've got a good (car) coming with us to Winchester. It was scary fast at Salem and that will apply here," explained McDowell. "We're confident; at Kansas I made a mistake in qualifying which put us behind the eight-ball a little bit, but that didn't take away from what we were doing. If we can go mistake free on Sunday, then there's no doubt in my mind we'll be sitting in victory lane before it's all said and done."
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McFACTS:
> McDowell has advanced five positions in the point standings in the last two races and is currently in 5th position.
> This is McDowell's first career race at Winchester Speedway.
> In ARCA's two short track races in 2007, McDowell has an average qualifying position of 4th and claimed a pole at Salem Speedway.
> McDowell has scored five top-ten finishes in his last eight races.
> McDowell is currently ranked 2nd in the ARCA Rookie of the Year standings.
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| Winchester ARCA 200 |
| Date: |
May 6, 2007 |
| Track: |
Winchester Speedway (Winchester, IN) |
| Race Distance: |
200 Laps (100 miles) |
| Team: |
Eddie Sharp Racing |
| Crew Chief: |
Patrick Donahue |
| ARCA Pole Qualifying will take place at 4:15 pm on Friday. The Winchester 200 begins at 1 pm this Sunday. |
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