SPARTA, KY (May 14, 2007) - Same song, different verse: after a Winchester weekend which saw ARCA RE/MAX Series rookie Michael McDowell break a longstanding track record and have mechanical problems ruin what appeared to be a solid finish, a little more of the same happened this weekend at Kentucky Speedway.
Without making a single mock-qualifying run in practice, McDowell ripped off a lap of 30.702, claiming his third ARCA Pole Award of 2007. He led an all-Eddie Sharp Racing front row to the green flag Saturday night with hopes of earning his first career win and expectations of a dominating evening.
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Butler III & McDowell on the front row |
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McDowell led the first four laps of the Buckle-Up Kentucky 150 and then settled in behind the Roush Fenway Racing entry of Erik Darnell. McDowell remained in 2nd place when, on lap 26, his No. 2 Z-Line Designs / Make-A-Wish / Beck Dodge cut a right front tire and turned into the outside wall. The ESR crew deemed the car irreparable and McDowell's night was over. The result was a 39th place finish, not one bit to his liking. |
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"If we were running poorly, that would be one thing, but the hard part is that this is a team that can win and these cars have been exceptional all year." - Michael McDowell |
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"This is just so frustrating right now. I don't know what we need to do, but we need to change up our luck," said McDowell, post-accident. "If we were running poorly, that would be one thing, but the hard part is that this is a team that can win and these cars have been exceptional all year."
"Winning the pole was great. That's just another testament to how hard Patrick (Donahue, crew chief) and our team are working. We have the manpower and the mechanical power to succeed, but unfortunately we're having a string of bad luck. We need to get things turned around quickly."
After seven of 23 races, McDowell sits 7th in the ARCA RE/MAX Series point standings.
Up Next: This Sunday, Eddie Sharp Racing travels to the home of ARCA, Toledo, Ohio, for the Hantz Group 200 by Federated Car Care. |
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Michael McDowell |
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SPARTA KY (MAY 12, 2007) - Eddie Sharp Racing's Michael McDowell earned his second consecutive SIM Factory Pole Award and third of 2007 Saturday afternoon at Kentucky Speedway. McDowell, in the No. 2 Z Line-Make A Wish-Beck Dodge, circled the 1.5-mile Kentucky Speedway in 30.702 seconds (175.884 mph).
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"The Eddie Sharp Racing Beck Dodge was really good this morning," said McDowell. "Unfortunately the practice results don't really show that just because we didn't get a chance to make a qualifying run. We unloaded good and that's what it takes at these events when you have a limited practice. I feel we have a really strong racecar. I didn't really think we had a car strong enough for the pole so I feel good for tonight."
Audio Interviews at ARCARacing.com |
MOORESVILLE, NC (May 10, 2007) - Kentucky Speedway has emerged as a favorite track for stock car teams of all types because of the great side-by- side racing, the excellent motorsports atmosphere, and the propensity of the track to bring out the best and worst of each driver.
This weekend, Michael McDowell and Eddie Sharp Racing roll into Sparta, Kentucky ready to take on both the exciting 1.5 mile track and the always dicey ARCA RE/MAX Series field for the Buckle-Up Kentucky 150.
McDowell brings his No. 2 Z-Line Designs / Make-A- Wish / Beck Dodge to Kentucky after an admirable performance on the mile-and-a-half Kansas Speedway (11th place finish) and a dominating effort last weekend at Winchester Speedway in Indiana (Pole Award and race lap leader).
McDowell and Eddie Sharp Racing previously tested at Kentucky, shaking down a car formerly of the Chip Ganassi Racing NASCAR Nextel Cup stable. According to McDowell, the test went well and that same car will be brought back for the race:
"The car will be great in race-trim," said McDowell. "We proved at Kansas that we can run up front at an intermediate track and the test here gave us confidence in the car we're bringing."
The dominating show McDowell put on last weekend at Winchester resulted, unfortunately, in a DNF after mechanical woes forced him out of the race. McDowell dropped one position in the ARCA point standings-something he doesn't intend on making a trend:
"It's important for us to get back in this point race. We lost some ground at Winchester, so we have to run well and bring the car home for a top-five or top-ten, which we know we're capable of, and start climbing the standings."
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Michael McDowell |
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While it is McDowell's first official start at Kentucky Speedway, his seat time at the test provided him with an affinity for the Blue Grass oval:
"I really like the track. There's going to be some side- by-side action and a lot of passing. Hopefully, we can get the luck to go along with the good run we're going to have, but it should be great. I'm looking forward to racing under the lights." McFACTS:
> McDowell dropped one position in the ARCA point standings after the race at Winchester Speedway. He currently is in 6th position.
> This is McDowell's first career race at Kentucky Speedway.
> In his only other start on a 1.5 mile track in 2007, McDowell finished 11th after taking a provisional starting spot at Kansas Speedway.
> McDowell leads all drivers in ARCA Pole Awards (2) and is second among all drivers in laps led in 2007.
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| Buckle-Up Kentucky 150 |
| Date: |
May 12, 2007 |
| Track: |
Kentucky Speedway (Sparta, KY) |
| Race Distance: |
150 Laps (100 miles) |
| Team: |
Eddie Sharp Racing |
| Crew Chief: |
Patrick Donahue |
| ARCA Pole Qualifying will take place at 4 pm on Saturday. The one-day show will conclude following the race, which begins at 8 pm under the lights at Kentucky Speedway. |
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