"Our car was good," McDowell said. "We had a little damage from when we were coming into the pits and people were coming out. I couldn't get slowed down in time and hit a car, which bent the splitter braces and hurt the balance of the car."

After qualifying 40th Saturday afternoon, McDowell's team made gains with the No. 00 Champion Mortgage Toyota Camry during final practice on Saturday. When the green flag dropped for the 200-lap event, McDowell's car started off a little too free.

Michael McDowell

"We were free in the beginning," McDowell said. "They made a wedge and air pressure adjustment to help it and put on four tires."

Through a series of pit stops, the Michael Waltrip Racing crew continued to work on the car as McDowell was positioned just outside the top 30. As the race progressed the balance of the car changed and McDowell battled a tight handling Champion Mortgage Toyota while mired in traffic.

"We were a little tight off as the race went on," McDowell said.

While the team waited on more opportunities to work on the car, a light rain shower occurred unexpectedly. NASCAR waved the caution flag as the track was dampened. McDowell entered pit road on Lap 69 for four tires and adjustments. Two laps later NASCAR called the field to pit road to check the track and ensure it was safe to return to racing. After NASCAR decided the 2.5-mile tri-oval was completely dry, McDowell restarted 36th on Lap 73.

"The car was still pretty tight," McDowell said.

Under caution at Lap 121, McDowell prepared for his next stop. Entering his pit box, there was contact with another car.

"After that happened and we had damage to the front of the car, it made us tight the rest of the race," McDowell said. "Fortunately, we were able to finish on the lead lap and we were able to pick up a position in the points standings."

The 27th-place finish moved McDowell up to 33rd-place in owner points.

"We are trying to stay in the top 35," McDowell said. "We need to score points and this finish helps a little."

McDowell is looking forward to coming back to Pocono in August after learning a few things.

"I learned that these cars are really easy to over adjust," McDowell said. "You think you're too tight, and make a small adjustment and you're too loose. You go back the other way and you're too tight. It's just really hard to find that balance and I think everybody is struggling with that. Obviously the veterans have a little bit better feel for it, but these cars in particular have a very small window."

Following their efforts at Pocono, the No. 00 Champion Mortgage Toyota Camry team will travel to Michigan International Speedway on Thursday.

"We needed a good solid run and we're looking forward to going to Michigan this weekend," McDowell said. "We needed to outrun some of the guys that we did to stay inside this top-35. Like I said in the beginning of the year, David Reutimann got it in there for me and now I've got to keep it there. We need to get through Michigan with a solid run and I know we can score a lot of points at Sonoma."

Live coverage of the LifeLock 400 at Michigan International Speedway on Sunday, June 15th will air on TNT at 12:30 p.m. ET and MRN Radio at 1:15 p.m. ET.

POCONO FINAL PRACTICE
McD FASTEST ROOKIE IN LAST PRACTICE

QUOTES:
MICHAEL MCDOWELL, No. 00 CHAMPION MORTGAGE TOYOTA:

YOU RAN WELL IN THE FINAL PRACTICE.
"Yeah, for sure. We went back and kind of thought about what we were doing a little bit and made a few changes last night. Unloaded with a similar balance we had yesterday and just too tight and just worked most of the day to free it up without making it definitely loose which is tough to do in these cars. But the Champion Mortgage car there in happy hour was pretty good, somewhere right there in the top-20. I think we've got a good car. I got around some good guys and was able to hang or pass ‘em. It's definitely the best I've felt so that's good. Beats the heck out of our qualifying effort."

IS IT GOING TO BE DIFFICULT TO PASS HERE IN THE RACE?
"I thought it was but it's not, really. If your car is good and it turns in the middle and you get back to the throttle you can pass guys no problem. I think the big deal for me has been we haven't been better than anybody else. We've been as good and that makes it real tough to pass. Now I feel like we're better than a handful of cars and when you get around ‘em you can actually pass. These cars in general are tough to pass, not just because of the COT but just this series. There are so many good drivers and teams nobody is so far out of the spectrum that they can't do it. It seems that we're getting the car balance a little bit better. Bill Pappas [crew chief] and all the guys are doing well. I think it's hard to manage our expectations. You've got me, a Raybestos Rookie driver and Bill Pappas who's a rookie crew chief, a rookie to stock car racing. We're all just learning but they don't give you a whole lot of time to learn in this series."

Michael McDowell

WHAT WOULD BE A GOOD FINISH FOR YOU?
"We need a good day. We're close to that bubble point in the points. We had a decent run going in Dover there with that last pit stop we had a wheel roll out of the box and it took us from a top-25 finish which would have definitely helped our point situation. We're racing those four or five cars around us for points and a good finish here, a good finish at Michigan and then we go to the road course where I feel like I might have a little upper hand."

POCONO QUALIFYING
McD to Start 39th

Live Coverage of the Pocono 500 at Pocono Raceway on TNT will begin at 12:30 p.m. ET and 1:15 p.m. ET on MRN Radio.

POCONO PREVIEW
NEW SPONSOR

Champion Mortgage Signs with Michael Waltrip Racing to Sponsor McDowells No. 00 Toyota Camry

"We are so fortunate to have such great sponsors at MWR like Microsoft, NAPA, Aarons and UPS and today we are proud to announce that we have added Champion Mortgage," McDowell said. "Champion Mortgage offers competitive rates and quality mortgage products. Were looking forward to developing a longstanding relationship with them starting this week at Pocono."

Champion Mortgage, a leading mortgage lender, is a well known name in the Northeast and has been expanding its mortgage lending across the US since the Champion brand became a division of Nationstar Mortgage LLC in 2007. The company looks to continue their expansion into new markets by beginning a partnership with Michael Waltrip Racing in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series.

"Champion Mortgage is excited about the opportunity to team up with Michael Waltrip Racing, a highly respected and well known NASCAR family, and become the primary sponsor of its No. 00 Michael McDowell car," said Tony Barone, President and CEO of Nationstar Mortgage, owner of the Champion brand. "As a leading provider of mortgage loans across the country, we know what its like to be part of a winning team. Champion Mortgage continues to expand its brand beyond the Northeast where the Champion name has been known for more than 25 years and I believe this is a fantastic opportunity to develop and promote who we are. We look forward bringing our mortgage expertise, competitive products and our customer service to provide NASCAR fans the quality service they both expect and deserve."

McDowell is set to showcase his No. 00 Champion Mortgage Toyota Camry for the first time at Pocono Raceway where he was victorious last year driving for Eddie Sharp Racing in the ARCA RE/MAX Series.

"Its nice to be able to go to a track where I have won a race before because at least I know what to expect," said McDowell, who finished second in the ARCA RE/MAX Series points standings last season with four victories. "Im a rookie in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series and Im seeing most of these tracks for the first time. Since I have raced at Pocono a couple times and have a win there in ARCA, I feel really good about going there in the No. 00 Champion Mortgage Toyota Camry."

Michael McDowell

Live Coverage of the Pocono 500 at Pocono Raceway on TNT will begin at 12:30 p.m. ET and 1:15 p.m. ET on MRN Radio.

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