"When the race started the Champion Mortgage Toyota was tight in the center and tight off," McDowell said. "We kept pitting any chance we were able to under caution for the guys to work on it."

As McDowell's team owner/teammate Michael Waltrip inherited the lead at Lap 41 before a routine pit stop, his Champion Mortgage Toyota was 37th.

"We were still battling tightness in the center, but we were loose off," McDowell said. "We ended up going a lap down not long after that. As the race went on, we didn't have any grip on both ends and the car would snap loose."

When a caution occurred at Lap 102, McDowell said over the radio that handling was improving.

"The car was the best it had been," McDowell said. "The guys put on four tires and made an air pressure adjustment all the way around."

Michael McDowell

McDowell's No. 00 Champion Mortgage Toyota Camry team is 35th in the owner points standings heading into Infineon Raceway.

"Road course racing is something that I have been successful at in my career," McDowell said. "I feel like we can really make up some ground in Sonoma. We've tested a few times at road courses and we've been really good. So, this weekend is a race that I'm really looking forward to with my Michael Waltrip Racing team."

Live coverage of the Toyota/Save Mart 350 at Infineon Raceway on Sunday, June 22nd will air on TNT at 5 p.m. ET and PRN Radio beginning at the same time.

MICHIGAN QUALIFYING
RAIN CANCELS QUALIFYING AT MICHIGAN

McDowell to start 33rd

Brooklyn, Mich. (June 12, 2008) – Sprint Cup qualifying was rained out on Friday at Michigan International Speedway when the clouds opened up soon after the time trial session began.

The grid for Sunday's LifeLock 400 was set by the NASCAR rulebook. That puts Michael McDowell 33rd on the grid. Teammates David Reutimann will start 28th and team owner Michael Waltrip will start from 38th

The weather was supposed to be sunny for Saturday, which has two Cup practice sessions on the schedule, one at noon ET with final practice set for 1 p.m.

MICHIGAN PREVIEW
McD SET FOR MICHIGAN

McDowell Feels Certain Michael Waltrip Racing will Excel at Michigan

Brooklyn, Mich. (June 12, 2008) – Michael McDowell is optimistic about racing the No. 00 Champion Mortgage Toyota Camry at Michigan International Speedway (MIS) this Sunday where Michael Waltrip Racing (MWR) earned a top 10 and top 15 finish in June 2007 with Michael Waltrip and David Reutimann respectively.

"The fact MWR ran well there last year boosts our confidence heading into this weekend," McDowell said. "Michael (Waltrip) led the race and finished 10th and David (Reutimann) finished 15th. I feel like we can excel at a place like Michigan."

On Friday, McDowell qualifies the No. 00 Champion Mortgage Toyota Camry for the 200-lap LifeLock 400 at MIS where he has experience.

"The fact that I have been there before will help," McDowell said. "It doesn't matter how I ran there last year in the ARCA RE/MAX Series race because for me, it is the fact of knowing how to get around the place."

Even though McDowell has raced at MIS, he is prepared for challenges he may face as a NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Raybestos Rookie.

"On this level, it can be just as difficult going to a track you have been to before," McDowell said. "Every weekend is challenging. I like Michigan and I think we have a good shot at a solid finish in the No. 00 Champion Mortgage Toyota."

Like most, McDowell favors the two-mile speedway with 18 degree banking and 73-foot wide sweeping turns because of track speed and multiple grooves.