|
|
|
|
|
 |
RACE UPDATE
McD RUNNER UP IN HIS FIRST RACE IN THE DIRT
ARCA title contender scores second place finish at Springfield
SPRINGFIELD, IL (August 21, 2007) – Apparently Michael McDowell doesn’t mind getting down and dirty. Case in point: McDowell’s recent foray at the Illinois State Fairgrounds in the first of two annual mud-slinging exhibitions on the ARCA RE/MAX Series schedule.
|
|
Rain washed away any time trial efforts for the race, forcing the field to start the race based on point standings. McDowell, second in series points, lined up on the outside of the front row.
The Eddie Sharp Racing team pitted McDowell’s No. 2 Z-Line Designs / Make-A-Wish / Beck Dodge on lap 13. McDowell ran the rest of the 100-lap event on one set of tires, following Frank Kimmel to the finish line in second place.
The strong finish in such a unique style of racing left McDowell smiling afterwards:
“Bring on DuQuoin!,” exclaimed McDowell, referring to ARCA’s next dirt track race. “Wow! That was a blast out there. To finish second to Frank Kimmel here has to be considered a win for us. I’ve really got to credit everyone at Eddie Sharp Racing for unloading such a great car. Patrick (Donahue, crew chief) and I have never raced dirt, so this will look good on both of our resumés.
“We more than likely had the second-best car here this weekend. We accomplished exactly what we needed to do.”
|
|
McDowell on the dirt: “Wow! That was a blast out there. To finish second to Frank Kimmel here has to be considered a win for us. " |
|
McDowell now trails Kimmel by 95 points in the ARCA RE/MAX Series standings; however, he’s not concerned. This coming weekend’s race at the Milwaukee Mile has McDowell licking his chops:
“Milwaukee will be a good weekend for us. We’re realistic—we knew we may not gain on Frank here at Springfield and that’s fine. We’re going to go to Milwaukee fully focused on getting a pole and a win and narrowing that gap.”
Up Next: On Sunday, August 26, Michael McDowell and Eddie Sharp Racing will travel to West Allis, Wisconsin for one of ARCA’s most heralded races, the Governor’s Cup 200 at the Milwaukee Mile. |
RACE PREVIEW
McD TAKES POINTS CHASE TO THE SPRINGFIELD DIRT
Former Star Mazda champion makes first appearance on dirt oval
MOORESVILLE, NC (August 15, 2007) – ARCA RE/MAX Series rookie Michael McDowell has driven a Champ Car, a Daytona Prototype, a Porsche GT3 and an ARCA stock car. Never has McDowell piloted a car on dirt. This Sunday at the Illinois State Fairgrounds, that will change. |
|
McDowell: “It’s important that we go out there, have a good time, and try not to over think things." |
|
McDowell’s No. 2 Z-Line Designs / Make-A-Wish / Beck Dodge will make its first dirt start of the 2007 season in a race with major point standing implications. After an engine failure cost him a top-five finish last week at Nashville, McDowell now trails point leader Frank Kimmel by 80 markers with eight races left on the 2007 circuit. With zero dirt track experience, the Arizona native is hoping for the best in his visit to Springfield:
“(Dirt racing) will be something new and exciting for sure,” said McDowell. “It’s important that we go out there, have a good time, and try not to over think things. Eddie (Sharp) and Jeff (McClure, crew chief of the ESR’s No. 22 entry) have raced here so we have their experiences to build on.
“We’ll see, I’ve practiced dirt racing with a computer simulator, but I know the real thing will be much more exciting. Eddie Sharp Racing has been strong at every track this year. I had never been to Salem or Toledo and we were very fast there, so I’m hopeful we can unload fast and put together a good run on Sunday.”
The car McDowell will be driving is one that sat on the outside of the front row last year at Salem Speedway (IN) with driver Ryan Mathews. Speed won’t be a problem but keeping in tow with point leader Frank Kimmel will be:
“We created a hole for ourselves after last week (at Nashville). Frank is great on the dirt tracks, so it’s important that we stay near him or finish ahead of him. We’re working on closing the gap and putting ourselves in a position to win this championship.”
|
|
|
| Allen Crowe 100 |
| Date: |
Sunday, August 19, 2007 |
| Track: |
Illinois State Fairgrounds (Springfield, IL) |
| Race Distance: |
100 Laps (100 Miles) |
| Team: |
Eddie Sharp Racing |
| Crew Chief: |
Patrick Donahue |
| Practice, qualifying and the race all take place on Saturday, August 19. Green flag drops at 1 PM |
McFACTS
> This is McDowell’s first race on a dirt oval.
> McDowell is now 80 points behind leader Frank Kimmel in the series standings. He continues to lead the ARCA rookie standings by 20 points over Phillip McGilton.
> The ARCA SIM Factory Pole win at Nashville extended McDowell’s series-leading pole total to six.
> McDowell leads all drivers in laps led; he led the first 33 laps of last weekend’s race, pushing his laps led total to 465.
> ESR will unload chassis No. 062 for McDowell. Ryan Mathews sat on the outside pole with the car last fall at Salem Speedway.
2007 ARCA RE/MAX SERIES DRIVER POINT STANDINGS
After Event #15, Toyota ARCA 150, Nashville Superspeedway, 8-11-07 |
| POS |
NAME |
POINTS |
STARTS |
WINS |
TOP-5 |
TOP-10 |
| 1 |
Frank Kimmel |
3515 |
15 |
1 |
5 |
10 |
| 2 |
Michael McDowell |
3435 |
15 |
2 |
5 |
9 |
For more information on Eddie Sharp Racing, visit www.teamesr.com. |
|
|
|
|
|
