| TOLEDO, OH (October 14, 2007) - On a day that was considered Michael McDowell's swan song race in the ARCA RE/MAX Series, McDowell sang a tune that would be remembered as one of the most eye- popping single-race performances in series history.
The Phoenix, Arizona native scored his fourth career victory-first at a short track-in a race that saw the 22 year-old dominate but also seal the victory at Toledo Speedway with a late race pass that any fan would appreciate.
McDowell started the weekend off on the right foot, landing the ARCA SIM Factory Pole Award with a blistering-fast time of 16.469, over 1.5 tenths of a second faster than teammate Ken Butler III, the second place qualifier. While Saturday in Toledo was designated for McDowell's metaphorical attempt at breaking the sound barrier, Sunday was all about seeking the win in his No. 2 Lotame / Make-A-Wish Dodge. He didn't disappoint.
From the drop of the green flag, McDowell extended his lead to well over ten car lengths in the race's first ten laps. In what looked to be a route of the 35-car field, McDowell led the first 109 laps before making his lone pit stop of the day. McDowell made quick work of new leader Justin Allgaier, reclaiming the lead on lap 117. For the next 54 laps, the former Rolex Sports Car Series winner and Star Mazda Series champion pummeled the field, not flinching out of the lead until lap 171 when lapped traffic caught the front pack and 17 year-old James Buescher swooped by McDowell for the first place position.
With less than 30 to go, McDowell and Buescher played a cat-and-mouse game in between several race stoppages thanks to a myriad of individual accidents in the event's closing laps. McDowell patiently tested the waters, attempting to make a pass one groove higher than the line Buescher was running. His patience would prove to be a virtue in a two-lap dash to the checkered.
With Buescher leading and McDowell trailing in second, the 200-mile finale re-started with two laps to go. With an immediate jump on the re-start, McDowell pressed Buescher to the high side of turn one. Buescher blocked but McDowell got enough of a jump to stick his bumper underneath his opponent's machine. After a light bump-and-run maneuver, McDowell took the white flag and the ensuing checkered to score win number four on the 2007 ARCA RE/MAX Series schedule.
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2008 ARCA Rookie of the Year Michael McDowell |
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A noticeably appreciative McDowell soaked in the win, which clinched him the highest win total for all ARCA competitors in 2007:
"I'm happy about this one," said a beaming McDowell. "This is for everyone at Eddie Sharp Racing. They never cease to prove that they can rise to the occasion and to take home this trophy, get my first short track win, and go out like this is a testament to their ability and dedication."
McDowell enjoyed re-living the winning pass:
"When James (Buescher) got by me, I figured we could get the lead back in short order but he owned that bottom line and I wasn't sure if moving up one groove would work or not. I didn't want to get into the back of him, but that move was my only chance to do it. He's going to be an outstanding driver and he raced me clean, which I appreciate. I had a blast today. It was such an awesome race. I love this track and this is one last memory I'll hold on to from this year."
McDowell was named the series' Rookie of the Year following the conclusion of the race. In addition, he brought home the Stewart Warner Lap Leader Award (most laps led in the series) and scored the race's Holley Halfway Leader Award (his fifth), the ARCA SIM Factory Pole Award (his ninth), and the Accel Fastest Lap of the Race.
Next stop: NASCAR.
McDowell's graduation to racing's hallowed ground didn't come without a spectacular dabble in one of the most versatile racing series on the planet. His tenure in ARCA was only one year long but the experience was worth the while:
"What a terrific year," McDowell continued. "We didn't win the championship and I congratulate Frank (Kimmel) on that accomplishment, but everything that happened this year made me become a better race car driver. Everyone who helped, Z-Line Designs, Make-A-Wish, Mission Residential, Lotame, Beck, Dodge, and Eddie Sharp Racing, meant so much to me, allowing me come and run a year in this series. The next step in my career will no doubt be a tough transition but I welcome the challenge and feel that I'm more prepared to take on that journey thanks to this year." |
| Before he scored his three wins and became an integral part in the closest ARCA point battle in the last decade, there was his much-talked about showing at Toledo
Blazing through the field with 30 laps to go, McDowell proceeded to pass Ken Schrader (with a pass-in-the-grass) and Frank Kimmel, before whizzing by teammate Ken Butler III for the lead. With three laps to go, Butler and McDowell tangled, spinning McDowell out of the lead and into a seventh place finish. Butler went on to win while McDowell watched in disbelief.
This weekend is “Round Two.”
McDowell will pilot his No. 2 Lotame / Make-A-Wish Dodge for the final time in the Hantz Group 200 by Belle Tire. The sure-fire bet for ARCA’s Rookie of the Year Award has made it abundantly clear that he wants to go out with a bang.
“We’ve got a car that’s capable of getting the track record in qualifying and leading all 200 laps,” said McDowell. “This is my last race for Eddie Sharp Racing and I want to make it a special one. We should have won the last time we were here but we got taken out, so that didn’t happen. This weekend, we’re getting that trophy.”
The half-mile track served as arguably McDowell’s best individual driving performance of 2007. Despite not getting the win last May, McDowell says Toledo was the ignition to an incredible stretch run that included three wins and six more ARCA SIM Factory Pole Awards.
“The Spring race really was the kick-start we needed for that good stretch of runs,” he continued. “I left it all out there—we didn’t come away with a win but at that moment I knew this team had something special. It was clear that we could be a force for the remainder of the season.”
Unless Frank Kimmel decides to be an absentee racer for the season finale, McDowell is mathematically eliminated from winning the championship. Still, McDowell looks to put on a spectacular show in his swan song race with Eddie Sharp Racing.
“This is it for us. It has been a blast to work with Eddie and Patrick (Donahue, crew chief). Being here has made me a better race car driver and it has given me an opportunity to try so many different tracks over the course of the year. I look forward to the next step in my career but this weekend, we’re going to grab one last checkered flag.”
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"This is it for us. ... I look forward to the next step in my career but this weekend, we’re going to grab one last checkered flag." -Michael McDowell |
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The race will be televised live on SPEED at 2 pm EST on Sunday, October 14. Qualifying will take place the prior Saturday, starting at 2:15 pm.
McFACTS:
> McDowell has clinched the Stewart Warner Lap Leader Award by virtue of leading 656 laps on the season.
> 59 of those 656 laps were led last May at Toledo Speedway. He finished seventh.
> He also captured the pole his last time out at Toledo, with a lap of 16.544. He currently has a series-high nine ARCA SIM Factory Pole Awards.
> McDowell’s second place finish in the standings is all but locked; however, he leads the ARCA Rookie of the Year Standings by 36 points over Phillip McGilton.
> In six pavement short track races in 2007, McDowell has one runner-up finish (Berlin), two third place finishes (Salem twice), and an average finish of 9.16.
RACE: |
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| Hantz Group 200 by Belle Tire |
| Date: |
Sunday, October 14, 2007 |
| Track: |
Toledo Speedway (Toledo, OH) |
| Race Distance: |
200 Laps (100 miles) |
| Team: |
Eddie Sharp Racing |
| Crew Chief: |
Patrick Donahue |
| The ARCA RE/MAX Series event will get underway Sunday October 14, 2007 at 2:00pm at Toledo Speedway. Catch the race live on SPEED. |
2007 ARCA RE/MAX SERIES DRIVER POINT STANDINGS
After Event #22, ARCA RE/MAX Series 250,
Talladega Superspeedway, Talladega AL, 10-5-07 |
| POS |
NAME |
POINTS |
STARTS |
WINS |
TOP-5 |
TOP-10 |
| 1 |
Frank Kimmel |
5250 |
22 |
3 |
10 |
16 |
| 2 |
Michael McDowell |
4955 |
22 |
3 |
10 |
14 |
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