Spire Motorsports aims to improve in the 2026 NASCAR Cup Series after a disappointing 2025, with drivers Daniel Suárez, Michael McDowell, and Carson Hocevar looking to break through for wins and playoff appearances.
Underdogs Michael McDowell and AJ Allmendinger face off in the first round of NASCAR's In-Season Challenge, with the winner having a chance for a Cinderella run in the tournament, highlighting their strengths on drafting and road courses, respectively.
Michael McDowell criticizes NASCAR's delay in granting Kyle Larson a playoff waiver after Larson missed the Coca-Cola 600 to compete in the rain-delayed Indianapolis 500. Despite two wins this season, Larson's playoff eligibility is uncertain. NASCAR has no set timetable for a decision, and Larson remains focused on winning a championship regardless of the waiver outcome.
Michael McDowell secured the pole position for the NASCAR Cup race at World Wide Technology Raceway with a record-breaking qualifying lap of 139.241 mph. This marks his third pole of the season. Front Row Motorsports, which recently formed a technical alliance with Team Penske and was elevated to tier-1 by Ford Performance, dominated the top three starting spots. Team Penske’s Austin Cindric and Ryan Blaney will start second and third, respectively. Hendrick Motorsports did not place a driver in the final round of qualifying for the first time this season.
Front Row Motorsports has purchased a charter from Stewart-Haas Racing, expanding to a three-car team for the next NASCAR Cup Series season. While Todd Gilliland is expected to return, Michael McDowell will move to Spire Motorsports. The team, which has a technical alliance with Team Penske and a strong relationship with Ford Performance, aims to prepare a competitive new team for 2025 and achieve playoff spots in 2024.
Michael McDowell secures his first career pole position at Atlanta Motor Speedway for the upcoming NASCAR Cup Series race, with Joey Logano and Kyle Busch starting second and third, respectively. Martin Truex Jr. is the fastest Toyota driver, qualifying in 12th place, while Erik Jones narrowly avoids a crash to secure the last spot on the grid. Ford drivers dominate the starting lineup, with the race scheduled to begin at 3:19 p.m. ET on Fox.
The 66th Daytona 500, NASCAR's biggest event, began a day late due to rain, with Joey Logano at the pole position and Ryan Blaney starting in 32nd after a crash. Michael McDowell started next to Logano at the front of the pack.
The 2024 Daytona 500, NASCAR's season opener, is set to take place at Daytona International Speedway with Joey Logano and Michael McDowell leading the field. The race is scheduled for Sunday at 2:30 p.m. ET, with live coverage on Fox and streaming available on the FoxSports website and app. However, rain may impact the event, with a chance of postponement. The race consists of 200 laps around the 2.5-mile track, and the lineup includes top drivers from Ford, Toyota, and Chevrolet.
Ford teammates Joey Logano and Michael McDowell will lead the field in the 66th annual Daytona 500, with Tyler Reddick and Christopher Bell making up the second row. Chase Elliott and Austin Cindric will start in row three, while Denny Hamlin seeks his fourth Daytona 500 victory from row four. Four drivers had to earn their spots, with Jimmie Johnson starting the highest. Four drivers will go to backup cars after crashes in the Duel races, and Ford has the most drivers qualified for the race.
Joey Logano will start on the pole for the 2024 Daytona 500, with Michael McDowell joining him on the front row. Tyler Reddick and Christopher Bell will start in the second row after winning their qualifying races, while Jimmie Johnson and Kaz Grala raced their way in during Thursday night’s qualifying races.
Michael McDowell secured his second NASCAR Cup Series playoff appearance by winning the Verizon 200 on the Indy road course, holding off Chase Elliott. McDowell took the lead early in the race and maintained his position for most of the 85-lap event, capitalizing on track position and skillful driving. The race featured minimal cautions, allowing McDowell to dominate and secure the victory.
The NASCAR Cup race at New Hampshire Motor Speedway is set to take place on Monday, with the green flag waving at 12:05 p.m. ET. Three of the last four races at this track have been won by drivers securing their first win of the season and a playoff spot. Daniel Suarez and Michael McDowell currently hold the final two playoff spots, tied with 407 points, with Suarez owning the tiebreaker. Bubba Wallace is three points behind, AJ Allmendinger is 13 points back, Ty Gibbs is 26 points from the cutline, and Austin Cindric is 38 points away. The race will be broadcast on USA Network, with coverage starting at 12 p.m. ET.
Michael McDowell expressed his displeasure with Ty Gibbs during the All-Star Open, running him off the track after an earlier incident that caused McDowell to crash. Gibbs advanced to the All-Star Race by finishing second to Josh Berry, while McDowell finished 13th. Gibbs acknowledged McDowell's frustration but said they were racing to make it into the All-Star Race.