Michael McDowell matches Bill Elliott with historic pole award at Atlanta

For the fifth time this season and in his career, Michael McDowell will start on the pole and lead the NASCAR Cup Series to green on Sunday. He has swept the Atlanta pole awards for the season and he even made a bit of history, too.

Michael McDowell has now won four straight superspeedway pole awards. Atlanta-1, Talladega, Daytona-2 and now Atlanta-2. The last driver to accomplish four straight superspeedway poles was Bill Elliott between 1985 and 1986. Almost 40 years ago.

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It’s amazing that McDowell did not have a single pole award in his career. Now, after 27 races, he has five.

On the drafting tracks, @Mc_Driver has the speed to beat!

He wins the #BuschLightPole at @ATLMotorSpdwy. pic.twitter.com/IacsYvBIXB

— NASCAR (@NASCAR) September 7, 2024

The speed that Front Row Motorsports has found this season is amazing. While this is coming mostly on superspeedways, McDowell was the pole-sitter at Gateway as well. Being upgraded to a top-tier Ford program and the Team Penske alliance has paid dividends.

The thing is, they have outperformed Penske as well. McDowell’s five poles are more than Ryan Blaney, Joey Logano, and Austin Cindric combined (4). This program is headed in the right direction.

Last time the Cup Series was at Atlanta, McDowell won the pole, earned a top-10, and Gilliland led the most laps. What will they get this Sunday as the postseason begins? This FRM organization could play an early spoiler.

Michael McDowell leading Quaker State 400 to green

The first race of the NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs is a day away. Michael McDowell, who is not in the playoffs, will lead the field to green. He is going to try his hardest to get another win for the No. 34 team before he moves on to Spire Motorsports next season.

Ryan Blaney will start on the front row with Michael McDowell. This was total domination from Ford as they take up the first five spots and seven of the top-10.

Todd Gilliland, Josh Berry, Austin Cindric, Kyle Larson, Joey Logano, Austin Dillon, William Byron, and Chase Briscoe make up the rest of the top-10.

Harrison Burton qualified P12 with Noah Gragson P13. After that, Ford had a bit of a drop off to P17 where Chris Buescher is starting. For the most part, it appears that Sunday will be about the blue ovals and their Dark Horse Mustangs.

Michael McDowell got step one out of the way. Now it’s time to turn this pole position into a checkered flag.