Michael McDowell opens up about being aggressive, racing for wins with playoff implications on the line

Michael McDowell is officially in the NASCAR Cup Series playoffs, and one has to wonder if it’ll alter his driving style over the next week or so.

The Front Row Motorsports wheelman found victory at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Road Course, and locked himself into the postseason. Now while other drivers try to get in themselves, running more aggressive than ever, McDowell can let them battle it out, while he retains his position.

Speaking with FOX Sports’ Bob Pockrass, McDowell explained how other driver’s playoff implications will change his style late in races, and whether or not it’ll have a huge impact on him moving forward.

I wondered if Michael McDowell would be a little less physical going for the win now that he has one. I didn’t expect the answer I got, but it makes sense that he would think the way he does. pic.twitter.com/JzUJETR6lh

— Bob Pockrass (@bobpockrass) August 20, 2023

“It just depends on who it is. I mean, really, it does. You don’t know, I mean, you don’t really think about a lot of that stuff, if you just kind of let your gut do it. But if it’s a guy that has to win his way into the playoffs, moving them out of the way on the last lap with a dive-bomb move, I think would be, I would go for it, but I don’t think I would just straight do that to somebody, in the position I’m in currently, right this second,” explained McDowell. “If it was [Kyle] Larson, or William Byron, guys that have four or five wins, I don’t think I would just move them out of the way either, but you would race them with a little less worry, that if you locked up the tire and slid wide and got into them, that you weren’t taking away their season.

“But I don’t know, I haven’t been in that spot a lot, to think about things like that, so that was just my guy answer to you. … But that’s just how I think I would think about it.”

That makes sense from McDowell. At least if it’s a driver like Byron or Larson, who’s already more than locked in to the playoffs, you don’t have to worry about potentially ending their season. However, if it’s someone like Bubba Wallace or Ty Gibbs, who’s right on the bubble, a more cautious style may be the way to go.

Regardless, that’ll all go out the window after Daytona next weekend, as the NASCAR playoffs will begin. Michael McDowell will be in it for himself, and to win a championship, and he’s never been hotter than he is right now. Perhaps an upset title is in his future.