Michael McDowell wins fifth consecutive superspeedway pole award at Talladega
For the sixth time this season and on the fifth consecutive superspeedway, Michael McDowell and Front Row Motorsports are on the pole. The speed that this team has had this NASCAR season on the drafting tracks has been out of this world.
Front Row Motorsports is embattled in a lawsuit right now. They, along with 23XI Racing, are suing NASCAR over antitrust complaints.
Whatever is going on off the track has nothing to do with on the track. Michael McDowell held a steady wheel, put his foot to the floor, and almost won the pole by two-tenths.
When Front Row announced the alliance with Team Penske, I think people expected an improvement. But what we have seen so far this year has been another level of speed.
Yes, it’s a superspeedway. But Michael McDowell did not have a single pole award prior to 2024. He now has six, including one at Gateway. His teammate Todd Gilliland has been extremely fast as well.
Austin Cindric, Todd Gilliland, Kyle Busch, Ryan Blaney, Joey Logano, Austin Dillon, Denny Hamlin, Harrison Burton, and Daniel Hemric all round out the top-10 to start Sunday’s race. Richard Childress Racing really brought it this week.
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“It’s just amazing,” McDowell said after winning the pole. It was a team effort, for sure.
Michael McDowell hoping to play spoiler
With six poles this season, Michael McDowell has as many as Christopher Bell did a year ago when he led the Cup Series in poles. So, there is still time for him to outdo that mark set last year by a very talented Bell.
This weekend, McDowell is focused on being the spoiler. He was in the lad and in control of the spring race at Talladega until he wasn’t. That led the way for Tyler Reddick to come in and clean up the mess, winning the race.
At this point in the season, if you aren’t a playoff driver, winning a race is all you are worried about. McDowell is hoping that he gets to be the big spoiler on Sunday when the checkered flag waves. He doesn’t want these drivers to have an easy path to the Round of 8.
Michael McDowell gets it done again. Front Row Motorsports makes a big statement the week of the lawsuit and now, all there is left to do is race at Talladega.