Race Weekend Central

5 Points to Ponder: Lady Luck Deals NASCAR Bad Hand in 2021 Debut

Austin Cindric crashes on the final lap of the 2021 Daytona 500.

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

ONE: Lady Luck Big Player in Disjointed Daytona 500 There were a lot of Valentine’s Day dinners ruined Sunday night (Feb. 14) by the Daytona 500 turned 24 Hours of Daytona Lite. A six-hour rain delay felt entirely preventable, the fourth time in the last 10 NASCAR season openers there’s been a rain delay. At what point …

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The Big 6: Questions Answered After the 2021 Daytona 500

Michael McDowell celebrates his 2021 Daytona 500 win Photo: NKP

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

Who… should you be talking about after the race? With duct tape on the hood and all hell breaking loose around him, Michael McDowell drove through a fiery last-lap crash and held off Chase Elliott and Austin Dillon just long enough for the caution flag to fly, winning his first career NASCAR Cup Series race on …

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Stock Car Scoop: Will Daytona 500 Start Time Be Moved Up?

Michael McDowell poses with his Daytona 500 trophy. Photo NKP

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

More than 10 hours after the 2021 Daytona 500 began, Michael McDowell outlasted a five-plus hour rain delay to score his first career victory. But would the delay have even happened with a start time at Daytona International Speedway of 1 p.m. ET instead of 2:30? Bryan Nolen is joined by Frontstretch reporter Adam Cheek to …

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Thinkin’ Out Loud: 2021 Daytona 500

Michael McDowell Confetti Daytona (Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

What happened? Michael McDowell won the 63rd annual Daytona 500 on Sunday (Feb. 14) after a fiery last-lap wreck for his first career victory in his 358th start. Chase Elliott, Austin Dillon, Kevin Harvick and Denny Hamlin rounded out the top-five finishers. THIS IS HIS MOMENT! Retweet to congratulate @Mc_Driver on winning The Great American …

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Zach’s Turn: Did Drivers Take Too Long at Daytona to Make Their Move?

Denny Hamlin and Austin Dillon battle for position in 2021 Daytona 500 Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

For most of Sunday night’s (Feb. 14) Daytona 500, the pack rode single file in hopes of timing their runs right. Instead, last-minute moves left some drivers wadded up and others just short of victory in the 63rd annual Daytona 500 at Daytona International Speedway. With the field thinned to just 16 cars on the …

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The Underdog House: Michael McDowell Proves Every Dog Has His Day

Michael McDowell wins 2021 Daytona 500, Chase Elliott close second, Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

Top Dog 10 years after the unthinkable happened when Trevor Bayne won the 2011 Daytona 500, the unthinkable happened again. After 14 years and 358 starts driving for underfunded teams in the NASCAR Cup Series, 36-year-old Michael McDowell is a Daytona 500 champion with Front Row Motorsports. McDowell had been caught up in a 16-car …

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Joey Logano, Brad Keselowski Wreck from Lead on Last Lap of Daytona 500

2021 Daytona 500 Last Lap Crash Involving Brad Keselowski, Joey Logano, Kyle Busch, Austin Cindric

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

Brad Keselowski‘s goal for the Daytona 500 was pretty simple. “I’m looking forward to the opportunity of hopefully not getting caught up in somebody else’s wreck and if that happens, capitalizing,” Keselowski told media on Jan. 26. It’s an understandable goal for someone who entered Sunday’s race having wrecked out of six of the last …

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Michael McDowell Scores 1st Career Win in Wreck-Filled, Rain-Delayed Daytona 500

Michael McDowell Love’s at Cup Daytona I 2021 Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

A rain-plagued 2021 Daytona 500 ended nearly 10 hours after it began, after 12:20 a.m. ET on Monday (Feb. 15). For Michael McDowell, it was worth the wait. The No. 34 Front Row Motorsports Ford driver earned his first career win at Daytona, taking the underdog team to victory lane in his 358th career start. …

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Michael McDowell, Love’s Re-Up for 2021

NASCAR Cup Series

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

Love’s Travel Stops returns to Front Row Motorsports and Michael McDowell‘s No. 34 in 2021 in the NASCAR Cup Series, the team announced Feb. 3. The eight-race primary sponsorship includes the hood of McDowell’s car in the Daytona 500 next week. Love’s will also be an associate partner with the team throughout 2021. “2020 was …

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2021 NASCAR Preseason Power Rankings No. 26: Michael McDowell

NASCAR Cup Series

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

After completing his best NASCAR Cup Series season to date, Michael McDowell looks to build on his success in 2021. He’ll do so with 21-year-old Anthony Alfredo, McDowell’s third Front Row Motorsports teammate in as many years. Alfredo replaces John Hunter Nemechek in the No. 38 Ford, after Nemechek signed with Kyle Busch Motorsports in …

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Michael McDowell, Anthony Alfredo Driving for FRM in 2021, David Ragan Racing Daytona

NASCAR Cup Series

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

Michael McDowell will remain with Front Row Motorsports in the NASCAR Cup Series in 2021, while Anthony Alfredo moves to the team to compete for Rookie of the Year honors, the team announced Jan. 6. McDowell returns to the No. 34, while Alfredo will drive the No. 38 vacated by John Hunter Nemechek. 2021 will …

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2020 NASCAR Team Reviews: Front Row Motorsports

2020_Review_FRM

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

Front Row Motorsports wrapped up the 2010s decade with three full-time NASCAR Cup Series entries. In 2019, its drivers combined accrued two top fives and three top 10s. Its three drivers finished 27th, 30th and 31st in the championship standings. The team sought to rectify its struggles in 2020 by fielding two full-time entries. Michael …

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