McDowell Aims for Success as Spire Motorsports Shines at Pocono

LONG POND — Spire Motorsports is enjoying a remarkable season in the NASCAR Cup Series. Carson Hocevar celebrated his inaugural win at Talladega in April driving the No. 77 Chevrolet, and just weeks ago, Daniel Suarez triumphed in the No. 7 Chevrolet at Charlotte, delivering an emotional victory shortly after the tragic passing of Kyle Busch. “It’s incredible to see,” remarked Michael McDowell, the team’s third driver. “We all knew it was coming... the processes being put into place and the people we were able to get to improve the program.”

With hopes of joining the winning streak, McDowell is set to compete on Sunday at Pocono Raceway in The Great American Getaway 400 Presented by Visit PA. Originally slated for 3 p.m., the 100-lap race has been rescheduled to 1 p.m. due to weather concerns.

This season, McDowell has achieved two top-five and three top-10 finishes in his No. 71 Chevrolet. He narrowly missed a victory at Watkins Glen, finishing second to Shane Van Gisbergen. “Honestly, it’s been an up-and-down season. We’ve had some good runs and some not-so-good runs,” McDowell explained. He emphasized the importance of finding consistency as he and the team work through their challenges.

Despite not having the same level of success as his teammates, McDowell remains optimistic. “It’s not like, ‘Aw (shoot), my teammates are outrunning me,’” he said. “Everything is there to be successful. Now we just need to go put it together.” He is determined to overcome the hurdles and improve, viewing each race as a chance to refine their performance.

Pocono presents a unique challenge that McDowell relishes. “The race track is awesome, just so unique,” he shared, noting the distinct corners and the strategic elements required for success. After Pocono, he will face two road-course races, which he is eager to tackle. As the regular season progresses, McDowell is currently tied for 20th place, 46 points away from the cutline for “The Chase.” “We need to clean that up and get some of those points back over the next few weeks,” he stated, highlighting the need for consistent execution in the upcoming races.

In other news, Christopher Bell, who suffered a broken left wrist in a crash at Michigan, plans to race at Pocono despite his injury. “I didn’t really have any thought of not racing,” Bell stated, expressing gratitude for NASCAR's safety advancements that allowed him to walk away with relatively minor injuries.