Veteran NASCAR driver Michael McDowell is set to celebrate his 500th start in the NASCAR Cup Series during the upcoming race at Martinsville Speedway.
In 2008, McDowell made his NASCAR Cup Series debut at Martinsville Speedway driving for Michael Waltrip Racing, an event marked by his 34th starting position and a commendable 26th place finish despite encountering a flat tire toward the race’s end. He has overcome early career challenges, such as the memorable crash during the 2008 Samsung 500 qualifying at Texas Motor Speedway, from which miraculously, he walked away unscathed.
Throughout his career, McDowell has steadily built a reputation for reliability and consistency. A peak in his impressive career came with his victory at the 2021 Daytona 500. Additionally, in 2017, McDowell recorded career-best finishes, including a 4th place at the Coke Zero 400 at Daytona.
For the current season, McDowell drives the No. 34 Ford Mustang for Front Row Motorsports, a partnership that has fostered stable performances over six consecutive seasons. The vehicle for the forthcoming race, featuring sponsorship by Benebone, was last seen during the Watkins Glen International race, where McDowell finished 7th. McDowell commented:
“It’s pretty special to be making my 500th career Cup Series start and to achieve such a big milestone in my career. Martinsville was where I got my first ever start back in 2008, so it’s cool that it has come full circle to this weekend. Just want to thank everyone who has been a part of this journey – team owners, sponsors and fans – who have supported me all these years.
“It’s awesome to have Benebone back on the car this weekend. We’ve run well every time they’ve been on our Ford Mustang Dark Horse this season, so we’re going to try to keep the momentum up at Martinsville.”
McDowell’s milestone places him as the 47th driver in NASCAR history to achieve 500 career starts, joining an elite group that includes current drivers like Kyle Busch, Martin Truex Jr., Denny Hamlin, Joey Logano, and Brad Keselowski.
Crew Chief Travis Peterson also commented on the upcoming milestone, stating:
“For anyone to have raced in this sport for as long as Michael has is pretty remarkable, especially with some of the names he’s included with. It’s an awesome honor to be on the box for his 500th start and I know the team is excited as well to be a part of this milestone.”
The NASCAR Cup Series Xfinity 500 race is set for Sunday, November 3, at 2:00 pm ET.
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