Michael McDowell win at Indy shakes up playoff fight
SPEEDWAY, IN. — Michael McDowell broke through Sunday at Indy and scored a big win for him and the NASCAR Cup Series playoff fight.
McDowell led 54 of 82 laps and broke through for his and Front Row Motorsports’ first full-length win at a non-drafting track.
Front Row Motorsports has been full-time in the series since 2009, with starts backing to 2005. Sunday was McDowell’s 453rd Cup Series start.
McDowell took the lead from polesitter Daniel Suarez on lap five then held on for his first career stage win.
STAGE ONE TOP-10 (LAP 15): McDowell, Suarez, Chase Elliott, Tyler Reddick, Kyle Larson, Kyle Busch, Christopher Bell, Alex Bowman, Shane van Gisbergen, Martin Truex Jr.
Suarez took over the lead during pit stops in stage two. However, with Denny Hamlin and Brad Keselowski on an alternate strategy causing a roadblock for him, Suarez fell behind McDowell while battling Keselowski.
STAGE TWO TOP-10 (LAP 30): Hamlin, McDowell, Suarez, Keselowski, Elliott, Busch, Reddick, Bowman, Chase Briscoe, Larson
Daniel Suarez placed himself behind Michael McDowell after an aggressive bump to Chase Elliott just before their final pit stops.
Then, when Suarez pitted, he had a long stop after the airgun hose got stuck under his left-front wheel.
Suarez fell behind and couldn’t recover. Although he earned the second-most points Sunday (51), behind only Michael McDowell (59), he finished third.
Meanwhile, McDowell held his breathe as Chase Elliott closed to within a second in the final 30 laps he led.
Elliott’s challenge wasn’t enough – McDowell crossed the yard of bricks and earned his second checkered flag in the NASCAR Cup Series.
McDowell is the 141st multi-time Cup Series winner. He put himself in the playoffs for the second time and FRM for the third time.
TOP-10 FINISHERS (LAP 82): McDowell, Elliott, Suarez, Reddick, Bowman, Briscoe, Truex Jr., Larson, Bell, van Gisbergen
Keselowski finished 20th after placing fourth in stage two. He and Kevin Harvick are separated by two points for what could be the cutline if there are two more new winners.
Harvick finished 23rd and didn’t earn any stage points. Bubba Wallace finished 18th and also didn’t earn any stage points.
Ty Gibbs started tenth but had multiple incidents early on that took him out of any stage points. Still, the rookie finished 12th Sunday.
Bubble driver Justin Haley finished 38th, two laps down, after an incident with Joey Logano and lone caution on lap three.
MORE: Kaulig struggles continue at Indy
PLAYOFF BUBBLE
14. Kevin Harvick +145
15. Brad Keselowski +143
16. Bubba Wallace +28
17. Daniel Suarez -28
18. Ty Gibbs -49
19. Chase Elliott -80
20. Alex Bowman -80
Two races remain until the NASCAR Cup Series playoffs: August 20 at Watkins Glen International and August 26 at Daytona International Speedway.
With 13 winners, no one on the bubble is safe, even Harvick and Keselowski.
Discover more from The Racing Experts
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
Jonathan Fjeld View All
Jonathan Fjeld is the co-owner of the The Racing Experts, LLC. He has been with TRE since 2010.
A Twin Valley, MN, native, Fjeld became a motorsports fan at just three years old (first race was the 2002 Pennsylvania 500). He worked as a contributor and writer for TRE from 2010-18. Since then, he has stepped up and covered 24 NASCAR race weekends and taken on a larger role with TRE. He became the co-owner and managing editor in 2023 and has guided the site to massive growth in that time.
Fjeld has covered a wide array of stories and moments over the years, including Kevin Harvick's final Cup Series season, the first NASCAR national series disqualification in over 50 years, Shane van Gisbergen's stunning win in Chicago and the first Cup Series race at Road America in 66 years – as well as up-and-coming drivers' stories and stories from inside the sport, like the tech it takes for Hendrick Motorsports to remain a top-tier team.
Currently, he resides in Albuquerque, N.M., where he works for KOB 4, an NBC station. He works as a digital producer and does on-air reports. He loves spending time with friends and family, playing and listening to music, exploring new places, being outdoors, reading books and writing among other activities. You can email him at fjeldjonathan@gmail.com
One thought on “Michael McDowell win at Indy shakes up playoff fight” Leave a comment ›