NASCAR Cup Series: 5 drivers who will regress in 2021

Drivers who will regress in 2021 – Michael McDowell

The driver of the #34 Ford enters his fourth year with Front Row Motorsports and is coming off a career year. He finished 23rd in the championship standings, had a career-high four top 10 finishes and recorded a career-high average finish of 20.9.

Although it seems that Michael McDowell is hitting his stride in the Cup Series, the likelihood of replicating last year’s success is low, especially when taking into account the midfield competition.

Both JTG Daughtery Racing drivers, Ricky Stenhouse Jr. and Ryan Preece, failed to finish eight races last season. The two drivers, namely Stenhouse, showed solid race pace last year that usurped the pace of the #34 team.

Chip Ganassi Racing have welcomed Ross Chastain, which will likely vault the #42 team over midpack teams such as Front Row Motorsports. Further, Ryan Newman is back with the #6 team at Roush Fenway Racing, and with a full season, he has a good shot to move past drivers such McDowell and Stenhouse in the standings.

Last year, McDowell failed to finish a race only twice, which was tied for fourth best in the series. For a small-budget team, that mark of consistency signifies smart driving and reliable equipment. Replicating that same success is another story, however, and unlikely to come to fruition in 2021.

Still, McDowell and his team have plenty to look forward to this year, notably the addition of road courses to the schedule. With a total of seven road course events, McDowell will have many more opportunities to showcase his road racing skills.