NASCAR: Michael McDowell almost broke a Daytona 500 record
By Asher Fair
Michael McDowell almost broke a Daytona 500 record by becoming the eighth driver to secure his first career NASCAR Cup Series victory in the “Great American Race”.
He led only the 200th of 200 laps, but that’s all that matters when it comes to securing the Harley J. Earl trophy at Daytona International Speedway.
Michael McDowell secured his first career NASCAR Cup Series victory in the 63rd annual Daytona 500 to open up the 2021 season, delivering Front Row Motorsports just their third ever victory and first since 2016.
He led only the final lap around the four-turn, 2.5-mile (4.023-kilometer) high-banked oval in Daytona Beach, Florida, and he led for only a few seconds after running in third place and shooting to the lead when contact between Team Penske teammates Brad Keselowski and Joey Logano caused a massive wreck heading into turn three.
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Because of the magnitude of the carnage, the caution flag came out almost immediately after the wreck took place, and the race did not get the chance to finish under green. It was confirmed that McDowell was ahead of Hendrick Motorsports’ Chase Elliott when the caution period began.
As a result, McDowell became a Daytona 500 champion. In doing so, he became the eighth driver to secure his first career Cup Series victory by winning the “Great American Race” and the first to do so since Trevor Bayne pulled it off 10 years ago.
The other six to do so are Tiny Lund, Mario Andretti, Pete Hamilton, Derrike Cope, Sterling Marlin and Michael Waltrip.
McDowell, who has competed in the Cup Series since 2008, did so in his 358th career start in the series. Only one driver had ever secured his first career Cup Series win in the Daytona 500 later in his career than McDowell did.
Bayne did it in his second start in 2011. Lund did it in his 133rd in 1963. Andretti did it in his seventh in 1967. Hamilton did it in his 21st in 1970. Cope did it in his 72nd in 1990. Marlin did in his 279th in 1994.
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Waltrip is the only driver whose winless streak to start his career was longer than McDowell’s when he ended it in victory lane as a Daytona 500 champion. He won the race in 2001 in what was his 463rd career Cup Series start.