NASCAR: Top 3 remaining free agents for 2023
By Asher Fair
Top NASCAR free agents for 2023: No. 1 – Michael McDowell
Speaking of Front Row Motorsports, the top remaining free agent on the market is Michael McDowell, who is coming off of a career year with the Bob Jenkins-owned team in 2022.
McDowell didn’t find victory lane or qualify for the playoffs in 2022 like he did in 2021 as the Daytona 500 champion, but his season as a whole was far better than any of his previous seasons in the sport.
He tied his career-high with two top five finishes, and he more than doubled his previous top single-season top 10 finish total of five with 12. He also more than doubled his previous top single-season laps led total of 33 with 67, and he set a new career-high in average finish (16.7), bettering his previous best by nearly four full positions (20.5).
He also led the Cup Series in laps completed (9,380) and miles raced (12,742.38). The only driver separating him from teammate Todd Gilliland in those two categories was series champion Joey Logano.
Before the 2022 season began, the 37-year-old Phoenix, Arizona native told Beyond the Flag that he truly believed that the introduction of the Next Gen car would level the playing field and that this meant Front Row Motorsports were poised to surprise a lot of people, and he was right.
Next. JGR still have a big decision to make. dark
Barring a surprise retirement announcement, there is little reason to believe that he won’t be back for a sixth season behind the wheel of the #34 Ford in 2023.