Devon HenryLOS ANGELES – Glendale, AZ native, Michael McDowell returns to the sacred grounds of Daytona International Speedway this week as the NASCAR Cup Series kicks off the 2024 season with the 66th running of the Daytona 500 on February 18.
The jubilation of claiming victory in the most prestigious race in all of stock cars never leaves you after raising the Harley J. Earl Trophy. Winning The Great American Race puts you in a special tier in the world of NASCAR, which is exactly what McDowell did in 2021 to add himself to that exclusive list.
Now he looks ahead to this weekend for the opportunity to become just the 13th different driver to win multiple Daytona 500s in their career.
McDowell and his Front Row Motorsports No. 34 team are coming off of a career year, making the NASCAR Playoffs for the second time in team history and winning at the legendary Indianapolis Motor Speedway on the road course, McDowell’s second career NASCAR Cup Series win.
Born and raised in Glendale, McDowell grew up racing go-karts at the Phoenix Kart Racing Association track in Glendale, across the street from what is now Six Flags Hurricane Harbor. Now residing in North Carolina, McDowell gives back to the karting community as a minority owner of Trackhouse Motorplex in Mooresville, NC.
In 2016, McDowell became the first Arizonan to win in one of NASCAR’s national touring series with his victory at Road America in the NASCAR Xfinity Series for Richard Childress Racing. The Glendale native also owns four career ARCA Menards Series victories to his credit. In 2004, he found victory lane on the former Phoenix Raceway road course in the Pro Star Mazda Series en route to claiming the season championship.
NASCAR kicks off its season on February 18 with the Daytona 500 at 2:30 p.m. ET on FOX with qualifying on Wednesday at 8:00 p.m. ET and the Duels on Thursday at 7:00 p.m. ET.
The series returns to Phoenix Raceway for the Shriners Children’s 500 weekend March 8-10, tickets are still available for all three days of action. Plus, NASCAR Championship Weekend returns to Phoenix Raceway to crown four champions in three days November 8-10.
