NAPA RACING PRESS BOX FEATURING MICHAEL MCDOWELL
Although this is your first start in the Sprint Cup Series at Infineon Raceway, you have a lot of experience running there in different series and cars. What can you take from that to do well this weekend?
“Anytime you have a lot of track time and experience at a place it helps you. You know the track, you know the weather conditions, you know how it changes from the morning to the afternoon. Every car is a little bit different. I have raced a lot of cars there but I have only raced in four or five races.
“When Finley Motorsports first started, they were based in Sonoma at the track so we did a lot of testing in Daytona Prototypes and GT cars. I have driven a lot of different types of cars around Sonoma and have spent a lot of time there. Some of the other teams that I raced for in the past, like World Speed Motorsports are based in Sonoma as well. So, a lot of my junior race career growing up through the ranks, I did a lot of testing and a lot of driving at the track. I feel very confident and comfortable in going there. Obviously road racing is my background so I feel good about being able to go there and run well.”
Having NAPA on board this weekend is special. Why?
“Having NAPA on board this weekend is going to be really special because obviously with Michael Waltrip Racing, NAPA has been here since the beginning and has been a huge part of everything. Hopefully we can get them a really good result with my background and the car that we are bringing to Infineon Raceway.
“We knew the road courses would be good for us so we definitely dedicated a lot of time working on our road course packages and a lot of different configurations. We spent a couple of days at Road Atlanta and three or four days at Virginia International Raceway. The team really tried to prepare a package that worked well for me. We tested three of four cars and we found the best one that would suit us. Going there we are pretty well prepared and it is a good opportunity for us to score some good points and hopefully get away from this top 35 deal and get a good solid top-10, top-15 finish for NAPA.”
In returning to Sonoma how do you feel about your performance this weekend?
“I think that we will be able to challenge for the pole. I think that we will be able to challenge for the win. The biggest thing is that you never know. There are a lot of great drivers in the Cup Series and a lot of guys that are very good at road racing. It’s not going to be an easy deal to walk into and say I have a lot of experience and I am going to beat guys like Tony Stewart or Jeff Gordon because they are very good. It’s just like every other weekend. We have to unload well and work on our package and come race time, we have to make sure that we have good stops, good strategy and good fuel mileage. Toyota has worked really hard at getting us a lot better fuel mileage for the road courses and hopefully, that will play into our hands on Sunday. There are a lot of elements that have to go your way to get good results. The one thing that I feel good about is I will be able to unload and be a lot more confident going to a road course than on an average weekend where I am going to a new place that I have never seen before.”
Michael McDowell Fast Facts
- NAPA AUTO PARTS driver Michael McDowell has won three times at Infineon Raceway in three separate racing series -- the Star Mazda Series (2004), the Russell Racing Formula Car Series (2002), and Formula TR (2002).
- McDowell will start in his first NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race on Sunday at Infineon Raceway.
- Entering this weekend’s NASCAR Sprint Cup Series event, McDowell is 39th in the driver standings and is 35th in owner points. The No. 00 NAPA team is guaranteed a starting spot in the Toyota/Save Mart 350.
2008 No. 00 NAPA AUTO PARTS PIT CREW
Crew Chief: Bill Pappas
Car Chief: Greg Osborne
Front Changer: Mike Ellershaw
Front Carrier: Zach Yarnot
Jackman: Chad Koontz
Rear Changer: Greg Osborne
Rear Carrier: Troy Prince
Gas Man: Les Huntley
Catch Can: Craig Osborne
Spotter: Roman Pemberton
EVENT FACTS
Toyota/Save Mart 350
Event: 16 of 36
Track:Infineon Raceway
Length: 1.99 mile road course
Distance: 110 laps/218.9 miles
Date: Sunday, June 22
TV Coverage: 3:30 p.m. ET
TV:TNT
Radio: PRN
2007 Winner: Juan Pablo Montoya
2007 Pole: Jamie McMurray
Television Tidbits
Practice
Fri., June 20 at 3:30 p.m. ET
SPEED
Sat., June 21 at 12:30 p.m. &
1:30 p.m. ET
SPEED
Sprint Cup Qualifying
Fri., June 20 at 7 p.m. ET
SPEED
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