By David Morgan, Associate Editor
And so it begins.
The yearly game of chess that is NASCAR Silly Season is officially underway after Michael McDowell announced on Wednesday that he will be departing his longtime home at Front Row Motorsports at the conclusion of the 2024 Cup Series season to seek driving duties elsewhere.
After bouncing around between a handful of teams in the early years of his Cup career, McDowell took up residence at Front Row Motorsports in 2018 and has been a key part of the organization since then.
McDowell broke through in 2021, banking his first career Cup win in the Daytona 500, which he followed up with a win on the Indianapolis Motor Speedway road course in 2023 to secure his two career appearances in the Playoffs.
In a statement on social media, McDowell announced the news and thanked the team and all of the partners involved for helping him along the way, adding that his work at FRM is not done yet as he looks forward to rounding out the season with them, hoping to secure another Playoff berth on his way out.
Team owner Bob Jenkins responded with his own statement shortly after McDowell’s announcement, lauding him for helping to build FRM into the team it is today and wishing him well in his new endeavors.
“We thank Michael for all he has done during his time as a driver at Front Row Motorsports,” Jenkins said. “His 2021 Daytona 500 victory, a dominant win at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, and two appearances in the NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs set a new standard for our organization.
“He became the leader of his team and the organization. Outside the car, he was the model for a driver we want to represent us and our partners.
“We’re sad to see Michael leave, but wish him, Jami and his family nothing but the best as he moves on to another chapter of what is already an incredible racing career.”
Where McDowell will land in 2025 is still unclear, but he’ll have much time to figure things out between now and the start of next season.
Through the first 12 races of 2024, McDowell has scored three top-10 finishes, along with a pole at Atlanta and a front row start for the Daytona 500. Currently, he sits 26th in points heading into this weekend’s race at Darlington.
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