Front Row Motorsports driver Michael McDowell is one of the straight-up guys in the NASCAR Cup garage. One of the rare breed of drivers who stay true to their work and the racecraft. It is indeed hard to remember when he was involved in a fight or theatrics on the track. That’s how he likes to go about his business in NASCAR.
Thanks to his conduct and the style of racing, he’s never had trouble with other drivers. At least, a very few of them have been caught on camera or documented. However, by no means does McDowell have a timid or reserved personality. And this was evident from his conversation with prominent NASCAR journalist Jeff Gluck on his special show—12 Questions.
Michael McDowell thinks it’s hard to be friends with Martin Truex Jr
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The show by Jeff Gluck always puts the drivers in the spotlight with unique sets of questions. One of the most prominent is the situational one, where Gluck asks the drivers about being stuck in an elevator. The twist here is the drivers have to name a Cup driver they would not like to be stuck in an elevator. And just like every other driver, Michael McDowell also found himself in this sticky situation.
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As mentioned above, McDowell doesn’t have a run-in or beef with his fellow Cup drivers. Therefore it was hard for him to single out one individual. But, he chose to go with Martin Truex Jr. just based on the contrasting personality traits. “I don’t have any awkward or uncomfortable relationships in the garage. But I’d say Martin Truex. Here’s the thing: Martin and I get along well, and I have a tremendous amount of respect for him, but he’s hard to have a conversation with because he doesn’t like talking to people.” He said this on the 12 Questions by Jeff Gluck.
However, before answering this, McDowell shared that he was surprised to see Christopher Bell pick him despite similarities between them. “Man, Christopher Bell picked me for this one, and that had me twisted up like a pretzel. We’re probably more alike than not alike; I don’t think he realizes that. He and I would actually have a lot of things in common and enjoy hanging out,” McDowell explained.
USA Today via Reuters Sep 23, 2023; Fort Worth, Texas, USA; NASCAR Cup driver Michael McDowell (34) visits with NASCAR Cup driver Aric Almirola (10) after qualifying for the Auto Trader EchoPark Automotive 400 at Texas Motor Speedway. Mandatory Credit: Michael C. Johnson-USA TODAY Sports
The 39-year-old veteran driver will be transitioning into his new role at Spire Motorsports in 2025. While a jump from Front Row to Spire seems like a professional decision, it was indeed a tough call for McDowell to make.
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Leaving FRM wasn’t easy for McDowell
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The veteran driver has been with Front Row since 2018 and has been at the forefront in trying to elevate the team to a competitive level. In fact, McDowell has contributed to half of their Cup Series win. He won the Daytona 500 in 2021 and then conquered yet another historic venue, claiming the checkered flag in the road course race at Brickyard. While he still has 7 more races with the team, he feels that his last race with the team will be an emotional one for him.
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“No, I am that type of person. I’m 100 percent vested here. I’ve poured my heart and energy into Front Row Motorsports, so I can’t just be like, “Oh, whatever.” It’s not like that for me. That’s just the way I’m wired. Honestly, it was the same with (Leavine Family Racing, his previous team). I was at that shop every day, helping build and grow. It’s the same here. I’ve been here a long time, and we’ve done a lot together. More than anything, you’re just all in, and it’s not easy to just pick up and say, “OK, that’s it,” he added.
It will be a big switch for Michael McDowell, as he will leave the Ford camp and join a Chevy team. But given how aggressively Jeff Dickerson and Co. are building up the project at Spire, McDowell’s experience is something that can help them big time. Who knows, they can turn out to be a surprise package in 2025?