Michael McDowell lands Nationwide ride with MacDonald Motorsports
Michael McDowell, who drove in three races for MacDonald Motorsports in 2009, has signed with the team as its Nationwide Series driver in 2010.
McDowell was 13th in the 2009 Nationwide standings with starts in 34 of the 35 races for three different teams.
MacDonald Motorsports also has moved into a shop in Mooresville, N.C., and hired Patrick Donahue as crew chief, according to a news release issued Tuesday. Donahue and McDowell worked together in 2007 in the Automobile Racing Club of America Series.
"The current state of the economy gives us an opportunity to be more competitive against larger teams than ever before,” said team owner Randy MacDonald, whose No. 81 team was 25th in the owner standings last year. “This year, our focus is different.
"With the move to our new Mooresville location, we’re now closer to suppliers and those we lean on for technical support. New equipment has been purchased, and I’m committed to having Michael in the car full time, just as he is committed turning our team into a serious contender this season.”
The 25-year-old McDowell has 28 career starts in NASCAR’s Cup series and 39 in Nationwide.
