Michael McDowell joins JTG Daugherty Racing's Nationwide team
Michael McDowell is putting a new spin on “If you can’t beat ‘em, join em.” At the end of last season, McDowell lost his NASCAR Sprint Cup ride at Michael Waltrip Racing when MWR partnered with JTG Daugherty Racing to field an entry for Marcos Ambrose.
Now, McDowell has joined JTG Daugherty as the driver of its Nationwide Series car, replacing Kelly Bires.
“It’s been a very difficult offseason,” McDowell said. “I’m just fortunate to have this opportunity.”
McDowell will run for Raybestos Rookie of the Year honors and plans to enter at least the first 16 races. By mid-summer, McDowell hopes team owner Tad Geschickter will have found funding to allow the team to continue further.
“Right now the goal is to go out and put on some good shows and run well and let Tad do what he does best, and that’s build a brand and build a sponsor around his race team and drivers.”
McDowell hopes that with some solid performances, he’ll be able to work toward 2010 in securing funding to go Cup racing with JTG.
Gene Nead, who has Cup experience as a crew chief, will be atop the pit box for McDowell. The team had already been getting prepared for Daytona, planning to run a handful of races with Bires.
McDowell said he was concerned about finding a ride for 2009, but never gave serious thought to returning to his roots in the sports-car ranks.
“I’ve worked really hard to get myself into the NASCAR world, and I just feel like with the economy where it’s at and sort of where I’m at on team rosters, if I walked away from it now, I’d never get back,” he said.
The prospect of running for rookie honors in Nationwide was funny to McDowell, since he just spent last season trying to win the same award at the Cup level.
“I think it’s hilarious that you can run a Cup season and still be a rookie in Nationwide,” he said. “I love it.”
