Journeyman joins list of drivers to claim first career win on sport’s biggest stage
The second week of February is always a big one for NASCAR fans, as it marks the beginning of a new season. And the Cup Series always opens the campaign with the Daytona 500. The sport’s crown-jewel race has been run for more than half a century and got its start on the beach in 1958.
When a NASCAR driver wins the Great American Race, his life is forever changed. A victory in Northern Florida forever has his named etched in stock-car racing history.
This year’s event was marred by an early 16-car crash followed by a lengthy rain delay. But for those who stuck around until the bitter end, which finally came late on Valentine’s night, saw a veteran driver in Michael McDowell finally win his first career Cup race in 358 starts.
McDowell is a veteran of the once elite now defunct Champ Cars open-wheel series that featured drivers such as Michael Andretti, Nigel Mansell and Juan Pablo Montoya, Paul Tracy, A.J Foyt, Emerson Fittipaldi, Rick Mears and other elite drivers. He’s also competed in the Xfinity Series and the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series, but he never had much success. But for the last 14 years, he’s been showing up and driving on Sundays.
He finally got his breakthrough win driving for Front Row Motorsports. Prior to winning the season opener, his best Cup Series finish was 23rd in the series standings. He became one of many drivers to claim the Daytona 500 for their first career victory on the circuit; the last driver to pull off that feat was Knoxville’s own Trevor Bayne. Michael Waltrip, now an analyst for FOX, won his first race in Daytona in 2001, but his win would be overshadowed by the death of racing icon Dale Earnhardt, who owned Waltrip’s ride.
Others to claim their first victory at the Great American Race included Sterling Marlin, Derrike Cope, Pete Hamilton, Mario Andretti, Earl Balmer, Bobby Isaac and Tiny Lund. Many of these drivers went on to have success in stock cars. Some, such as Mario Andretti, had successful runs in Formula 1 and various North American-based open-wheel disciplines. For others, their first (and sometimes only) win was their one day at racing’s pinnacle.
No one knows what the future holds for McDowell, but his place in stock car history is secure as he is and will always be a Daytona 500 winner.
ken@blanknews.com
