Since Michael McDowell’s Daytona 500 victory — his first win in 358 previous Cup Series starts — McDowell has found himself running with a different crowd.
McDowell has opened the season with three top-10 finishes through three races, just one shy of his total last year. The strong start with Front Row Motorsports has put McDowell in uncharted territory. In the final laps Sunday at Homestead-Miami he found himself trying to pass Kevin Harvick for fifth, a previously unthinkable scenario.
McDowell next goes to Las Vegas Motor Speedway on Sunday ranked a career-high fourth in the Cup standings. His best finish in the final standings was 23rd last season, and when he opened this year, McDowell openly doubted his team could crack the top 16 required to qualify for the playoffs. But after his win at Daytona, his post-season chances are a lock if he can stay in the top 30.