NASCAR Sprint Cup Driver Will Go Back To Road Course Roots At Watkins Glen International
CONCORD, N.C. (August 3, 2016) – NASCAR driver Michael McDowell will celebrate his 200th career Sprint Cup Series start when he takes the green flag at Watkins Glen International this Sunday. The nine-year NASCAR veteran will pilot the No. 95 Thrivent Financial Chevrolet for Circle Sport-Leavine Family Racing in the Cheez-It 355.
McDowell is thrilled to celebrate this milestone at a track filled with such rich racing history and where he has recorded seven starts. Last year he was able to capture his best finish, a Top-20, which he hopes to improve on after the team tested at the track just last week and had fast times on the leaderboard during green flag runs.
“Two hundred starts is crazy,” said McDowell. “I’m excited for another road course race. We had a great test at Watkins Glen last week, and it was very helpful having the test since they have a new surface at the track now.”
The veteran driver, who grew up primarily racing karts and open-wheel race cars on road courses, is eager to get back to a road course after having a great car in Sonoma earlier in the season, a race that unfortunately ended early for the No. 95 team due to mechanical issues.
“We’re taking the car we had in Sonoma – it’s the only one we’ve got for road courses, and it was fast back in June,” said McDowell. “We had the speed to be in the Top-15 and possibly even the Top-10. Unfortunately, we had some mechanical issues. So this week, it’s all about capitalizing on a track where we know we can have good solid runs. Realistically, for our race team, we want to qualify in the Top-15 and finish in the Top-10.”
Before the Cheez-It 355, McDowell will participate in Outlaw Speedway’s 9th Annual MRO Night in Dundee, NY on Friday, August 5, an event benefitting Motor Racing Outreach and supporting local racing in the Finger Lakes region.
Thrivent Financial will be the primary sponsor of the No. 95 Chevrolet during the Watkins Glen race weekend. Thrivent is a Fortune 500, not-for-profit membership organization of Christians. Offering a broad range of financial products and services, including life insurance, annuities and mutual funds, Thrivent helps its members be wise with money and live generously.
The Cheez-It 355 will take place on Sunday, August 7 at 2:30 p.m. ET. Race fans can tune into USA Network for live coverage and follow the team on Twitter at @CSLFR95 for updates.
About Circle Sport – Leavine Family Racing
Formed in 2016, Joe Falk, owner of Circle Sport Racing and Bob and Sharon Leavine, owners of Leavine Family Racing teamed up to compete in the 2016 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series season as Circle Sport-Leavine Family Racing. The team will field the No. 95 Chevrolet SS, which will be driven by Michael McDowell as well as Ty Dillon in select races. The team operates out of their Concord, N.C.-based race shop with a veteran group of racing personnel and is driven by several core principals including Value, Integrity, Flexibility, Opportunity, Access and Experience. For more information, please visit www.CSLFR95.com.
