Leavine Family Racing
Race Preview
NASCAR Sprint Cup Series News and Notes
Event: Food City 500
Date: Sunday, March 16, 2014
Venue: Bristol Motor Speedway
Leavine Family Racing’s NASCAR Sprint Cup Series history at Bristol Motor Speedway … Team owner Bob Leavine has three starts at the Bristol Motor Speedway. The Concord, N.C.-based organization finished 40th a year ago in both events and finished 27th in 2011 at the Bristol, Tenn. facility.
LFR’s NASCAR Sprint Cup Series History … Since entering the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series in 2011, LFR has logged 41 starts, with one top-10 finish, an average starting position of 33.8, and an average finishing position of 36.6.
Follow Leavine Family Racing on Social Media … To keep up-to-date with the latest news, information and view exclusive content, visit Leavine Family Racing’s Twitter page – @LeavineFamily95 and Facebook page – Facebook.com/LeavineFamilyRacing. Also, follow Michael McDowell on his personal Twitter page – @Mc_Driver, and “Like” Michael McDowell on his official Facebook page at Facebook.com/MichaelMcdowell.
Catch the Action … The Food City 500 will be televised live on FOX on Sunday, March 16, beginning at 12:30 p.m. ET, starting with the pre-race show. It will also be broadcast live on the Performance Racing Network (PRN) and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio.
Michael McDowell
No. 95 K-LOVE Ford Fusion
This Week’s Leavine Family Racing Ford Fusion at Bristol Motor Speedway … Michael McDowell will pilot Chassis No. PRS-838 in the Food City 500 at Bristol Motor Speedway. McDowell drove this LFR-prepared Ford Fusion to a 33rd-place finish at Phoenix International Raceway on March 2 and tested it at Bristol Motor Speedway in February.
McDowell in Thunder Valley … Although this weekend marks McDowell’s first start with Leavine Family Racing at Bristol Motor Speedway, the Glendale, Ariz., driver has made seven NASCAR Sprint Cup Series starts at the .533-mile track, earning a career-best 23rd-place finish at the track in August 2012. In five additional NASCAR Nationwide Series starts at the track, he finished 10th under the lights in 2009.
Short-Track Stats … McDowell is not short on experience with race stats on tracks less than one-mile in length. He has 25 starts on short tracks in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series.
On the Radio … The No. 95 Ford Fusion team will sport the white and red colors of K-LOVE this weekend at Bristol Motor Speedway, where the K-LOVE logo will adorn the hood and quarter panels of the car.
That’s My Jam … Bristol Motor Speedway has a unique way of conducting driver introductions for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races, as drivers walk the red carpet in Turn 3 to a song of their choice. McDowell has chosen “I Am” by Crowder for his introduction.
Sign Here … McDowell is scheduled to visit Food City Race Night to sign autographs between 7 p.m. and 9 p.m. on Friday, March 14 along with several other Sprint Cup Series drivers and teams. The event will take place in downtown Bristol on the corner of State and Piedmont Streets. Festivities will get underway at 4 p.m. and continue until 9 p.m. Admission is free of charge.
Go Further … Driver of the No. 95 Ford Fusion, McDowell, will be at the Ford Racing display for a question and answer session on Sunday, March 16 at 9:15 AM to 9:30 AM.
In the Rearview Mirror: Las Vegas Motor Speedway … Michael McDowell piloted the No. 95 WRL General Contractors Ford at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, and collected a 43rd-place finish after the engine expired. After 141 laps the team was forced to retire early. The Wally Rogers-led team qualified 35th for the 267 lap event.
Michael McDowell Quote:
“Bristol Motor Speedway is awesome. I cannot wait to get there this week. High-banked short tracks make for great racing for both the fans and the drivers.”
About Leavine Family Racing
Leavine Family Racing (LFR) is based in Concord, N.C., and fields a single team in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, as well as a NASCAR Nationwide Series team and a driver development program. Its 2014 Sprint Cup Series lineup includes Michael McDowell as the driver of the No. 95 Ford. Owned by Bob and Sharon Leavine, Leavine Family Racing has competed in NASCAR since 2011. For more information about Leavine Family Racing, please visit www.LFR95.com. Become a fan on Facebook and Instagram and follow on Twitter at @LeavineFamily95.
