#59 A Success Story at Daytona - Michael McDowell proves he's a Threat

When it came to Michael McDowell on Sunday many fans expected big things out of McDowell and well he did not let anyone of them down.
McDowell was in the #59 Thrivent Financial Chevrolet SS on Sunday which was different from the #95 we normally see him in. McDowell entered speedweeks in something completely different than all of them before. Michael had never drove a Chevrolet at Daytona before and he felt like this was the best car he had ever brought.
When the team got to Daytona they knew the #59 was not the chartered car number and that would mean McDowell would have to either Qualify fastest of the Non-chartered Cars or do like he has done so many times in the past and race his way in via the Can-Am Duel. McDowell's car unloaded off the trailer fast which came to no surprise to many. On Saturday during the first few practice's McDowell continued to prove those words he said by having the best car he's ever had at Daytona. McDowell entered Sunday's qualifying with one goal. That goal was to be one of the two fastest drivers without a charter. McDowell went out on track and paced a fast lap around the Daytona International Speedway. As it sat

McDowell had one of the 2 fastest speeds until Matt DiBenedetto came out and just edged McDowell's speed by 0.020 seconds sending McDowell into the Duels needing Ryan Blaney to stay the fastest of the Non-Charter drivers. On Wednesday McDowell was the first driver of the week to reach 200 mph and was the fastest in practice. McDowell would enter the Can-Am Duels as one of the favorite non-charter drivers. In the Duels McDowell did exactly what he needed to do along with have Blaney finish highest in the Duel. At the end of the Duel McDowell found himself in the Daytona 500 for the second year in a row.
On Sunday McDowell stayed in the lead pack a majority of the race. Toward the end of the race McDowell overshot his pit box which many would consider a disaster. McDowell fell all the way back to the Top 30. In the final shootout McDowell scratched and clawed his way to a 15th place finish. McDowell currently sits 15th in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series points and in the chase. Many expect 2016 to be one of McDowell's best years and I am sure it's not the season to underestimate Michael McDowell . (Koelle,2016)