|
RACE REPORT
McDOWELL EARNS CAREER-BEST THIRD FOR ESR AT SALEM
Rookie also takes home first ever Pole Award
SALEM, IN (April 21, 2007) - Salem Speedway is usually a treacherous track that requires years of experience in hopes of success. Of course, if you're Michael McDowell, that theory doesn't apply. |
 |
"Looking at the big picture, it was a great points day for us ." |
|
McDowell put up career-best McDowell put up career-best numbers on the weekend at Salem, earning his first career ARCA RE/MAX Series pole and earning a personal-best third-place finish in the Kentuckiana Ford Dealers 200 by Federated Auto Parts. It was only his second race at the track.
McDowell's pole-winning lap of 17.794 seconds around the .555 mile oval was a culmination of strong performances in testing and peak times in practice, placing his No. 2 Z-Line Designs / Make-A-Wish / Beck Dodge first atop the scoring pylon. With his first career Pole Award in-hand, McDowell looked forward to a stellar Sunday afternoon drive.
From the drop of the green flag, McDowell was fast leading the race's first 56 laps. The No. 2 Dodge was the class of the field throughout the day on long runs, but unfortunately, extended green flag runs gave way to short dashes in between caution flags.
The No. 29 car of Brian Keselowski proved tough on short runs and soon took the lead from McDowell. While he was in contention for the win the entire 200 laps, McDowell needed a different set-up on his Dodge if he was going to catch Keselowski. |
With crew chief Patrick Donahue atop the pit box, the Eddie Sharp Racing crew tightened the Dodge up in hopes of transforming his car from a distance-runner to a sprinter. The adjustment didn't hurt the car's standing but it didn't offer any challenge to Keselowski. McDowell settled for a career-best third-place finish.
"This is probably one of the hardest tracks we go to," stated McDowell. "It's good for Eddie Sharp Racing to run up front because we haven't had a whole lot of luck on the season. The car was good, not sure if it would have been able to catch (Keselowski) but it was fast all weekend."
"Looking at the big picture, it was a great points day for us. We now know what we're capable of and feel like we have a lot of momentum going forward to Kansas."
The third-place finish puts McDowell in 6th in the ARCA point standings through four races.
McDowell also brought home the Accel Fast Lap of the Race Award and was the race's highest-finishing rookie competitor.
Up Next: McDowell and Eddie Sharp Racing travel to Kansas Speedway in Kansas City on Friday, April 27 for the Kansas Lottery $150 Grand. |
QUALIFYING REPORT
McDOWELL ON POLE; BUTLER TO START 16th
McDowell on a Mission at Salem; Dominates Practice & Earns Career-1st Pole
SALEM, IN (April 21, 2007) - ARCA RE/MAX Series rookie Michael McDowell, in Eddie Sharp's Z Line-Make A Wish-Beck Dodge, is clearly on a mission. |
| After posting the quickest speed in practice earlier in the day, the Phoenix, Arizona driver backed that up by earning the pole position Saturday afternoon at Salem Speedway for Sunday's Kentuckiana Ford Dealers 200 presented by Federated Auto Parts. McDowell qualified with an average speed of 112.285 mph. It was his career-first ARCA RE/MAX Series pole award.
"This is my first career pole in the ARCA RE/MAX Series, and it's great to be able to do it here at Salem," said McDowell. "This is my second race I've ever done here. Last year I think I qualified 22nd. To come back here a year later with Eddie Sharp Racing and get the pole is very rewarding. Patrick Donahue (crew chief) did a great job setting up the car. The car is absolutely awesome. I think this is going to be the start of some really big things."
|
| SALEM SPEEDWAY |
| 2 Car: Michael McDowell |
Pos |
Time |
Speed |
| Practice |
1st |
17.751
|
112.557 |
| Qualifying |
Pole |
17.794 |
112.285 |
| |
|
|
|
| 22 Car: Ken Butler III |
Pos |
Time |
Speed |
| Practice |
11 |
18.326
|
109.025 |
| Qualifying |
16 |
18.138
|
110.155 |
The green flag drops on Sunday's Kentuckiana Ford Dealers 200 presented by Federated Auto Parts shortly after 2:00 pm Eastern time. |
|
22 CAR RACE PREVIEW
ESR 22 TEAM LOOKS TO CONTINUE SHORT TRACK SUCCESS
Ken Butler III takes over the driving duties for Salem ARCA race
MOORESVILLE, NC (April 18, 2007) - If recent speeds are any indication, then the number "22" will be lit up atop the scoreboard at Salem Speedway this weekend.
 |
Driver Ken Butler III looking to extend the TeamESR "super fast" streak.
|
|
The No. 22 Eddie Sharp Racing Development Team Dodge will take to the .555 mile Salem Speedway in Southern Indiana with driver Ken Butler III behind the wheel. The mission? Keep the current streak of speedy performances alive in the ARCA RE/MAX Series' Kentuckiana Ford Dealers 200 by Federated Auto Parts. In recent short track outings, the team has been nothing short of "super fast."
At the ARCA Fall Classic at Salem last September, the No. 22 team, with driver Ryan Mathews on board, qualified 2nd fastest en route to a 12th place finishing position. The team's short track expertise didn't stop there.
This year's race at USA International Speedway in Lakeland, Florida saw young Butler, a development driver for Michael Waltrip Racing, qualify the car 9th in his first career ARCA start. Butler recently tested at Salem Speedway and has also raced there in a USAR Pro Cup Series car.
Team owner Eddie Sharp has seen past success at Salem. In 1999, Sharp was atop the pitbox as Bill Baird's crew chief for his win at the Salem Speedway. Bringing ten years of Salem experience, Sharp returns this weekend with two formidable teams (the No. 22 and the No. 2 driven by Michael McDowell) in hopes of using this race as a springboard for the remainder of the 2007 season:
"We've earmarked Salem as the turning point for this team," said Sharp. "Both cars qualified in the top-five at Nashville; we've been fast all year, really. We just haven't had the luck to go with our performance. The team is upbeat, there is a positive atmosphere in the shop, and I'm confident from the tests we've had here that we can turn some heads come Sunday." |
2 CAR RACE PREVIEW
MCDOWELL, ESR READY FOR SALEM SHORT TRACK ACTION
McDowell's confidence, ESR's performance a cause for optimism
MOORESVILLE, NC (April 17, 2007) - Forgive Michael McDowell if he's confident about his return to Salem Speedway. After all, he finished 6th last year in his first visit to the track and returned earlier this year for a successful test session with team Eddie Sharp Racing. With experience in his back pocket and the checkered flag in his sights, McDowell hopes to capitalize on his confidence.
 |
"We have every reason to be confident this weekend." |
|
McDowell and the No. 2 Z-Line Designs / Make-A-Wish / Beck Dodge takes to the .555 mile Southern Indiana oval on Sunday, April 22, 2007 for the Kentuckiana Ford Dealers 200 by Federated Auto Parts, the fourth race of the 2007 ARCA RE/MAX Series season.
While McDowell and his Eddie Sharp Racing team have been strong in each of the season's first three performances, their recent bout of bad luck has overshadowed their overall performance:
"We've been really fast the last three races," explained McDowell. "At Lakeland we were running 3rd with 50 laps to go and then we broke a shift linkage and at Nashville we were 3rd with 17 (laps) to go before cutting a right front tire. We've been in contention to finish in the top-five and in contention to win. Coming off our test at Salem, we're positive that we can get to the front and stay there. We need some good luck to fall into place, but this team and these cars have been very good and we have every right to be confident going into this weekend."
| RACE: |
|
Kentuckiana Ford Dealers 200
by Federated Auto Parts |
| Date: |
April 22, 2007 |
| Track: |
Salem Speedway (Salem, IN) |
| Race Distance: |
200 Laps (111 miles) |
| Team: |
Eddie Sharp Racing |
| Crew Chief: |
Patrick Donahue |
| Qualifying takes place Saturday, April 21 at 12:30 pm. The green flag drops on race day (Sunday) at 2:15 pm. |
|
|
