In 2024, Michael McDowell, driver number 34, reached new heights in his racing career, starting with his first-ever pole position. This season, he made history by breaking two significant records at Atlanta Motor Speedway. Let’s take a closer look at these incredible achievements and how McDowell’s season has been one to remember.
The news of McDowell’s record-breaking feats was first shared by Trey Ryan on X (formerly Twitter). Ryan’s post revealed that McDowell had surpassed his previous personal record for the most laps led in a season. Last year, McDowell led 97 laps, but this year, that number has skyrocketed to 207 laps, an impressive jump. This record was achieved at the Atlanta Motor Speedway, even though McDowell ended up finishing the race in 22nd place. But for McDowell, the race wasn’t just about the position he finished—it was about the milestones he reached.
In addition to his personal best, McDowell made history for his team, Front Row Motorsports. He became the first driver in the team’s history to lead 207 laps in one season. That’s a huge accomplishment for both McDowell and Front Row Motorsports, highlighting their strong performance this season. Despite not qualifying for the playoffs this year, McDowell still has a few races left, and there’s no doubt he will continue to show why he’s a driver to watch.
The number 34 car has a long history, with many drivers taking the wheel over the years. However, McDowell has proven to be the most successful among them. This season has been a turning point in his career, especially with the records he’s been breaking. His journey to the top began early this year when he achieved his first pole position during the Duel 2 Daytona race in February, beating out Austin Cindric. Although he narrowly missed another pole position at the Daytona 500—losing to Joey Logano by just 0.071 seconds—McDowell didn’t let that slow him down.
McDowell’s next big moment came at the Ambetter Health 400 race, where he managed to overtake Joey Logano. With a best time of 30.999 seconds and a top speed of 178.844 mph, McDowell secured the pole position and proved he was in top form. This victory was a major highlight of his season, as it showed that he could compete with the best drivers on the track.
But McDowell wasn’t done yet. He secured yet another pole position at the Geico 500 race held at Talladega Superspeedway. Once again, he beat out Austin Cindric, this time with a top speed of 182.022 mph and a best time of 52.609 seconds. It was clear that McDowell had found his rhythm, consistently outperforming his competitors.
Later in the season, McDowell continued his streak of success at the World Wide Technology Raceway, where he once again dominated Austin Cindric. This time, McDowell achieved a best time of 32.468 seconds and a speed of 138.598 mph. His consistent victories over top drivers like Cindric further cemented his reputation as one of the top racers of the season.
One of McDowell’s most impressive achievements came at the Daytona International Speedway, where he set a new personal best. He managed to complete the track in just 49.136 seconds, breaking his previous record of 49.465 seconds. This 0.329-second improvement may seem small, but in the world of racing, every fraction of a second counts, and it was a significant moment in McDowell’s career.
Most recently, McDowell made another big move at the Atlanta Motor Speedway, where he once again set a new record for himself. This time, he completed the track in 30.926 seconds, with a top speed of 179.267 mph. Although McDowell finished the race in 22nd place, earning 15 points, the race was still a success for him in terms of personal achievements. Earlier in the season, McDowell had completed the same track in 30.999 seconds with a top speed of 178.844 mph, showing a noticeable improvement.
In conclusion, 2024 has been a standout year for Michael McDowell. From his first pole position to breaking multiple records, McDowell has proven that he’s a force to be reckoned with on the track. Despite not making it to the playoffs, he has consistently demonstrated his skills, breaking personal and team records along the way. With a few races left in the season, McDowell still has time to make even more history and continue building on his remarkable career.
Michael McDowell achieves a new personal record at Atlanta, making history with the FRM car.
