Michael McDowell made history on Sunday, becoming the first driver in NASCAR history to win both the Daytona 500 and the Brickyard 400. The driver of the No. 34 Front Row Motorsports Ford Mustang took the checkered flag in the Brickyard 200 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, earning his second career crown jewel victory.
McDowell started from the pole position and led for a total of 34 laps, taking the lead for the final time on lap 154. He held off a hard-charging Brad Keselowski over the final laps to take the win. It was McDowell’s second win of the season, following his historic Daytona 500 victory in February.
The victory marks a major milestone for McDowell, who has been racing in NASCAR since 2006. He had previously earned three top-five finishes in the Brickyard 400, but had never been able to break through for a win. His win on Sunday was especially impressive given that he was up against some of the best drivers in the sport, including seven-time Cup Series champion Jimmie Johnson.
McDowell’s win is also a major milestone for Front Row Motorsports, which is a smaller team compared to some of the other teams in NASCAR. The team had previously earned two top-five finishes in the Brickyard 400, but had never been able to break through for a win.
McDowell’s win is sure to be celebrated by NASCAR fans everywhere, as it shows that even smaller teams can compete with the big teams and earn major victories. It also shows that McDowell is a driver to be reckoned with, as he has now won two of NASCAR’s most prestigious races.
