Driver: Michael McDowell
#34 Love’s Travel Stops / Speedco Ford
Crew Chiefs: Travis Peterson
Engines: Roush-Yates
2023 Season Grade: B
|
Driver |
Starts |
Wins |
Top 5 |
Top 10 |
Rank |
|
Michael McDowell |
36 |
1 |
2 |
8 |
15 |
Front Row Motorsports entered the 2023 season with an eye on the playoffs. After turning heads in 2022, the team showed that they were ready for that next step. The new season did not arrive without change however, as Travis Peterson replaced Blake Harris (who departed for the Hendrick Motorsports #48 team). While it was a slow start as the new team jelled, results steadily improved heading into race 7 in Richmond. Finishes after were a bit of a roller coaster, but those were not indicative of how the team performed on track some weekends. There were many highlights as well, including four top 10 finishes in 5 races, stretching from Gateway to Atlanta.
With bad luck plaguing the team some weeks, the 34 crew still narrowly missed a legitimate playoff run, with McDowell scoring his second career win on the Indianapolis road course. The win was backed up by another top 5 in Atlanta, and 8 top 10 finishes throughout the season. These finishes were just not consistent enough to maintain a playoff pace into the Round of 8. McDowell would end 2023 with a career-high 15th place points finish, 3 DNF’s, an average finish of 19th, and 97 laps led.
2024 Season Outlook:Â While Front Row Motorsports usually does a year-to-year contract, McDowell and the #34 team are already set to return intact for 2024. A repeat performance should be a new expectation, while gaining consistent finishes could be the thing that pushes the team into a Round of 8 spot. Look for the 34 to be a strong contender on road courses, super speedways, as well as in Bristol.
**Stay tuned for Front Row Part 2 covering the #38 and #36 teams**
2023 Results by Track
|
RACE |
TRACK |
ST |
FIN |
LAPS |
STATUS |
|
1 |
Daytona |
11 |
28 |
208/212 |
Running |
|
2 |
Fontana |
26 |
18 |
200/200 |
Running |
|
3 |
Las Vegas |
17 |
25 |
270/271 |
Running |
|
4 |
Phoenix |
7 |
13 |
317/317 |
Running |
|
5 |
Atlanta |
12 |
21 |
260/260 |
Running |
|
6 |
COTA |
20 |
12 |
75/75 |
Running |
|
7 |
Richmond |
15 |
6 |
400/400 |
Running |
|
8 |
Bristol (Dirt) |
13 |
11 |
250/250 |
Running |
|
9 |
Martinsville |
20 |
19 |
400/400 |
Running |
|
10 |
Talladega |
21 |
35 |
189/196 |
Running |
|
11 |
Dover |
32 |
22 |
397/400 |
Running |
|
12 |
Kansas |
23 |
26 |
266/267 |
Running |
|
13 |
Darlington |
19 |
33 |
200/295 |
Accident |
|
14 |
Charlotte |
30 |
28 |
396/400 |
Running |
|
15 |
Gateway |
21 |
9 |
243/243 |
Running |
|
16 |
Sonoma |
3 |
7 |
110/110 |
Running |
|
17 |
Nashville |
33 |
28 |
299/300 |
Running |
|
18 |
Chicago |
6 |
7 |
78/78 |
Running |
|
19 |
Atlanta |
20 |
4 |
185/185 |
Running |
|
20 |
Loudon |
17 |
13 |
301/301 |
Running |
|
21 |
Pocono |
15 |
19 |
160/160 |
Running |
|
22 |
Richmond |
18 |
22 |
399/400 |
Running |
|
23 |
Michigan |
23 |
24 |
199/200 |
Running |
|
24 |
Indianapolis G.P. |
4 |
1 |
82/82 |
Running |
|
25 |
Watkins Glen |
3 |
36 |
74/90 |
Electrical |
|
26 |
Daytona |
39 |
13 |
163/163 |
Running |
|
27 |
Darlington |
9 |
32 |
329/367 |
Accident |
|
28 |
Kansas |
7 |
26 |
267/268 |
Running |
|
29 |
Bristol |
4 |
6 |
500/500 |
Running |
|
30 |
Texas |
17 |
15 |
267/267 |
Running |
|
31 |
Talladega |
18 |
21 |
188/188 |
Running |
|
32 |
Charlotte (Road) |
13 |
32 |
109/109 |
Running |
|
33 |
Las Vegas |
18 |
17 |
267/267 |
Running |
|
34 |
Homestead |
15 |
22 |
267/267 |
Running |
|
35 |
Martinsville |
23 |
25 |
499/500 |
Running |
|
36 |
Phoenix |
19 |
9 |
312/312 |
Running |
