After a trying qualifying session ending with Michael McDowell sitting off pole, McDowell was able to lead every lap and claim the win for his World Speed Motorsports/MMI team in round six of the Fran-Am 1600 championship. McDowell finished with over a 30-second victory margin.
“We came into this weekend off of a win at Las Vegas, but we knew this was going to be a hard weekend because of the constant weather changes,” McDowell said “in the end we made the right choice with our set up for the wet race and except for the first corner, when I thought I might be taken out, I was able to drive away.” McDowell avoided a turn two, first lap, incident between pole setter Daryl O’Young and John Knudsen. By turn two he was in the lead and by turn six he had a seven car-length lead. McDowell continued to pull away at between two and four seconds a lap for the remainder of the race.
“As is often the case with rain races we had to make a decision on which way to go with the set up,” commented Telo Stewart manager of World Speed Motorsports, “Michael and I were discussing it right up until we belted him in, by the end of lap one I knew we made the right choice.” McDowell and the World Speed Motorsports team have high hopes and are looking forward to the last two races of the season in McDowell’s hometown, Phoenix, AZ, on November 23rd and 24th.
“I would like to thank everyone that has made this weekend and season possible, MMI Karting, World Speed Motorsports, Mega Metals, Western Titanium, Sparco USA, No Fear, and Jim Russell Racing School,” stated McDowell.