Michael McDowell almost clinched a surprising win for Spire Motorsports at the NASCAR Cup Series race in Texas on Sunday, but his hopes were shattered in the final moments when he crashed into the outside wall. Starting from pole with teammate Carson Hocevar, McDowell fought hard to maintain the lead, coming extremely close to securing only the second victory in Spire’s history. Instead, the race ended prematurely for him as his car was hauled away on a tow truck, leaving drivers and crew grappling with a heartbreaking finish.
I just really hate it for everyone on this No. 71 Chevrolet,
McDowell said, reflecting the pain felt by the entire team.
We were giving it everything we had there to try to keep track position. Joey [Logano] got a run there, and I tried to block it. I went as far as I think you could probably go. When [Ryan] Blaney slid up in front of me, it just took the air off of it and I just lost the back of it. I still had the fight in me, but I probably should have conceded at that point.
McDowell praised Spire Motorsports and Hendrick Motorsports’ engine team for their collective effort during the race.
Just proud of everyone at Spire Motorsports. I know that’s not the day that we wanted, but we had the opportunity to win the race. I’m really proud of everyone at the Hendrick Motorsports engine shop – you guys saw those restarts, the motors were ripping. Just hate that we didn’t get it done, but we knew we had to go for it. We went for it and it didn’t work out.
With over 500 NASCAR Cup Series starts, Michael McDowell has built a reputation as a determined competitor, famously shocking the NASCAR world with his win at the 2021 Daytona 500 while racing for Front Row Motorsports. More recently, he captured a victory at the Indianapolis Road Course in 2023, marking his last trip to Victory Lane. His move to Spire Motorsports in the offseason was intended to help elevate the relatively young three-car team’s performance, and that effort nearly paid off in Texas.
Strategically, crew chief Travis Peterson’s decision to take two tires for track position was a gamble that almost secured McDowell the lead. He overtook Kyle Larson and steadfastly defended every challenge on the restarts, displaying skill and tenacity. The race’s final laps featured frequent caution periods and short runs, which worked in McDowell’s favor as he battled to keep the lead amid relentless pressure.
However, with only four laps remaining, defending series champion Joey Logano caught up. McDowell made a desperate, aggressive block, pushing Logano to the apron, unwilling to surrender the position. Yet the attempt to hold off Logano wasn’t enough; both Logano and his teammate Ryan Blaney passed McDowell, who nevertheless continued to fight.
In the turbulent air behind Blaney’s car, McDowell lost control, crashing heavily into the outside wall and abruptly ending his race. The sight of his crew chief placing his head in his hands captured the despair felt by the team. Despite the valiant effort that had brought hope to Spire Motorsports and their fans, Michael McDowell’s day ended with a disappointing 26th-place finish.
This heartbreaking near-win highlights both the unpredictable nature of NASCAR racing and the genuine potential McDowell brings to his team. While Texas ended in heartbreak, the performance underscores what Spire Motorsports can achieve with continued determination and strategic decisions. For McDowell and his crew, this race will fuel the fire to come back stronger, aiming to turn future near victories into solid wins on NASCAR’s biggest stages.
