McDowell to take the wheel of Waltrip Racing's No. 00

Michael McDowell, the 2007 runner-up on the ARCA circuit, will succeed David Reutimann in the No. 00 Sprint Cup car at Michael Waltrip Racing, sources confirmed to NASCAR.COM.

McDowell, a 22-year-old native of Phoenix, likely will take over the No. 00 Toyota in late March at Martinsville, Va., when Reutimann will slide into the No. 44 car being vacated by the retirement of teammate and 1999 series champion Dale Jarrett. A formal announcement is expected later this month.

McDowell comes from a varied racing background. He raced go-karts in Europe against future Formula One drivers Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosburg, competed in a number of different sports car series, and got what he thought was his big break when the Rocketsports Champ Car team fielded cars for him in the final two events of the 2006 season. He finished 12th at Surfers Paradise and 11th in Mexico City, but a lack of funding left him searching for a ride.

A contact with Chip Ganassi's team led to him to Lorin Rainier, the organization's development chief, who in turn sent him to ARCA team owner Eddie Sharp. Sharp already was fielding a car for Josh Wise, a Michael Waltrip Racing developmental driver, which helped McDowell catch the eye of the Sprint Cup team owner and land a developmental deal of his own.

Michael Waltrip Racing officials tested McDowell and Wise repeatedly during the offseason in the hopes that one would be ready to take over the No. 00 car in 2008. Wise, a two-time U.S. Auto Club champion, likely is bound for a Nationwide Series ride, pending sponsorship.