Michael McDowell

Birthday: Dec. 21, 1984
Hometown: Glendale, Ariz.

PREVIOUS RACING HISTORY

Competed in three NASCAR Nationwide Series races and one NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series race in 2007. ... Began go-kart racing at an early age and during almost 10 years of go-karts, racked up the 1997 World Karting Association National Championship, two undefeated International Karting Federation seasons and 18 consecutive main event victories. ... Earned rookie of the year honors in the Star Mazda Series in 2003 and won the series championship in 2004. ... Ran the Koni Challenge Series for Finlay Motorsports in 2004. ... In 2005, co-drove in the Rolex Sports Car Series, winning at Mexico City. ... In 2007, ran the ARCA Series, finishing second in the point standings and leading the series in wins with four.

NOTEWORTHY

In 2005, Michael became the first driver since Mario Andretti in 1975 to run both a major open-wheel race and a sports-car race in the same weekend when he competed in the Rolex Sports Car Series and in a RocketSports Champ Car. ... Won the 2007 ARCA Series Rookie of the Year title as well as the Stewart Warner Lap Leader Award. ... An avid simulation racer, Michael spends, on average, four hours a day driving a computer-racing simulator.