Editor’s note: This is the ninth in a series in which we review the top 30 drivers in the NASCAR Cup Series in reverse order of the 2025 final standings.
Driver: Michael McDowell, No. 71 Chevrolet, Spire Motorsports
Crew chief: Travis Peterson
Final 2025 Ranking: 22nd
Key Stats: 0 wins, 3 top fives, 6 top 10s, 96 laps led
How 2025 ended: McDowell moved to Spire Motorsports for 2025 after a seven-year tenure with Front Row Motorsports. He ended his first year with Spire with a few high points, particularly in the playoffs with one top-five finish (fifth at Charlotte Roval) and two other top-10 finishes (eighth at both New Hampshire and in the season finale at Phoenix, his home track), as well as capturing the pole in the fall race at Talladega. Earlier in the season, he also earned a pole (spring race at Las Vegas) and had two other top-five showings on the road course events at Mexico City (fifth) and Sonoma (fourth). All in all, it was another usual, solid season from the Cup veteran whose 41st birthday is around the corner on Dec. 12.
Best race: McDowell’s best finish of the season was a fourth-place finish in Wine Country. However, extrapolating that a bit, he once again showed why he’s one of the most underrated road-course racers: his three best finishes of 2025 all came on road courses, fourth at Sonoma, and fifth at both Mexico City and Charlotte Roval. Another highlight was the Chicago Street Race, where he dominated, leading the first 31 laps (a season-high for him) and staying at the front of the field when a throttle cable broke. His team repaired the car after a lengthy pit stop, but the damage was done and he finished a disappointing 32nd.
MORE: 2026 Cup Series schedule | Michael McDowell driver page
Other season highlights: In addition to his road-course prowess, McDowell is a strong superspeedway racer (like when he won the 2021 Daytona 500). He led laps in the “Great American Race” and spring event at Talladega, but just missed the top 10 by finishing 11th in both races. McDowell continued to be one of the most consistent drivers in the series, with just two DNFs, both due to crashes (Texas and Pocono).
Stat to know: Of his 537 career Cup starts, McDowell has two wins (Daytona 500 and Indianapolis Road Course). Of his 14 career top-five finishes, seven have been on drafting-style tracks and seven others have been on road or street courses.
RELATED: Final 2025 standings | McDowell through the years
Quotable: “I know what would have happened. We would have won the race.” — Michael McDowell lamented what might have been in the Chicago Street Race if it had not been for the broken throttle cable.
Looking ahead: McDowell is scheduled to return to the No. 71 Spire entry next season alongside crew chief Travis Peterson, who made the move with McDowell over from Front Row Motorsports before the 2025 season. He will have a new teammate in Daniel Suárez, who joins the three-driver fold under a one-year contract to drive the No. 7 Chevrolet in 2026.