Michael McDowell No. 46 Cash America Chevrolet Impala Preview: Ford 400 at Homestead-Miami Speedway
Harrisburg, N.C. (November 19, 2010) — It's been a long season for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, and it's been one of hope and learning for one of its newest teams — Whitney Motorsports. A start-up team that had a bare garage less than six weeks before the season started, the team has made a total of 22 starts with four different drivers: Terry Cook, J.J. Yeley, Michael McDowell, and Terry Labonte. Lessons have been learned that will help the team as it moves into its second full season of competition. However, before the gaze is focused completely on 2011 there is the small matter of finishing up the 2010 season on a positive note and McDowell and team are preparing for a strong performance in the Ford 400 in hopes of carrying some momentum into the off season.
Homestead has a wide groove that allows racing from the bottom to the top — where will you be running this weekend? "It is always a head scratcher, says McDowell. You will see so many different lines even in qualifying. You'll see someone go out and run a different line that will be really quick and you ask yourself whether you should run there. Last year I qualified on the bottom and ended up 18th. I think this year I'll stick to the bottom too. We'll keep our eyes on what everyone else is doing but that's our plan for now."
Tough question: South Beach or the Keys? "I've done the South Beach thing and it's definitely an eye opening experience. But I love to fish and it doesn't get any better than down in the Keys."
How important is going into the off season with positive momentum for a small team like Whitney Motorsports? It's really important. We can build some great momentum going into the offseason with a good run at Homestead. I feel we will have a great car and shot to impress our sponsors Cash America and Red Line Oil, and all of the other potential sponsors that are out there. We have a great team and a great program to offer, and it won't take $20 million to make it happen either."
Michael at Homestead: Michael has one career Sprint Cup start at Homestead-Miami Speedway; he qualified 18th for last year's race before dropping out early with overheating problems. He has one Nationwide Series start, in 2007, when he qualified 26th and finished 32nd.
About Cash America: Cash America International, Inc. provides specialty financial services to individuals in over 1,000 locations in the United States and Mexico and over the Internet in the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia and Canada. Cash America is the largest provider of secured non-recourse loans (commonly referred to as pawn loans) in the United States and currently operates under the brand names Cash America Pawn and SuperPawn in the United States and under the brand name Prenda Fácil in Mexico. The company also offers short-term cash advances in many of its locations in the United States, including close to 250 stores that offer this service under the brand names Cash America Payday Advance and Cashland. The company also offers check cashing services in many of its lending locations and in its company-owned and franchised check cashing facilities operating under the Mr. Payroll trade name. The company also offers short-term consumer loan products over the Internet in the United States at http://www.cashnetusa.com, in the United Kingdom at http://www.quickquid.co.uk, in Australia at http://www.dollarsdirect.com.au, and in Canada at http://www.dollarsdirect.ca. The company also owns a card services business that processes cash advances on behalf of a third-party lender with balances outstanding in all 50 states and four other United States jurisdictions. The company's corporate offices are located in Fort Worth, Texas.
Homestead On-track:
Friday November 19
- 11:30 AM — 1:00 PM ET NSCS Practice
- 3:10 PM ET NSCS Qualifying
Saturday November 20
- 1:30 — 2:15 PM ET NSCS Practice
- 2:50 — 3:50 PM ET NSCS Final Practice
Sunday November 21
- 1:00 PM ET NSCS Ford 400 (267 laps/400 miles; Live, ESPN/MRN Radio/Sirius NASCAR Radio Channel 128)