Company Continues Partnership with Daytona 500 Champion Michael McDowell
MOORESVILLE, N.C. (February 19, 2021) – The celebration of Michael McDowell’s Daytona 500 win continues today with CarParts.com (NASDAQ: PRTS) announcing their continued partnership with McDowell and Front Row Motorsports (FRM). CarParts.com now becomes an integral part of the team and McDowell’s 2021 season, including full season associate branding and primary partner sponsorship at four races.
 
CarParts.com will be the primary scheme on the No. 34 Ford Mustang beginning at the Watkins Glen road course on August 8 and followed by the Indianapolis Motor Speedway on August 25, the return of McDowell to the Daytona International Speedway on August 28, and the NASCAR Playoff race at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway on September 26.
 
CarParts.com offers an easy-to-navigate, mobile-friendly shopping platform, connecting drivers with the parts they need to get from point A to point B with confidence. The company has delivered over 50 million parts across America and now count the 2021 Daytona 500 champion as a loyal customer. Last year, CarParts.com and McDowell partnered to make updates to his Ford F-150 with various parts through a video install series, including a tonneau cover, exhaust system, and brakes.
 
“The story of Michael McDowell winning the Daytona 500 mirrors CarParts.com’s story,” said Houman Akhavan, Chief Marketing Officer of CarParts.com. “Both of us were building a really strong foundation under the radar. Both of us were building great teams. He was building a great car, and we were building a great company. Then, one day, everyone who had overlooked both of us realized that we were a force to be reckoned with.”
 
Last season, CarParts.com partnered with FRM and McDowell on various promotions, sweepstakes, contests, and other activities to get more involved in the sport and spark engagement with NASCAR fans. One event in particular—when McDowell and Darrell “Bubba” Wallace, Jr. made contact on the track during the All-Star race—led to a cascade of charitable contributions after CarParts.com bid on the bumper involved, including donations of $20,034 to Motor Racing Outreach in McDowell’s name, another $20,043 to Victory Junction in Wallace’s name, and finally the bumper itself to a NASCAR fan. Both CarParts.com and FRM are excited to find more ways to connect with fans during the 2021 season.
 
“It’s great to have CarParts.com back with us in such a big way,” said McDowell. “We always knew they were with us, part of the family and supporting us. Now we can do something even bigger and better as we start our season. We have all year to spread the word about CarParts.com to NASCAR fans. I’ve used their site and it’s easy. They have every part you need. It’s just awesome to see this come together and I can’t wait to see what they have planned for us.”
 
For more information about CarParts.com, visit CarParts.com.
 
About Front Row Motorsports
Front Row Motorsports (FRM) is a winning organization in the NASCAR Cup and Camping World Truck Series and the 2021 Daytona 500 champions. The team was founded in 2004 and is owned by successful entrepreneur, Bob Jenkins. FRM fields the No. 34 and the No. 38 NASCAR Cup Series teams along with the No. 38 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series team– from its Mooresville, N.C. headquarters. Visit teamfrm.com and follow FRM on social media: Twitter at @Team_FRM, Instagram at @team_frm and Facebook at facebook.com/FrontRowMotorsports.
 
About CarParts.com
With over 25 years of experience, and more than 50 million parts delivered, we’ve streamlined our website and sourcing network to better serve the way drivers get the parts they need. Utilizing the latest technologies and design principles, we’ve created an easy-to-use, mobile-friendly shopping experience that, alongside our own nationwide distribution network, cuts out the brick-and-mortar supply chain costs and provides quality parts at a budget-friendly price.
CarParts.com (NASDAQ: PRTS) is headquartered in Torrance, California.
 
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Asset Liquidation Firm to Support McDowell in Six Races
MOORESVILLE, N.C. (January 18, 2021) – Fr8Auctions, the Atlanta-based Asset Liquidation Firm that auctions excess freight inventory, has expanded their partnership with Front Row Motorsports (FRM), Michael McDowell and the No. 34 Ford Mustang team in 2021.  Fr8Auctions has been a long-time partner of FRM and will increase its involvement by supporting the organization at six events in 2021.
 
Fr8Auctions will once again be the primary partner of McDowell beginning at the road course event at the Daytona International Speedway on February 21.  Fr8 Auctions will also be the partner of McDowell for many of the Southeast events including, the Atlanta Motor Speedway on March 21, the Martinsville Speedway on April 10, Official Throwback Weekend at the Darlington Raceway on May 9, the 600 at the Charlotte Motor Speedway on May 30 and once again at the Atlanta Motor Speedway on July 11.  
 
Fr8Auctions partners with freight lines, distribution companies, and consumer product-based businesses to help sell excess, discontinued or damaged inventory outside of traditional distribution channels. Utilizing industry leading merchandising techniques, product presentations, and a competitive bidding environment, Fr8Auctions offers both their partners and buyers opportunities to maximize returns on their investments. With over 1 million total square feet of space at their corporate headquarters, Fr8Auctions can support even the most robust demands of their customers. With COVID challenges in the market, buyers across the nation can now access online (sealed bid) auctions to bid on thousands of pallets of merchandise, which can range from gas grills, to ceiling fans, to cleaning products. Merchandise for each auction can also be previewed at Fr8Auctions.com.
 
“We have found a great home to promote our auctions with Front Row Motorsports and Michael McDowell,” said Fr8Auctions Founder, Marcus Barela. “Michael and everyone at Front Row Motorsports have been great to work with and have helped us on and off the track.  We are proud to increase our partnership and look forward to another great year together.”
 
Not only will Fr8Auctions be featured on the car, but they will also partner with McDowell and the team to promote the Brave Like Wyatt charitable organization.
 
Brave Like Wyatt was established in 2019 to honor the memory of Wyatt Hatcher, who loved life and loved superheroes. He was born with Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome and had a heart transplant right before his second birthday. His heart transplant allowed him to enjoy life for 9 more years. He fought cancer and won in 2019. Shortly after he was declared cancer free it was found that the chemotherapy medication had damaged his donor heart. Wyatt lost his fight in January of 2020 and is loved and missed every single day.  Brave Like Wyatt’s mission is to help ease the burden of families dealing with similar life circumstances by contributing to community resources, providing financial assistance for household bills, travel assistance and, when needed, funeral expenses.  
 
“What makes Marcus and the team at Fr8Auctions so great is their desire to help others,” added McDowell. “That’s why they have been a great fit for Front Row Motorsports and I’m grateful for them stepping up with us.  We’re taking the next step at FRM and it’s because of partners such as Fr8Auctions who are making that happen.”
 
For more information about Fr8Auctions, visit Fr8Auctions.com and follow Fr8Auctions on social media: Twitter at @fr8auctions and Facebook at facebook.com/Fr8Auctions.

About Front Row Motorsports
Front Row Motorsports (FRM) is a winning organization in the NASCAR Cup and Camping World Truck Series. The team was founded in 2004 and is owned by successful entrepreneur, Bob Jenkins. FRM fields the No. 34 and the No. 38 NASCAR Cup Series teams along with the No. 38 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series team– from its Mooresville, N.C., headquarters. Visit teamfrm.com and follow FRM on social media: Twitter at @Team_FRM, Instagram at @team_frm and Facebook at facebook.com/FrontRowMotorsports. 

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Michael McDowell
No. 34 Love's Travel Stops | Luber-finer Ford Mustang

Started: 29th
Finished: 23rd


• Stage One: 27th
• Stage Two: 21st
• Stage Three: 23rd

• On Sunday afternoon, Michael McDowell and his No. 34 Love's Travel Stops | Luber-finer Ford Mustang took to the track at Phoenix Raceway for the final race of the 2020 NASCAR Cup Series season. McDowell took the green flag in 29th place and would advance his position to 26th by the Competition Caution on Lap 32. Under caution, he noted that his race car was "tight in the middle, loose off," prompting Crew Chief Drew Blickensderfer to call McDowell to pit road for 4 tires, fuel, a wedge adjustment and added grille tape. McDowell continued to battle and would go on to take the Stage 1 green-and white-checkered flag from the 27th position. During the first Stage Break Caution, McDowell came to pit road for 4 tires, fuel, a wedge adjustment and a trackbar adjustment after mentioning that his No. 34 Love's Travel Stops | Luber-finer Ford Mustang was "a little free under braking ... Plowing tight middle."

• The majority of Stage 2 ran caution-less, forcing teams to pit under green for tires and fuel. While the majority of his competitors had already pitted, McDowell remained on track to gain valuable track position. The No. 34 Love's Travel Stops | Luber-finer Ford Mustang ran as high as 3rd place at one point and would be running in 11th when the caution flag flew on Lap 88. Under caution, McDowell pitted for 4 tires, fuel and a trackbar adjustment. Unfortunately, he would also pick up a speeding penalty during his trip to pit road and the No. 34 was forced to restart at the tail end of the field. McDowell would go on to finish Stage 2 in 21st. During the second Stage Break Caution, McDowell told his team that their No. 34 Love's Travel Stops | Luber-finer Ford Mustang was "still fighting (turn in) the center (of the corners) really bad" and would pit for 4 tires, fuel and a trackbar adjustment.



• In the Final Stage of the 2020 NASCAR Cup Series season, McDowell continued to search for more speed in his No. 34 Love's Travel Stops | Luber-finer Ford Mustang. The stage would run caution-less from start to finish and teams would be forced to perform another round of green flag pit stops. On Lap 261, Blickensderfer would call the No. 34 Love's Travel Stops | Luber-finer Ford Mustang to pit road for 4 tires, fuel and a wedge adjustment after McDowell noted that his race car was "tight middle, free off." In the remaining 51 laps of the race, McDowell would overtake a handful of competitors and take the final checkered flag of the season from the 23rd position at Phoenix Raceway.

• McDowell finished the season 23rd in the driver point standings and 25th in the owner point standings. He also recorded career-best season with four Top-10 and ten Top-15 finishes.

McDowell on Phoenix:

• “Well that's a wrap on the 2020 season. It's been crazy and I'm so thankful for everybody at Front Row Motorsports. It's been a great year for us; we accomplished a couple of our goals that we set out to grab; didn't hit them all, but we finally got in the Top-25 in the owner points. It was a dogfight all the way to the end and I'm just so thankful for all of my guys, everybody at Front Row (Motorsports) and our partners: Love's Travel Stops, Speedco, Delo, Luber-finer, Prime Inc, MTS, Fr8Auctions, The Pete Store, Digital Ally with their Shield Cleansers and CarParts.com. We've had so many cool cars this year and I'm just thankful for how much improvement that we've had this year and I'm really excited about 2021."

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McDowell on Phoenix:

“The time of year is once again upon us; it's the final race of the season. Even with all of the craziness that 2020 has brought to our racing industry with the COVID-19 Pandemic and the lengthy pause on racing that it caused, it still feels like the Daytona 500 was only a few short weeks ago.

"And although it's a bittersweet feeling to know that this is the final race of the year, I'm still really excited because we're heading back to my hometown of Phoenix. Maybe I'm a little bit biased, but I've always felt like Phoenix would be a great venue to host our season finale at and I can't wait to see what the racing will produce on Sunday.

"This weekend we'll have Love's Travel Stops back on board our No. 34 Ford Mustang and they'll be joined by our friends at Luber-finer. We've had Luber-finer on the car with Love's [Travel Stops] for a handful of races over the last couple of years and I really appreciate their support.

"I think it's fitting that we have Love's back on our race car this weekend to close out the season as they've played such an instrumental role in Front Row Motorsports' growth and increased competitiveness throughout the years. They stuck by us when we were first building our program and not always having the best of finishes, and they've stuck by us this year, regardless of the financial uncertainties that most businesses have been faced with; and I know that all of us at Front Row [Motorsports] are extremely thankful for that.

"Obviously this weekend is the championship round for the Final Four, but when we take the green flag on Sunday, we'll still have a battle of our own as we're fighting to grab a spot in the Top-25 in Owner Points. The points race is tight between a few of us and I know that it's going to be a dog fight on Sunday."

About Love's Travel Stops & Country Stores

Love's Travel Stops & Country Stores is the nation's industry-leading travel stop network with 530 locations in 41 states. Founded in 1964 and headquartered in Oklahoma City, the company remains family-owned and operated and employs more than 27,000 people. Love's provides professional truck drivers and motorists with 24-hour access to clean and safe places to purchase gasoline, diesel fuel, fresh coffee, restaurant offerings and more. Love's has more than 390 truck service centers, which include on-site and stand-alone Speedco and Love's Truck Tire Care locations. Love's and Speedco combined is the largest oil change, preventive maintenance and total truck care nationwide network. Love's is committed to providing customers with "Clean Places, Friendly Faces" at every stop. To learn more, visit loves.com.

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Michael McDowell
No. 34 CarParts.com | Davico Mfg Ford Mustang

Started: 24th
Finished: 28th


• Stage One: 37th
• Stage Two: 33rd
• Stage Three: 28th

• The No. 34 CarParts.com | Davico Mfg Ford Mustang of Michael McDowell started Sunday’s Xfinity 500 at Martinsville Speedway from the 24th position. Shortly after the green flag waved, McDowell cued the radio to say that he had a "big (left-rear tire) rub" and would be forced to pit under green for left-side tires and to clearance the fender, to which he would come out five laps down. At the Competition Caution on Lap 62, Crew Chief Drew Blickensderfer instructed McDowell to stay on track in order to take a wave-around opportunity and would then be scored four laps down. McDowell would go on to take the first green- and white-checkered flag from the 37th position, four laps down. During the Stage 1 Caution, the No. 34 CarParts.com | Davico Mfg Ford Mustang came to pit road for 4 tires, fuel and a wedge adjustment after McDowell noted that the "right-rear (tire) wants to chatter a little bit."

• Although being scored in the 36th position and four laps down, McDowell would continue to lay down fast lap times and show off the speed in his No. 34 CarParts.com | Davico Mfg Ford Mustang. The caution flag would fly on Lap 184 and McDowell would stay on track to take another wave-around opportunity and close the deficit to three laps. After a long stint on old tires, the caution flag would be displayed once again on Lap 217 and McDowell would pit for 4 tires and fuel; telling the team that his race car was "getting tight rolling the middle (of the corner)." He would go on to finish Stage 2 in 33rd place, three laps down. During the second Stage Break Caution, McDowell would stay on track to take advantage of another wave-around opportunity, closing the gap to two laps down.



• The Final Stage of Sunday's 263-mile race at Martinsville Speedway would see a total of three cautions; the first coming on Lap 353 to which McDowell would pit for fuel and 4 fresh Goodyear tires after a lengthy 136-lap run on his previous set. The remaining two cautions would fall on Laps 401 and 442 and McDowell would stay on track during both to take two more wave-around opportunities, however he would still remain two laps down as he was passed by the leader just prior to both cautions occurring. McDowell and the No. 34 CarParts.com | Davico Mfg team continued to battle hard all race. Unfortunately the five lap deficit was too large to overcome and the No. 34 CarParts.com | Davico Mfg Ford Mustang would take the checkered flag at Martnsville Speedway from the 28th position, three laps down.

McDowell on Martinsville:

• “I’m really disappointed with the way that our race unfolded today at Martinsville Speedway. We got hit hard in the left-rear quarter panel shortly after the green flag dropped, causing a bad tire rub and forced us to have to pit under green for left-side tires and damage repair. At Martinsville, you never want to come to pit road unless it's during a caution because a green flag pit stop pretty much guarantees that you’re going to lose a few laps. From that point on, our goal was to try and take advantage of as many wave-around and Lucky Dog opportunities as possible in order to get back on the Lead Lap. Unfortunately, with cautions falling at unfavorable times and having to race on old tires for long stints, it made it difficult for us to get all of our laps back. It’s unfortunate because our No. 34 CarParts.com / Davico Manufacturing Ford Mustang was so fast all race long. I can’t thank CarParts.com enough for all of their support this season and it was great to welcome their friends at Davico Manufacturing on board with us this weekend as well. We still have one more race in the season, so we’ll head home tonight and shift our focus to Phoenix and try to close out the 2020 season on a high note, next Sunday.”

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No. 34 Love's Travel Stops | Speedco Ford Mustang
Michael McDowell
​
Started: 23rd
Finished: 26th


• Stage One: 24th
• Stage Two: 24th
• Stage Three: 26th

• Michael McDowell and his No. 34 Love's Travel Stops | Speedco Ford Mustang took the green flag in Sunday’s NASCAR Cup Series race at Texas Motor Speedway from the 23rd position. At the Competition Caution on Lap 22, McDowell radioed to say that balance of his race car was "definitely getting better ... just a little free over the bumps" and would pit for 4 tires, fuel and a wedge adjustment. On Lap 44, McDowell would be running in the 20th position as mist began to fall over Texas Motor Speedway, bringing out the 3rd Caution of the race; to which McDowell would pit for 4 tires and fuel after noting, "the balance is close. I'm a little free, which actually helps me in traffic." As weather conditions intensified, the red flag would be displayed and the race would eventually be postponed until Wednesday. Once racing finally resumed, McDowell would go on to finish Stage 1 in 24th place. During the first Stage Break Caution, McDowell told his team that his race car was "too tight, center-off" and would pit for 4 tires, fuel and a trackbar adjustment.

• Early on in Stage 2, McDowell told his team that their No. 34 Love's Travel Stops | Speedco Ford Mustang was "a little free" and would pit under caution on Lap 133 for 4 tires, fuel, a wedge adjustment. McDowell would come over the radio again halfway through the stage to say that he had a bad vibration and would pit under green for 4 tires, fuel and a wedge adjustment, before going on to finish Stage 2 in 24th. Under caution, McDowell would bring his No. 34 Love's Travel Stops | Speedco Ford Mustang down pit road for 4 tires, an air pressure adjustment, packer adjustment and fuel.



• In the Final Stage of Wednesday night's NASCAR Cup Series race at Texas Motor Speedway, McDowell came over the radio on Lap 236 to say that he was once again picking up a vibration and on Lap 246 would pit for left-side tires and fuel. Roughly 50 Laps later, McDowell would make note of the same issue and was forced to pit again for 4 tires and fuel before taking the checkered flag in 26th place.

McDowell on Texas:

• “A really unfortunate turn of events for us here at Texas Motor Speedway. On Sunday, prior to the weather delay, I felt like our No. 34 Love's Travel Stops and Speedco Ford Mustang had some good speed; but then today, we battled a recurring vibration that forced us to pit road multiple times under green and with the lack of cautions, it made it really hard for us to regain any track position. Thanks to Love's Travel Stops and Speedco for coming on board with us this weekend and thank you to all of the men and women who helped to get us back racing today. We'll head home tonight and gear up for Martinsville Speedway on Sunday."

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Michael McDowell
No. 34 Love's Travel Stops | Prime Inc. Ford Mustang

Started: 26th
Finished: 19th


• Stage One: 27th
• Stage Two: 19th
• Stage Three: 19th

• It was a chilly Sunday afternoon at Kansas Speedway when Michael McDowell and his No. 34 Love's Travel Stops | Prime Inc. Ford Mustang hit the track for 267 Laps. McDowell took the green flag from the 26th position and would be scored in 24th at Competition Caution on Lap 27. Under caution, McDowell told his team that "the front end turns good; I just need more to lean on on the right rear ... wind is pretty strong and the track is starting to tighten up." He would pit for 4 tires, fuel and a wedge adjustment. Once racing resumed, McDowell noted that his No. 34 Love's Travel Stops | Prime Inc. Ford Mustang was still "a little bit too free on the way in ... center-off, I need more to lean on, right rear;" and would go on to finish Stage 1 from the 27th position. During the Stage 1 Caution, Crew Chief Drew Blickensderfer made the call for 4 tires, fuel, an added spring rubber and a wedge adjustment.

• Halfway through the second stage, McDowell came over the radio to say that his No. 34 Love's Travel Stops | Prime Inc. Ford Mustang was "a little bouncy in the front" and "built free on the long run." Shortly after, green flag pit stops would begin but McDowell would stay on track longer than most of the field and advanced his position to as high as 2nd before Blickensderfer called him in to pit on Lap 143. Just as McDowell was getting ready to enter pit road, the caution flag would fly and McDowell would make an evasive right turn to avoid pitting and stay on track to hold on to 9th place. Under caution, the No. 34 Love's Travel Stops | Prime Inc. Ford Mustang came to pit road for 4 tires, fuel and a trackbar adjustment. McDowell would go on take the Stage 2 green- and white-checkered flag from the the 19th position. Under the Stage 2 caution, McDowell would pit for 4 tires, fuel and wedge adjustment, however an uncontrolled tire would send the No. 34 to the rear of the field to take the Stage 3 green flag.

• In the early laps of Stage 3, McDowell would make a handful of passes to advance his position to 22nd before the caution flag would fly on Lap 197, to which McDowell would pit for 4 tires, fuel and added grille tape. On Lap 220, the second caution of the stage would occur and McDowell would be called back to pit road for 4 tires and fuel. In the closing laps of Sunday's Hollywood Casino 400, McDowell would race his No. 34 Love's Travel Stops | Prime Inc. Ford Mustang into the Top-20 and take the checkered flag from the 19th position at Kansas Speedway.

McDowell on Kansas:

• “It was definitely a long day for us here at Kansas. We didn't start off that great, but Drew and everybody on this Love's Travel Stops team did a really good job of getting our race car faster near the end of the race and we were able to make up some spots and bring home a Top-20 finish. It was a decent day, but we definitely had higher expectations, for sure. It was just really nice to get a decent finish, as the last few weeks have been pretty rough for us. I'd like to thank. Love's Travel Stops and Prime Inc. for coming on board today. I'm excited to head back to Texas Motor Speedway next weekend with Love's and hopefully keep up the momentum."

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