​McDowell on Charlotte Roval"I think it’s awesome that we’re racing the Roval. I’m really excited. Marcus Smith and everybody at Charlotte Motor Speedway have done a really outstanding job, putting a lot of time and lot of effort and a lot of money into making sure that this thing goes off well.

"I’ve seen over the years that a lot of folks in the industry as a whole do not like change. But I’m excited. I like road courses, obviously. It’s going to be a great race and a good show. We've been fast on road courses this year, and I think we can be fast again in our K-LOVE Radio Ford this weekend."

McDowell Road Course (Sonoma and Watkins Glen) Stats
17 starts, 2 top-15s, 5 top-20s
Best finish: 12th (Watkins Glen) 

McDowell Charlotte Stats
18 starts, 1 top-15, 3 top-20s
Best finish: 14th 

Meet Michael
Sunday, Sept. 30, 11am - Ford Performance display (Charlotte Motor Speedway Fan Zone)

No. 34 Dockside Logistics Ford
Started: 23rd | Finished: 24th
"Our first run we were just a little too far off to start the race, and then we just missed the Lucky Dog spot. So that got us behind, a lap down. But, I think we did a good job making adjustments, and I think our strategy was good, too. But we got a lap down, and it was hard to make it up."

​McDowell on Richmond"Our teammate, David Ragan, was really good at Richmond in the first race. He ran in the teens – a really strong race for him. David also recently tested there in a wheel force car. So, we’ve got good notes as a team and will make the right adjustments going back there. That’s what’s nice about having a teammate. When you go back to tracks the second time, even if you didn’t hit it, you have good information to build on if you have a teammate that did.

"I’ve always enjoyed Richmond. It’s a great race and requires good tire management. It’s just good short-track racing. These last nine races are important to us even though we’re not in the playoffs. We need to string together some solid results over these final weeks. We have our own goals and our own battles, and we’re close in points to those we’re battling. So, we really need to execute in the races that remain."

McDowell Richmond Stats
15 starts, 1 top-15, 3 top-20s
Best finish: 12th 
 

​McDowell on Las Vegas"It will definitely be a different kind of weekend in Vegas this time. It will be over 100 degrees. We usually just go in February or March when it's still winter and a nice and cool 75 degrees. But it’s going to be totally different in September. It’s definitely going to change. That track’s so fast and has so much grip. But we’ve seen it widen out a lot, and with that heat it’s going to be a really wide racetrack. I think it could be a great race.

"I’m really looking forward to going back. That was a really strong weekend for us the first time this year. We qualified in the top 20 and raced in the top 15, led 10 or 12 laps, and then we had an engine failure. That was probably our best race to date. So, I’m excited to go back to Vegas. A lot has changed, a lot of development. And now we have Speedco and Rotella on our No. 34 Ford, so we have new partners that we'll want to show off running up front.

“I think it’s good to change our schedule. I know people don’t love it because we get into a habit. But I feel like mixing up events is good, and Vegas always draws a big crowd, and it will be interesting to see what happens when we go there twice.”

McDowell Las Vegas Stats
9 starts
Best finish: 18th 

Meet Michael
Saturday, Sept. 15, 3pm - Love's Travel Stops (12501 Apex Great Basin Way, North Las Vegas)

Sunday, Sept. 16, 9am - Ford Performance Display (Las Vegas Motor Speedway Fan Zone)

​No. 34 Race for Riley Ford
Started: 26th | Finished: 17th 
"That was a good day for us. A top-20 at Indy is always a good day. I was really happy to get those last few spots at the end. We beat the cars we needed to beat to get into that top 25 in points. I'm really proud of everybody. We made good adjustments and got it good there at the end when we needed it. Happy to have a good run for John Andretti and Race for Riley. It was special to have them on the car."

STATESVILLE, N.C. (September 6, 2018) – Michael McDowell’s Love’s Travel Stops Ford will turn Speedco blue for three races this season. The national network of service locations for the trucking industry will be the primary partner for the No. 34 team at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, Talladega Superspeedway and Homestead-Miami Speedway. The three-race program will highlight Speedco partner Shell Rotella® heavy duty diesel engine oil as a co-primary partner.

Speedco was acquired by Love’s Travel Stops in 2017. Its 52 locations across the country provide oil changes, preventative maintenance, inspection services and tire offerings for commercial truck drivers. Together Love’s and Speedco represent the largest oil change and preventative maintenance nationwide network with more than 280 locations combined.

Shell Rotella engine oil is designed to keep trucks and equipment operating properly in all driving conditions, providing protection from acids, deposits and wear. Its product portfolio meets the requirements of on- and off-highway equipment, including the latest vehicles fitted with diesel particulate filters (DPF) and catalysts. 


“Love’s and Speedco are excited to team up with Shell Rotella for upcoming NASCAR races this season,” said Dan Jensen, director of tire sales and service for Love’s Travel Stops. “We couldn’t ask for a better brand partnership that complements our products and services for the professional driving community on and off the track. Shell Rotella is also a winning teammate on the road at our growing number of Love’s and Speedco locations, the largest oil change and preventative maintenance network in the nation.”

Love’s Travel Stops is a long-time partner of Front Row Motorsports and has successfully used its NASCAR program to enhance business relationships with partners such as Shell Rotella.

“Love’s really recognizes the value of its partnership with Front Row Motorsports, and we’re proud to work with them in incorporating their partners into the race program,” McDowell said. “NASCAR is the perfect forum to promote these partners. Our sport couldn’t do what we do without truck drivers and the haulers they drive, and Speedco and Shell Rotella can help take care of them and keep them moving safely across the country.”

The Speedco/Shell Rotella Ford will make its first appearance during the South Point 400 race weekend at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. The Sept. 16 race is scheduled to air live on the NBC Sports Network at 3 p.m. ET. The partnership’s three-race schedule also includes the Oct. 14 race at Talladega Superspeedway and the Nov. 18 season finale at Homestead-Miami Speedway.


About Love’s Travel Stops:
Love’s Travel Stops & Country Stores (Love’s) is the nation’s industry-leading travel stop network with more than 460 locations in 41 states. Founded in 1964 and headquartered in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, the company remains family-owned and operated and employs more than 22,000 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 250 on-site Truck Tire Care centers and 52 Speedco locations, which is the largest oil change and preventative maintenance nationwide network on the road today. Love’s is committed to providing customers with “Clean Places, Friendly Faces” at every stop. To learn more, visit www.loves.com.

About Shell Rotella:
For over 40 years, Shell Rotella heavy duty diesel engine oils have delivered excellent protection and performance. Shell Rotella T4 Triple Protection® continues to build upon that heritage by providing exceptional wear protection, superior engine cleanliness and significantly improved resistance to oil breakdown under high temperatures. The result? It helps give your engine longer life and helps keep your engine cleaner throughout your drain interval.
     
Shell Rotella T4 Triple Protection is suitable for a wide range of heavy duty engine applications and meets all API CK-4 standards. For further information about Shell Rotella heavy duty diesel engine oils, visit www.Rotella.com.

About Front Row Motorsports:
Front Row Motorsports is a winning organization in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series, the premier division of NASCAR competition. The team was founded in 2004 and is owned by Tennessean Bob Jenkins. FRM fields two full-time entries, the No. 34 of Michael McDowell and the No. 38 of David Ragan, from its Statesville, N.C., headquarters just outside of Charlotte. The team's partnership base includes organizations such as Ford Motor Company, Love's Travel Stops, K-LOVE Radio, 1000Bulbs.com and Shriners Hospitals for Children. Visit teamfrm.com and follow FRM on Twitter at @Team_FRM and on Facebook at facebook.com/FrontRowMotorsports.
 
###

Contact:
Shari Spiewak
Front Row Motorsports
office: 704-873-6445 x215
cell: 704-200-1779
sspiewak@frontrowmotorsports.com
​

STATESVILLE, N.C. (Sept. 4, 2018) – When Front Row Motorsports’ No. 34 Ford hits Indianapolis Motor Speedway for the Big Machine Vodka 400 at the Brickyard, Michael McDowell’s Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series car will already be celebrating a different race win. A commemorative paint scheme on the No. 34 will celebrate the 22nd year of the Kroger Race for Riley, presented by Pepsi, a charity go-kart race that benefits Riley Hospital for Children. The 2018 event is scheduled for Wednesday at New Castle (Ind.) Motorsports Park.

The paint scheme is a nod to former Front Row Motorsports driver John Andretti, who is also a long-time friend of team owner Bob Jenkins. Andretti has been raising money for the Indianapolis hospital through the annual charity race since its inception in 1997.

Wrapped in a design reminiscent of Andretti’s Window World Ford that he drove for Front Row Motorsports in 2009, the No. 34 will feature the logos of fundraising partners Kroger, Pepsi, Window World and Republic Airways.

“John has dedicated himself to raising money for Riley Hospital for Children for more than two decades,” said Jenkins. “He’s a hero to me, and he’s a hero to these kids that benefit from the millions of dollars raised. With the race going on the week of our Cup race in Indianapolis, I wanted to help John and the rest of the ‘Race for Riley’ organizers celebrate another successful year of raising money for such an important cause.”

McDowell has already donated a helmet to a Bell Racing auction that raised funds for the Race for Riley, and he is proud to have the commemorative paint scheme on his No. 34 Ford.

“Events like this remind you what’s really important,” said the father of four. “Bob has always been focused on giving back and supporting charitable causes, and with his friendship with John Andretti, we know this one especially comes from the heart. With Race for Riley donations being accepted through the end of September, we hope it raises awareness and encourages more people to donate and help the kids at Riley.”

To learn more about the Kroger Race for Riley, presented by Pepsi, visit race4riley.com. Donations can also be made online at race4riley.com/contribute.

The Big Machine Vodka 400 at the Brickyard will air Sunday on the NBC Sports Network at 2 p.m. ET.

​No. 34 Love's Travel Stops Ford
Started: 26th | Finished: 20th
"Not a perfect day, but we did OK. Our car could swing in either direction, loose and tight. But that's kind of Darlington. We got a little off sequence on one of the cautions, but we recovered well. It's good to get a top-20 -- actually having both Front Row cars in the top 20. We're happy to get a good finish for Love's Travel Stops, and hopefully we'll get some momentum back."