Front Row Motorsports Cup Series Race Report - Atlanta 1

No. 34 Benebone Ford Mustang Dark Horse:

Michael McDowell started Sunday on the pole, the first of his career and immediately showed speed in the No. 34 Benebone Ford Mustang Dark Horse winning the first stage. After bouncing back from a pit road incident with the No. 24 of William Byron with 26 laps to go in Stage Two, he received the lucky dog at the end of the stage to put him back on the lead lap. With the help of some late-race pit strategy from Crew Chief Travis Peterson, McDowell drove back through the field to an impressive 8th place finish, the first top-10 of the season for the No. 34 team and FRM. McDowell led 27 laps in the Ambetter Health 400.

Start: 1st

Stage One: 1st

Stage Two: 23rd

Race Result: 8th

DRIVER MICHAEL MCDOWELL:

"We had a really fast car, the Benebone Mustang I think was the car to beat, that's why it's so disappointing. Obviously, we won the first stage, sat on the pole and got a top-10, but with a car like that you want to win the race."

"Just really proud of my guys, bummed I let them down, but we have a long season, a lot of fight. Proud of the effort, proud of the speed we have and we'll get ready for Vegas."

No. 38 Georgia Peanuts Ford Mustang Dark Horse:

Qualifying 4th, his best career start in the NASCAR Cup Series, in the Georgia Peanuts Ford Mustang Dark Horse, Todd Gilliland was ready to carry the momentum from last weeks Daytona 500. While he finished the race 26th after suffering a broken toe link, Gilliland not only led the race-high but a career-high 58 laps; the most laps a FRM car has led in 1,304 starts at the Cup level. Gilliland now leads the Cup Series in laps led at 74.

Start: 4th

Stage One: 10th

Stage Two: 8th

Race Result: 26th

DRIVER TODD GILLILAND:

"The Georgia Peanuts Ford Mustang Dark Horse was really fast. We’ve shown that the last couple of weeks. Just the progress from my team. Right at this moment, it definitely feels like a huge missed opportunity. I lost some track position and got caught in the middle and then just got behind that wreck, which ultimately bent a toe link."

"I feel like I made a lot of good moves, but obviously the one at the end where it all counts I didn’t. I’ll put the emphasis on a really fast car and my team did an amazing job. I just wish I could have done a little bit better at the end.”