Front Row Motorsports Cup Series Race Report - New Hampshire

No. 34 Long John Silver's Ford Mustang Dark Horse:

Back in the Long John Silver's saddle, Michael McDowell looked to make up ground, starting in 25th after qualifying was rained out Saturday. McDowell got to work, picking up spots to see himself in the 20th position halfway through Stage 1. McDowell continued to hold his ground and finished Stage 1 in the 20th position. Pitting at the stage break caution, Crew Chief Travis Peterson called for a two tires and fuel stop in hopes of gaining spots on pit road, but after the gas can stuck and left the No. 34's pit box, McDowell was forced to the rear. McDowell was able to come back to pit road for the other two tires before the start of Stage 2. Green flag stops in Stage 2 cycled McDowell up to 8th. A caution brought McDowell to pit road for four tires and fuel with the hope to run long for track position and rain. McDowell finished Stage 2 in 23rd. Staying out under the stage-break caution, McDowell started the final stage on the front row. Running in the Top-10, NASCAR threw the caution for rain and brought the cars to pit road. NASCAR made the call to continue the race and put teams on the wet weather tires. Restarting 6th, McDowell got back to work, continuing to fight within the Top-10 before pitting for tires and fuel under caution with 35 laps remaining. Making one final trip to pit road for fresh wet-weather tires, McDowell found himself in third with the chance to take the lead and with 10 laps remaining. Restarting on the front row in second, going for the lead, McDowell collided with competitor, Ryan Blaney in Turn 1, bringing out the caution. McDowell was able to recover and bring home a Top-15 finish after the NASCAR Overtime.

Start: 25th

Stage One: 20th

Stage Two: 23rd

Race Result: 15th

DRIVER MICHAEL MCDOWELL:

"I was in a do or die situation I had to go for it [on that restart]. I know it was a low percentage move, but I had to try it. All the guys that went to the bottom in [Turn] 1 and 2 on those restarts got freight trained, so I knew I needed to enter in the middle, and I just got the left sides on the wet paint at it just kind of took off. I hate it for Blaney, I know it ruined his day, ruined my day too and I apologized to those guys for that, but I'm at a point in the season where I have to go for it too and you don’t know until you get there, and I was just in there a little too deep."

No. 38 Grillo's Pickles Ford Mustang Dark Horse:

Todd Gilliland made his third Cup Series start at the New Hampshire Motor Speedway with a new look to his Ford Mustang Dark Horse, partnering with Grillo's Pickles for a green and white "Pickle Car" livery. With qualifying rained out, Gilliland started the 301-lap race from the 16th position. Gilliland wasted no time picking up spots, getting up to 12th ten laps into the race. Gilliland fell back to 14th halfway through Stage 1, where he finished the stage. A strategy call from Crew Chief Ryan Bergenty brought Gilliland to pit road under the stage-break caution for a two-tire and fuel stop, putting Gilliland in the Top-10 for the start of Stage 2. As green flag stops begun in Stage 2, Gilliland and the team planned to run long, eventually cycling to the lead and leading 19 laps. The yellow flag waved after a competitor went for a spin, giving Gilliland and company the chance pit under yellow for four tires, fuel, and adjustments. Gilliland left pit road to restart 8th. Back under green, Gilliland pushed his Ford Mustang Dark Horse up to the sixth position, where he finished Stage 2 and earned valuable stage points. Pitting under the stage-break caution for another two-tire stop, Gilliland started the final stage from the 4th position. Holding strong in the Top-5, rain started to pour, forcing NASCAR to bring the cars to pit road. After a lengthy delay, the track was dry enough to put cars back on track with wet weather tires. Engines refired and Gilliland looked to close out the race. With 68 laps remaining, a caution flew after another competitor took a spin. Gilliland stayed out to keep his track position. Back under green, Gilliland fought hard to get to the front row before a caution gave him the chance to come to pit road for fresh tires and fuel, restarting in the Top-10. Gilliland continued to fight his way back up to the front but fell back to the Top-15 and finished the race in the 12th position. Gilliland and the team continue to gain ground and close the points gap, sitting 83 points below the playoff cutline.

Start: 16th

Stage One: 14th

Stage Two: 6th

Race Result: 12th

DRIVER TODD GILLILAND:

"This was a clean, solid race for us. We fought hard all day, and even with the rain, we never gave up and kept pushing. I am really proud of myself and the team's effort. Ryan (Bergenty) did a fantastic job calling the race, he kept us in contention for a result we can be proud of. This has been a good summer stretch for us so far, were chipping away at the points gap, and I can feel a win in our future soon."