McDowell Finishes 17th Behind Alfredo
It was a career day for Anthony Alfredo at the Talladega Superspeedway. The Sunoco rookie driver finished 10th in Monday's rain delayed and shortened race. The result is Alfredo's best in his young NASCAR Cup Series career. With the finish, Alfredo also took home the rookie of the race award. The finish is also the best for partner Georgia Peanuts and their first top-10 in the Cup Series.
This year's Daytona 500 winner, Michael McDowell and the Love's Travel Stops/Delo team finished 17th.
ANTHONY ALFREDO. NO. 38 GEORGIA PEANUTS FORD MUSTANG. FINISHED 10
Anthony Alfredo and the No. 38 Georgia Peanuts Ford Mustang team were a threat all race long at the Talladega Superspeedway. Wasting no time, Alfredo moved to the front with his Georgia Peanut No. 38 from the drop of the green. Starting from 30th, Alfredo was 13th when a caution waved on Lap 25. To end Stage 1, Alfredo was 30th after rolling to the back on purpose.
The second stage, the competitors were all told that rain was coming and be aggressive once the race passed halfway. That's exactly what Alfredo did. Using a push from fellow Ford driver Joey Logano, Alfredo used the middle lane to race all the way up to fifth. As the field continued to shuffle, Alfredo didn't budge. He kept drafting and fighting for his position.
Alfredo kept on the gas and was 10th when the caution flew on Lap 117 for an accident. During the yellow, rain started to fall and the race was called official. Alfredo's impressive moves had paid of with his best finish to date.
ALFREDO ON TALLADEGA SUPERSPEEDWAY:
"Everyone at Front Row Motorsports did an awesome job. We had a fast Georgia Peanuts Ford Mustang. It was fun racing up front. We kept it clean and I wish we could have kept racing. We could have been even better, but with the adversity that we've had this year we will be content with it. We'll try and take this momentum with us through the rest of the year."
MICHAEL MCDOWELL. NO. 34 LOVE'S TRAVEL STOPS/DELO FORD MUSTANG. FINISHED 17
Michael McDowell and the No. 34 Love's Travel Stops/Delo team finished 17th after coming back from losing a lap early in the race. McDowell and the team spent extra time on pit road to repair some damage as the field went back green.
The repairs helped as McDowell stayed with the pack once they lapped him. He got back on the Lead Lap after a caution that ended the first stage. In Stage 2, McDowell could draft in the top-15 and was fighting for position. In the opening laps, McDowell was inside the top-10, so he knew he had a good car.
Using the outside line, McDowell tried to draft up to the front. He avoided wrecks, but eventually ran out of time to race any higher.
MCDOWELL ON TALLADEGA SUPERSPEEDWAY:
"I want to thank Love's Travel Stops and Delo. We had some problems in the first stage, got a lap down and had to come back up. We had a good car and we wanted to keep racing. We needed more time to get in a better position to race for the win."
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