Why it took Michael McDowell a while to 'embrace' NASCAR superspeedway racing

Coming from the world of sports car and IndyCar racing, stock car racing at Talladega Superspeedway was quite the culture shock for a young Michael McDowell. 

"We barely are two-wide in those for the most part," McDowell said Saturday regarding his former racing disciplines. "You just out-brake somebody, make the pass, it's over."

That's now how it goes in NASCAR superspeedway racing at Daytona and Talladega, however, the latter of which McDowell and the rest of the Cup Series field will race at on Saturday. Huge, snarling packs of 30-plus cars often race around each other for the entire day in the draft at both venues in some of the most exciting and nerve-wracking action in racing. 

"When I was three or four-wide, stuck in the middle of the pack, I was just [like] ... What are we doing out here?" McDowell said. "It took me a while to embrace this style of racing because it's so unique."

Michael McDowell learned to embrace speedway racing

Ironically, McDowell has become one of the best superspeedway racers in NASCAR. He won the 2021 Daytona 500 and nearly won another in February on fuel strategy before crashing on the final lap. 

"When you come from other forms of motorsports and you come to Talladega or Daytona, it's just so different than anything you've ever done," McDowell said. "It took me a while to really learn to enjoy it. When you're wedged up in the middle, you feel hopeless. You're thinking about all the wrong things. 

"Moving forward, I don't ever feel that way."

McDowell will start 31st in Sunday's Jack Link's 500 at Talladega and is 19th in the Cup Series standings through the first nine races of 2026. 

Quotes provided by NASCAR Media.