No. 34 Love's Travel Stops / Peak Ford Mustang Dark Horse:
Michael McDowell qualified 18th for the 500-lap, Saturday night race. In a mostly uneventful Stage 1, McDowell hung around the Top-20, struggling to find rear grip. He finished Stage 1 in the 18th position. Pitting for tires and fuel under the stage-break caution, McDowell went back on track looking to pick up spots with some adjustments to help the No. 34 Love's / Peak Ford Mustang Dark Horse have better turn on the high-banks. Reporting that he was too tight on the bottom, McDowell pitted for tires, fuel, and an adjustment to fix the balance of the No. 34. McDowell finished Stage 2 in the 17th position. Staying out to start the final stage, McDowell was on the hunt for a Top-10 finish. A pit stop under caution gave McDowell fresh tires to continue the remaining laps. After battling with the 9th and 10th place competitors, McDowell crossed the start / finish line in the 11th position, equaling his finishing spot from the Bristol spring race.
Start: 18th
Stage One: 18th
Stage Two: P17
Race Result: 11th
DRIVER MICHAEL MCDOWELL:
"One spot short of a Top-10. We executed all night just needed a bit more to be in contention. 500 laps at the Bristol Motor Speedway is still one of the coolest experiences you can have behind the wheel, but very challenging. A big thank you to Love's Travel Stops and Peak for showing up in full force and the men and women at Front Row Motorsports for building a good car."
No. 38 Frontline Enterprises Ford Mustang Dark Horse:
Todd Gilliland qualifying 24th for the infamous Bristol Motor Speedway Night Race. Gilliland struggled with the handling of his Frontline Enterprises Ford Mustang Dark Horse, falling back to the 30's and going a lap down. Gilliland finished Stage 1 in the 34th position. Taking four tires and fuel under the stage-break caution, Gilliland went back to work. Still struggling with the handling of his race car, Gilliland was unable to break out of the 30's, finishing Stage 2 in the 31st position. Gilliland started the final stage on fresh tires. In an uneventful final stage with few cautions and pit stops, Gilliland crossed the start / finish line in the 32nd position.
Start: 24th
Stage One: 34th
Stage Two: 31st
Race Result: 32nd
DRIVER TODD GILLILAND:
"We struggled all night with the handling and just couldn't get it right. 500 laps at Bristol is tough, but my team stuck with me and got me to the end. We're bringing home a clean Frontline Enterprises Ford Mustang Dark Horse, that's all we can ask for. We'll regroup and come back better at Kansas. It was awesome to have Brett Stevens and the whole Frontline Enterprises team at the track. I can't thank them enough for the support."