News

THE RACE

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Kentucky Speedway
Saturday, September 20, 7:30 pm ET

THE CAR

The No. 22 Discount Tire Ford Mustang
Driven by Michael McDowell    

THE NEWS AND NOTES
    
The No. 22 Discount Tire Ford Mustang    

· NEW TO THE 22:  Michael McDowell will make his first start in the No. 22 Discount Tire Ford Mustang this weekend at Kentucky. McDowell will be the fifth different driver this year to pilot the Mustang for the 22 team. Ryan Blaney, Brad Keselowski, Joey Logano and Alex Tagliani have all made at least one start for the team this season.

· RUNNING UP FRONT:  The No. 22 Mustang has been a threat to run up front this season in the NASCAR Nationwide Series. So far, the Discount Tire Ford has led a total of 646 laps, has won four races and captured seven poles. McDowell looks to add to these impressive stats this weekend in Kentucky.

· BUILDING ON RECENT SUCCESS:  Last weekend at Chicagoland, Blaney’s top-five finish allowed the No. 22 Discount Tire team to maintain its lead in the NASCAR Nationwide Series Owners’ Championship race. The team, which won the title last season, sits 15 points ahead of the No. 54 for Joe Gibbs Racing with just seven races remaining in the season.

· WIN 24 AND COUNTING: Team Penske celebrated its 130th NASCAR Series win with Brad Keselowski in the Cup Series at Chicagoland last weekend. Long time Penske sponsor, Discount Tire has been the primary or co-primary sponsor on the No. 22 Nationwide Series car since 2010 and has 24 of those wins. Team Penske and Discount Tire look to add to this number over the balance of the 2014 season.
    

THE Q & A

MICHAEL MCDOWELL, NO. 22 DISCOUNT TIRE FORD

YOU ARE MAKING YOUR FIRST START FOR TEAM PENSKE, HOW DOES IT FEEL TO DRIVE FOR ROGER PENSKE?

“Driving for Roger Penske is something I have dreamed about since I was a kid racing Go-Karts. I have lived in Charlotte for 10 years and I haven’t changed my phone number during that time. When people ask why, my joke is; when Roger Penske dials my number, I want to make sure he has the same number I gave Walter Czarnecki 14 years ago. I told him I wanted to drive for Team Penske someday and I stayed in contact with him as I climbed up the open wheel ladder. It turned out to be a good thing I never changed my number.”

JEREMY BULLINS, NO. 22 DISCOUNT TIRE FORD CREW CHIEF

WHAT ARE YOUR EXPECTATIONS FOR KENTUCKY?

“The Discount Tire team is excited to prepare this week’s Mustang for Michael McDowell, and we’re excited about the challenge of working with another new driver. We know that Michael is a talented guy that’s shown much speed, and we feel like together we can come out of Kentucky with a strong result. The guys in the shop have done a great job of getting him fitted and comfortable in the car, and the rest is up to us, to provide him with the feel we need to have a fast race car. Kentucky has been good to us lately, and we feel like we can adapt quickly and keep that run of success going.”