Michael McDowell, the 2007 runner-up on the ARCA circuit, will succeed David Reutimann in the #00 Sprint Cup car at Michael Waltrip Racing. McDowell, a 22-year-old native of Phoenix, likely will take over the #00 Toyota in late March at Martinsville, Va., when Reutimann will slide into the #44 car being vacated by the retirement of teammate and 1999 series champion Dale Jarrett [Jarrett will also run the All-Star race in the #44]. A formal announcement is expected later this month. Michael Waltrip Racing officials tested McDowell and Wise repeatedly during the offseason in the hopes that one would be ready to take over the #00 car in 2008. Wise, a two-time U.S. Auto Club champion, likely is bound for a Nationwide Series ride, pending sponsorship.(NASCAR.com)(1-5-2008) UPDATE: Michael McDowell was tabbed Wednesday to drive a Sprint Cup car for Michael Waltrip Racing after Dale Jarrett’s retirement. The 23-year-old McDowell will get his Cup car when Jarrett steps out of his ride following the fifth race of this season. David Reutimann will actually replace Jarrett in the #44 Camry, while McDowell will get Reutimann’s #00 Camry. McDowell won four races, nine poles and rookie of the year honors in ARCA last season, but had to undergo significant testing for Waltrip to earn his ride. Waltrip, in his second season as a car owner, also relied on the recommendation of driver Boris Said, who vouched for McDowell and praised his skill on tricky road courses. “Boris said, `That kid gets it. He can go. No matter what he gets in, he’s fast,” Waltrip said. “Once I talked to Boris, and went to a couple of tests with Michael, to me it was a no-brainer. And there’s never been that many of them.” Waltrip has been looking for a third driver since last October, when Jarrett said he was ready to get out of the car. The 1999 Cup champion will move into the broadcasting booth for ESPN following his retirement. But the candidates were slim, and Waltrip focused mostly on McDowell and Josh Wise, the two drivers in his development system. Both tested, and Waltrip said McDowell got the nod because he’s more experienced right now than Wise. McDowell will make his Cup debut in March at Martinsville Speedway. He’ll team with Guy Cosmo and Marc Camirand to run the Rolex 24 at Daytona International Speedway this weekend, and he’s scheduled to race the #00 Camry in the Nationwide Series opener at Daytona next month.(AP/ESPN.com)(1-24-2008) UPDATE 2: Wednesday night, sitting on a stage with racing royalty, 23-year-old Michael McDowell heard the words he thought were only audible in his dreams as Michael Waltrip announced his organization’s 2008 Sprint Cup Series driver lineup. Waltrip officially revealed that the Arizona native will drive the #00 Toyota Camry for Michael Waltrip Racing, beginning on March 30th at Martinsville Speedway, joining MWR’s driver lineup of Waltrip, Dale Jarrett and David Reutimann. Reutimann will start the season in the #00 Toyota Camry while Jarrett finishes out his career in the #44 UPS Toyota Camry, running the first five races on the schedule. Jarrett will turn the #44 UPS ride over to Reutimann and McDowell will fill the seat vacated in the #00 by Reutimann starting at Martinsville. McDowell, a four-time race winner, nine-time pole-sitter and Rookie of the Year in the 2007 ARCA RE/MAX Series, has been sharpening and showcasing his skills with extensive testing in preparations to drive the #00 Toyota Camry. McDowell will take into account everything he has learned from testing as he begins to write his first chapter in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series with Waltrip’s guidance. McDowell is extremely focused and also serious about being a 2008 Raybestos Rookie of the Year contender joining a formidable class, which includes Dario Franchitti, Regan Smith, Sam Hornish Jr., Patrick Carpentier and Jacques Villeneuve. Before making his NASCAR Sprint Cup Series debut, McDowell will run the Spirit of Daytona entry during the Rolex 24 at Daytona International Speedway with Guy Cosmo and Marc Camirand. He is also scheduled to drive the #00 Toyota Camry in the Nationwide Series Camping World 300 at the 2.5-mile tri-oval.(MWR PR)(1-25-2008)
