Michael McDowell is no newcomer to the NASCAR world, but Sunday’s event at Iowa Speedway will mark his first for Joe Gibbs Racing. McDowell will pilot the #18 Pizza Ranch Toyota at Iowa, taking the wheel of one of the best cars in the NASCAR Nationwide Series, a car that has already collected five wins in 2011 with Kyle Busch behind the wheel and a car that is the two-time defending Nationwide Series Owner’s Championship ride. McDowell has 72 career starts in the NASCAR Nationwide Series, with a career-best finish of sixth coming in the third race of the 2009 season at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. McDowell is also a veteran of the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, where he’s made 61 career starts. McDowell also has experience in the ARCA Racing Series (finished second in points and crowed Rookie of the Year in 2007), Champ Car, Star Mazda, Daytona Prototype and various other road racing series.Pizza Ranch, the largest regional pizza restaurant chain in Iowa, Minnesota, North Dakota and South Dakota, will return as sponsor of the #18 Toyota this weekend at Iowa Speedway.(JGR)(5-17-2011)
