As the NASCAR Cup Series heads to Homestead-Miami Speedway for the 2026 season finale, World Golf Hall-of-Famer Annika Sörenstam and her namesake LPGA Tour event, The ANNIKA driven by Gainbridge at Pelican (The ANNIKA), is teaming up with Gainbridge℠, driver Michael McDowell and Spire Motorsports to unveil a unique livery for McDowell’s No. 71 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 for the Nov. 8 NASCAR Cup Series Championship Race.
The ANNIKA driven by Gainbridge at Pelican, Tampa Bay’s signature LPGA Tour event, takes place the following week, Nov. 9-15 at Pelican Golf Club in Belleair, Fla.
McDowell, a two-time Cup Series race winner, will race the No. 71 The ANNIKA driven by Gainbridge Chevrolet ZL1 when NASCAR’S premier division returns to the popular mile-and-a-half South Florida oval for Championship Weekend for the first time since 2019.
Meanwhile, the decklid of McDowell’s No. 71 Chevy will feature a dynamic look, including a roster showcasing many of the players on the LPGA Tour’s “Race to the CME Globe” rankings who are currently eligible to compete at the ANNIKA, a season-long points competition in which LPGA Members accumulate points in every Official LPGA Tournament to gain entry into the season-end CME Group Tour Championship. McDowell will also sport a The ANNIKA-themed driver suit featuring a golf-inspired caddie bib and golf pants on race day.
After the checkered flag waves and the 2026 NASCAR season officially comes to a close, the father-of-five will head to Florida’s Gulf Coast for The ANNIKA to share time with the LPGA Tour players and participate as a celebrity caddie in the Wednesday Pro-Am at Pelican Golf Club on Nov. 11.
“I’m definitely not the best golfer in the world so it’s easy for me to appreciate the talented players on the LPGA Tour,” said McDowell. “I’m really looking forward to visiting Pelican Golf Club to be part of the festivities and seeing the event in person. I know how important this tournament is to our partners at Group 1001 and Gainbridge, so this is a great opportunity for Spire Motorsports to play an important supporting role.”
“I’m looking forward to meeting Michael at The ANNIKA at Pelican Golf Club in November and watching the No. 71 ANNIKA Chevrolet hopefully take the checkered flag at the NASCAR Cup Series Championship Race,” said Sörenstam. “Thank you to our incredible partners at Gainbridge and Group 1001 for this unique partnership – shining a spotlight and elevating women’s sports.”
The ANNIKA is sponsored by Gainbridge, a Group 1001 company and features a $3.25 million purse, one of the largest on the LPGA Tour, outside of the major championships. Proceeds from the tournament will benefit the ANNIKA Foundation.
With eight races before the close of the 2026 Cup Series campaign, McDowell sits 20th in points while claiming three top-five and six top-10 finishes on the year.
The NASCAR Cup Series Championship Race from Homestead-Miami Speedway will be televised live on NBC Sunday, Nov. 8 beginning at 3:30 p.m. Eastern Standard Time. The 36th and final race of the 2026 season will be broadcast live in the Motor Racing Network and Sirius XM Satellite Radio Channel 90.
— Spire Motorsports —