Mechanical issues thwarted a promising effort for Michael McDowell and the No. 71 Spire Motorsports team in Sunday’s Chicago Street Race.
McDowell started second and led each of the opening 31 laps of the Grant Park 165 after passing polesitter Shane van Gisbergen in the opening corner. But an issue with his throttle cable sent him to pit road with issues under the third caution period of the 75-lapper, dropping the 2021 Daytona 500 champion from race-winning contention.
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The team was forced to go behind the wall to a designated area to work on the car under NASCAR’s Damaged Vehicle Policy and attempt repairs.
“We’re gonna have to drive to DVP here to go work on our throttle pedal cable,” crew chief Travis Peterson radioed to McDowell. “We’re gonna have to do it over there. That’s where the part is and it’s gonna take forever to get this fixed for the car.”
McDowell is a two-time winner in the NASCAR Cup Series, most recently a victory on the Indianapolis Motor Speedway road course in August 2023. He drove the No. 71 Chevrolet to the Stage 1 victory in Sunday’s race in Chicago to score Spire Motorsports its first stage win.
This story will be updated.
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