It took him 358 starts and years and years of disappointment and frustration, but following his surprising breakthrough triumph in last Sunday’s Daytona 500, Michael McDowell now carries the distinction of being not only the reigning Daytona 500 champion but also a newly minted winner at the sport’s highest level. So no matter what happens Sunday on the Daytona road course, or the rest of 2021 for that matter, McDowell has reason to smile and celebrate. “It’s been a tough road for me,” he said. “I’ve had to spend a lot of years grinding it out, but I finally have felt like this last four years have been—just been more competitive and greater opportunities with Front Row Motorsports and (team owner) Bob Jenkins. To get my first Cup win at Daytona is just unbelievable. I’m just so thankful, thankful for everybody that just has allowed me to do it. It’s not been an easy road, and there were lots of years where I was wondering, ‘What the heck am I doing and why am I doing it?’” Although McDowell will return to The World Center of Racing this weekend undoubtedly feeling a little extra optimistic, the reality is that this kind of rosy outlook is nothing new for him. “When I come to the racetrack, when we load up and go, I really think every weekend, ‘OK, this is the weekend it’s going to happen,’” the 14-year Cup Series veteran said. “And I know that sounds crazy, but I do, and I have, and I have for a long time.”