Michael McDowell making 500th Cup start on Sunday

Today at 03:26 AM

Michael McDowell will celebrate his 500th career NASCAR Cup Series start at Martinsville Speedway this weekend for the penultimate race of the 2024 season.

McDowell will become the 47th different driver in series history to make 500 starts or more and is one of six active full-time drivers in the Cup Series to reach the 500 start-plateau joining Kyle Busch, Martin Truex Jr., Denny Hamlin, Joey Logano and Brad Keselowski. The 39-year-old also made is first Cup Series start at Martinsville in 2008 driving for Michael Waltrip Racing. McDowell will be making his 28th start at the Martinsville Speedway, looking to improve on his 21st place result in the spring.

Benebone will be back on the No. 34 FRM Ford Mustang Dark Horse this weekend returning back to the track since Watkins Glen International, where McDowell finished 7th-place.

The NASCAR Cup Series track activity will begin Saturday, November 2nd with practice and qualifying at 1:00 pm ET on the NBC Sports app. The Xfinity 500 will be Sunday, November 3rd at 2:00 pm ET. Fans can watch the action live on NBC or listen via the Motor Racing Network and SiriusXM channel 90.

— Front Row Motorsports —