McDowell will lose his ride after Gateway race

When Michael McDowell takes the checkered flag tonight in the NASCAR Nationwide Series Dodge Dealers 250 at Gateway International Raceway, the race may mark the premature end of his season.

McDowell, 24 of Phoenix, Ariz., will be without a ride after running the first 17 races of the season in the No. 47 Toyota Camry with JTG-Daugherty Racing and the last two events with MacDonald Motorsports.

"We had a great season with JTG-Daughtery racing and we were fortunate to do as many races as we were able to do," McDowell said. "It's obviously very difficult times and everybody did a great job. We knew going into it that we only had 17 races.

"Everybody was hopeful with as well as we were running and being close to the top 10 that we'd be able to get sponsorship. But that didn't happen."

Last week, he signed a two-race deal with Pat MacDonald that ends tonight to drive the No. 81 Dodge Charger. In his first try with MacDonald Racing on July 10, McDowell finished 25th at Chicagoland Speedway in Joliet, Ill.

With JTG-Daugherty, McDowell (1,904) had three top 10 finishes while earning $486,031 and was three points behind 10th-place Jason Keller (1,907). After the July 10 showing, McDowell (1,992) now trails Keller (2,013) by 21 points.

"I don't know what's going to happen. I'd be lying to you if I did," McDowell said. "We do have some prospects. My hopes are to keep doing a good job and create opportunities. If there are teams that need me to do racing for them, I'll just try to do the best I can with whatever opportunity I get."

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