Michael McDowell's race recap in the Chase race at Kansas in 2026

Michael McDowell finished 27th Sunday at Kansas Speedway, losing five positions from his 22nd-place starting spot. The Spire Motorsports driver never found enough speed to move the No. 71 Chevrolet into the top 20.

McDowell stayed clear of the multicar crash involving teammate Carson Hocevar but gradually fell one lap behind Kyle Larson. He completed 266 laps and remained running at the checkered flag.

The finish produced 10 points for McDowell. He did not qualify for the Chase, meaning Kansas had no effect on his championship eligibility and the points count only toward his season standing. For Spire, the result was part of a mixed afternoon in which Daniel Suárez finished 14th while Hocevar suffered major damage and finished 33rd.

This article originally appeared on Motorsports Wire: Michael McDowell’s race recap in the Chase race at Kansas in 2026