Michael McDowell, who started from the rear of the field due to a steering rack change prior to Sunday’s NASCAR Cup Series Shriners Children’s 500 at Phoenix Raceway, had climbed to the eighth position early in Stage 2 when he suffered an issue, and found himself back playing catch-up again.
McDowell, who was on the softer Option tires in an effort to gain some track position, was following Ross Chastain, who was also on Option tires when he encountered either a cut tire or a steering issue of some kind in Turn 4.
The No. 71 Spire Motorsports Chevrolet would kick sideways, and McDowell would smack the outside wall in Turn 4.
Problems for the No. 71 of @Mc_Driver. pic.twitter.com/9iNBuKA7EH
— NASCAR (@NASCAR) March 9, 2025
A plume of smoke would trail his car, and after his team assessed the car, it looks like it was simply a cut tire that sent McDowell into the wall.
The team then began to work on the rear toe link to repair it after the collision with the outside wall.
