NASCAR News: Michael McDowell Spotted in Fiery Confrontation After Watkins Glen - Watch

Michael McDowell was recently spotted in a heated exchange after the race came to an end at Watkins Glen. The altercation took place after a dramatic competition on the track, particularly between McDowell and rookie sensation Zane Smith.

The Watkins Glen race was largely dominated by the battle for the lead between Shane van Gisbergen and Chris Buescher. However, the spotlight shifted to the intense struggle for a top-five finish involving Michael McDowell and Zane Smith.

McDowell, who started the race from the tenth position, aimed high but found himself in repeated close encounters with Smith, who started from nineteenth. The clashes culminated in a heated argument after the race as frustrations boiled over.

The drama began with the late-race developments that included a major crash involving Tyler Reddick, spurred by an earlier accident with William Byron. This chaos led to a late caution and an overtime restart, thereby giving Smith an opportunity to storm into the top five. The close racing and persistent run-ins between Smith and McDowell added fuel to the post-race confrontation.

Michael McDowell, driver of the #34 B’laster Work It Like A Pro Ford, reacts during qualifying for the NASCAR Cup Series Quaker State 400 Available at Walmart at Atlanta Motor Speedway on September 07, 2024…

Logan Riely/Getty Images

NASCAR shared footage of the animated argument to social media following the race, commenting:

“Contact on the race track, words off of it. An exchange between @Mc_Driver and @ZaneSmith.”

Despite the tensions, Smith managed to secure his place in the top five, marking his second top-five finish of the season. McDowell, on the other hand, was visibly frustrated by their neck-and-neck racing, leading to the fiery argument witnessed by onlookers.

This comes as McDowell is due to leave Front Row Motorsports at the end of the year ahead of a move to Spire Motorsports. The driver posted to social media earlier in the year:

“Over half of my NASCAR Cup Series starts have been made under the FRM banner, and I’m thankful for each and every one of them.

“With that being said, my family and I have made the bittersweet decision that it’s time for us to embark on the next chapter of our motorsports journey, making 2024 my final season as the driver of the No. 34 Ford Mustang Dark Horse for Front Row Motorsports.”