dailyloe.com – NASCAR’s silly season approaches, and Michael McDowell has insights on his potential successor. At Watkins Glen, he identified Tristan McKee as ‘the real deal.’ McKee is anticipated to take over the No. 71 car for Spire Motorsports when McDowell retires.
Tristan McKee was ranked 14th among top NASCAR prospects in 2025 by Bob Pockrass of Fox Sports. He became the second-youngest ARCA winner in 2025 at Watkins Glen. Notably, he will not turn 16 until August.
McKee has competed in the ARCA Menards Series and the ARCA Menards Series East. Although he is a promising talent, he still needs to prove himself in the Truck Series and O’Reilly Auto Parts Series.
Experts suggest McKee is at least three years away from a full-time Cup Series ride. Michael McDowell, who turns 42 in December, has no immediate plans to retire.
He intends to continue racing the No. 71 for several more seasons despite facing challenges. McDowell’s last victory was at the Verizon 200 at the Brickyard in 2023.
His performance has declined over the years. In 2024, he recorded seven top-10 finishes, six pole positions, and led 256 laps. He finished with a 14.58 average starting position and a 21.31 average finishing position.
In 2025, his stats worsened, with only 96 laps led, six top-10 finishes, and two poles. His average starting position fell to 15.69. The 2026 season shows further decline, as McDowell ranks 23rd in points after 11 races.
He has an average starting position of 19.0 and an average finishing position of 21.5. Spire Motorsports aims to enhance its competitiveness in the Cup Series.
