The Ghost of Front Row: Did They Let a Diamond Go for Pocket Change?

Let's call it like it is. Michael McDowell put on a road racing clinic on the streets of Chicago. For a while there, he was the only driver who looked like he had anything for the golden boy, SVG. He was masterful, leading laps and proving that his Indy and Daytona 500 wins were no flukes. The man can drive the wheels off a race car.

And that brings us to the million-dollar question that's buzzing around the web: Why is he not in a Front Row Motorsports car anymore?

The official story is that they wouldn't give him the security of a multi-year deal. A multi-year deal for a Daytona 500 champion who consistently outperforms his equipment? Something doesn't add up. You're telling me a team on the rise lets their veteran leader, a guy who practically built that organization, walk away over a couple of extra years on a contract? I'm not buying it.

The fans see it. They're asking the same questions I am. Was it about money? Did they not want to pay a winner what he's worth? Or is there something else going on behind the scenes?

Now, McDowell is over at Spire, and what's happening there is a whole other can of worms. The cars seem to have raw speed, no doubt. But the number of mechanical failures is just staggering. Steering racks, throttle cables, blown tires... it's a laundry list of heartbreak for McDowell, who has seen strong runs evaporate into thin air time and time again. He's sitting 23rd in points, but anyone with a set of eyes knows that's not a reflection of the driver. It's a reflection of parts and pieces that can't seem to last 500 miles.

So, here's the real tea. Did Front Row lowball their veteran driver, thinking they could plug anyone into that seat and get the same results? And is Michael McDowell now in a glass cannon of a race car at Spire - fast enough to win anywhere, but fragile enough to break your heart every other week?

McDowell's Chicago performance wasn't just a good run; it was a statement. It was a big, flashing neon sign pointed directly at his old team, a sign that reads: "You messed up." And as a fan of this sport, I can't help but wonder what could have been if they had just given the man what he deserved.