ESPN Racing

CORNELIUS, N.C. -- Michael McDowell was tabbed Wednesday to drive a Sprint Cup car for Michael Waltrip Racing after Dale Jarrett's retirement.

The 23-year-old McDowell will get his Cup car when Jarrett steps out of his ride following the fifth race of this season. David Reutimann will actually replace Jarrett in the No. 44 Camry, while McDowell will get Reutimann's No. 00 Camry.

"It became very obvious last year when we were watching some of the other drivers compete, knowing Dale was going to retire and Michael (Waltrip) isn't going to drive until he's 80 -- Michael (McDowell) was a guy who just caught our eye," said Ty Norris, general manager of MWR.

McDowell won four races, nine poles and rookie of the year honors in ARCA last season, but had to undergo significant testing for Waltrip to earn his ride. Waltrip, in his second season as a car owner, also relied on the recommendation of driver Boris Said, who vouched for McDowell and praised his skill on tricky road courses.

"Boris said, `That kid gets it. He can go. No matter what he gets in, he's fast," Waltrip said. "Once I talked to Boris, and went to a couple of tests with Michael, to me it was a no-brainer. And there's never been that many of them."

Waltrip has been looking for a third driver since last October, when Jarrett said he was ready to get out of the car. The 1999 Cup champion will move into the broadcasting booth for ESPN following his retirement.

But the candidates were slim, and Waltrip focused mostly on McDowell and Josh Wise, the two drivers in his development system. Both tested, and Waltrip said McDowell got the nod because he's more experienced right now than Wise.

"Michael said at a press conference last year that I was a candidate for the No. 00 Toyota Camry, but said that if I couldn't get the job done, somebody else would," McDowell said. "I will never forget that. It pushes me even more to be prepared and I'm glad he said it. It's game time and there is no time to celebrate this opportunity.

"It's time to get serious."

McDowell will make his Cup debut in March at Martinsville Speedway. He'll team with Guy Cosmo and Marc Camirand to run the Rolex 24 at Daytona International Speedway this weekend, and he's scheduled to race the No. 00 Camry in the Nationwide Series opener at Daytona next month.

Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press

This story is from ESPN.com's automated news wire. Wire index