Gene Nead will also return as crew chief.

K-LOVE radio will be back to sponsor the team in the Daytona 500 at Daytona International Speedway, while Curb Records will return as an associate sponsor.

McDowell said:

We have new cars, new bodies and lots of potential. Our team has really hustled over the off season to get us prepared for 2013. They’ve put together some awesome cars, and with Roush Yates horsepower under the hood, I know we can run with some of the best teams in the sport. I have a lot to look forward to this year and can’t wait for the green flag in Daytona.

Team owner Phil Parsons added:

We have some great relationships that are continuing, as well as some new ones, which have us very optimistic about 2013. I want to thank K-LOVE, Curb Records, Hyde Park Storage Suites and Ford for all of their support. Their partnerships have allowed us to grow and develop as a team, and we look forward to a great year with them.

McDowell attempted 33 Cup races last season, qualifying for 30 of them. His best finish was 23rd at Bristol Motor Speedway, in a year that was spent mainly starting and parking. His overall average finish was 38th.

Mike Skinner made two starts for PPR, finishing 39th and 40th. David Mayhew made one start for the team at Infineon Raceway, finishing 40th.

Related Stories

• McDowell To Run No. 98 For Phil Parsons Racing in Cup
• McDowell To Drive For Phil Parsons Racing In Cup In 2012

Parsons said:

Combining our efforts with Whitney Motorsports with the support of Mike Curb and having Michael (McDowell) behind the wheel of the No. 98 Ford means we’ll open the season at Daytona better prepared than ever before. We feel the timing couldn’t be better for us to build this program into a proper Sprint Cup Series effort.

The team will get engines from Roush Yates Racing. Veteran crew chief Gene Nead will lead the team. He has worked with McDowell before — at Michael Waltrip Racing and in the Nationwide Series at PPR.

McDowell said:

This is the opportunity I’ve been looking for to work with various Christian music outlets, Mike Curb and Curb Records, and our other partnerships that are taking shape. This opportunity will allow me to expand my brand and put me in a position to work with the types of companies I’ve been wanting to work with for a long time. On the racetrack, I’m excited about the chance to have my best NASCAR season ever.

Additionally, McDowell will run in the Nationwide Series with Joe Gibbs Racing.

The team has enough sponsorship to run the first fives races of the season.

McDowell will also drive Joe Gibbs Racing’s No. 18 in five races in the Nationwide Series. McDowell will pilot the car at Road America, Watkins Glen International, Michigan International Speedway, and Iowa Speedway twice.