Y! picks: Pure Michigan 400
Venue: | |
Race length: | 400 miles |
No. of laps: | 200 |
Qualifying: | Fri., 4 p.m. ET |
Race: | Sun., 1:16 p.m. ET (ESPN) |
STAT OF THE WEEK
Beware Junior: The last driver to sweep both races at Michigan as Bobby Labonte way back in 1995.
JUNE'S RACE
Top 5 |
1. Dale Earnhardt Jr. |
2. Tony Stewart |
3. Matt Kenseth |
4. Greg Biffle |
5. Jimmie Johnson |
RECENT WINNERS
2011: | Kyle Busch |
2010: | Kevin Harvick |
2009: | Brian Vickers |
2008: | Carl Edwards |
2007: | Kurt Busch |
2006: | Matt Kenseth |
2005: | Jeremy Mayfield |
2004: | Greg Biffle |
2003: | Ryan Newman |
2002: | Dale Jarrett |
ALSO THIS WEEKEND:
Nationwide Series
NAPA Auto Parts 200, Circuit Gilles Villeneuve, Sat. 2:49 p.m.
Camping World Truck Series
VFW 200, Michigan International Speedway, Sat. 12:49 p.m.
EXPERT STANDINGS
Hart: | 699 points (4 wins) |
Busbee: | 665 points (1 win) |
Bromberg: | 653 points (1 win) |
YAHOO! SPORTS FANTASY AUTO RACING
Check your team | Expert picks
Michigan preview (PDF)
The NASCAR Sprint Cup Series heads to Michigan International Speedway for Sunday's Pure Michigan 400.
Kyle Busch is the defending race winner.
Dale Earnhardt Jr.: Surprised? Probably not, which tells you how far Junior has come this season. Considering he won at Michigan earlier this year and has been the most consistent driver on intermediate tracks this season, Earnhardt has to be pegged as the favorite coming into this race. Anything less than a top 5 would be a disappointment. – Jay Hart
Greg Biffle: Yes, the Hendrick crew has been on a tear, and yes, Roush has fallen from its prior heights, but I still think Biffle is going to elbow his way back into championship talk with a strong performance this weekend. Get ready to celebrate, Biffle Nation. Biffle Town? Biffle Village? Whatever. He'll do fine. – Jay Busbee
Carl Edwards: Why not throw yet another wrench into the Chase wildcard picture, right? Edwards was fast at Indianapolis – well for a little bit, anyway – and will capitalize on his Nationwide Series win at Watkins Glen with a victory at Michigan on Sunday. In the span of three hours, Edwards can go from Chase afterthought to a top contender. – Nick Bromberg
• Nobody mastered the Michigan repave quite like Dale Earnhardt Jr. last time around. Question is, how well will other drivers adjust to a track that has only one truly effective groove at the moment? Restarts will be key, and the combination of fuel mileage, passing difficulty and desperation could make for a great finish. – Jay Busbee
• Tony Stewart's famous quote about his team not deserving to make the Chase last year happened after Michigan, and we all saw what happened during the Chase. Will someone have a similar moment this year? – Nick Bromberg
• Will the field challenge the Hendrick brigade? With the horsepower HMS engines are producing right now, it's not a stretch to think all four Hendrick cars could finish in the top 10 and maybe even the top 5. If they do, it will send a message to everyone else that the 2012 championship is theirs to lose. – Jay Hart
"My wife has given me things and my daughter has given me things to put in the car for luck. Even fans have sent in things to the team. But I think when I won at Pocono it was the first time in quite a while that I did not have some sort of good luck charm in the car. So far, my theory holds true. It's not about luck and good luck charms; it's about going out there and performing and doing what you have to do as a team." – Jeff Gordon
