Pit Road Week 15

MIS: Quicken Loans 400

Last August Nascar and I left Michigan with Jack Roush winning another race at MIS. Once again this year Ford and Roush leave with another win. Actually if was Ford's 1,000th career win. Leaving MIS this June we also leave with the same winner as last August, Greg Biffle.

Biffle had been struggling with consistency (as had most Ford cars) early in 2013 but after leaving Pocono in 2nd and now a win at Michigan he has put himself in the middle of the Chase run. With the win it looks more and more like he could get a WC spot if he doesn't finish in the top 10 in points which just takes a spot away from a non winner (which happened to be my topic of discussion this week in "Race For a Win: Part One and Two"

Take a look back at the full race results from the Quicken Loans 400 at MIS. If you haven't also take a look back at Race For a Win: Part One and Part Two, and also Heating up from last week.


Rising

• Marting Truex Jr- Still a long way off of being back into contention for the Chase after two horrible weeks in arrow, Truex started a turn around in Michigan with a 3rd place finish. Only thing is, he didn't realize he finished top 3 and had to call in for his post race interview!
• Greg Biffle- You have to love how this team has kept fighting this season. I even thought they were going to continue there struggles, but mostly because the Ford cars have been so far behind. So far I am wrong and after his 2nd place finish at Pocono he now got his first win of 2013 and Fords 1,000th in Nascar. That's back to back wins at MIS for the Biff.
• Kevin Harvick- Really he can't rise too much farther, but since the ASR his finishes look like this (1st, 8th, 9th, and 2nd this week). He is one of the hottest drivers right now and he is doing it quietly, just think if he gets red hot by Chase time?
• Honorable Mentions- I have to add this week because one: Danica finished 13th and in front of boyfriend Ricky and two: Austin Dillons 11th place finish was the first time he has finished higher then 24th in the Sprint Cup.

Coasting

• Tony Stewart- You get hot like this and you get to be in the Coasting section (where its either a guy in the middle coasting, or someone hot coasting). I could have put Harvick here, but gave him a rising spot because he has been doing it quietly. Everyone in Nascar knows where Smoke has been. He (5th) and Danica (13th) made sure Stewart-Haas had another good outing on Sunday.

Falling

• Denny Hamlin- Tough day for DH, and unfortunately it might be the end of his Chase chances. I was a little skeptical as it was and that's why he has been in and out of the Power Rankings. But this 30th place finish puts him almost too far out to make up ground.
• Kasey Kahne- He has now run into a stretch like Brad Keselowski ran into where nothing can go right even when you have a good car. He possibly had the best car on the weekend but he smacked the wall very early ending his day.
• Jeff Gordon- See above. Gordon went down even earlier then Kahne. He is in 11th in points but does not have a win which means he has work to do.

Pit Road (Week 15 Power Rankings)

1. Jimmie Johnson (LW-1)- Well he had a very late race tire go down, but really how does he fall from #1 when he was going to try and push Biffle for the win? Still running scary good.
2. Kevin Harvick (LW-2)- Harvick moved up to the runner up spot, or the #1 spot other then the guy in another league, last week and wasn't giving it back this week. Solid 2nd place finish give him 5 straight top 10's in point races.
3. Matt Kenseth (LW-3)- Kenseth finished MIS with a 6th place finish. He was towards the front most the day but really didn't challenge for a win. After 3 races 15th or worse this finish couldn't have come at a better time.
4. Kyle Busch (LW-4)- Well this is the same top 4 as last week. But who would I really change, maybe flip flop Kyle and Kenseth, but either way they have both been feast or famine this season so one will flop back down or run up top soon.
5. Tony Stewart (LW-7)- Well he is making an unbelievable run to the top and into Chase contention. This week he followed up his 4th place finish with a 5th. That's 3 top 5's in the last 3 races for Smoke. He is on one of those Summer runs.
6. Clint Bowyer (LW-4)- This is the kind of consistency a driver needs to win the Chase, but he is missing those dominating performances that Champions need. On Clint's side, he still has time to find those this season. Finished 7th at MIS this Sunday.
7. Greg Biffle (LW-12)- Biffle is making a run like Smoke did. He took that runner up at Pocono and one upped it at Michigan with a win. He is now in the top 10, plus he has an important win that maybe key if he hovers from here on out.
8. Dale Earnhardt Jr (LW-5)- Well Jr falls but it was not his fault. Jr had a great car Sunday and if it wasn't for so many hot drivers around him he wouldn't be so far down. Why is that? Well before his engine blew he was leading the race with a 5 second lead on JJ in 2nd and looking fast, plus he won the June race last year in a Super Hero car (Dark Knight Rises).
9. Carl Edwards (LW-8)- Falling a spot after getting the Pole and finishing 8th (his first top 10 in 4 races) Carl is just in the unlucky spot of everyone getting hot. He has been searching for some consistency he has lacked since the season started.
10. Joey Logaon (LW-10)- JoLo once again ran a solid race and finished 10th. I still will hold onto the idea he has ran good enough to find a win this season, his last 4 have all been top 10's.
11. Brad Keselowski (LW-NR)- Well BK finds himself back in the Power Rankings after dropping out last week. This season has been a roller coaster ride that he knows wont help him win back to back Championships but the last 3 have been promising. This week he finished 12th after running out of fuel on the last lap but had a top 5 car. Still needs better finishes and a win or two.
12. Kurt Busch (LW-9)- Kurt gets to hang on to the last spot only because he was fast again Sunday. He was a victim of a slippery start to the race on Sunday and slid into the wall. He never recovered and finished 35th. He still is on the hunt for wins week to week which is most likely the only way he gets into the Chase.

Dropped Out: Kasey Kahne
Just Missed: Martin Truex Jr

Missed the Preview, take a look back here.

Well Nascar is heading out of one of the fastest tracks on the schedule until August when I will be attending and going to a place where they make RIGHT turns, Sonoma. Check out some past articles to hold you over until the Sonoma Preview and possibly a Driver Spotlight this week if I can find time!