Thursday, June 13, 2013

Week 15 Preview

Michigan International Speedway: Quicken Loans 400
Start of the 2011 Fall MIS race
Nascar leaves the Tricky Triangle and heads to Michigan International Speedway for the first time this season (the second one in August I will be attending and have since 2006). This track is still the only track I have been too and is always a good time. But, onto the product on the track.  Jimmie Johnson may have just won at Pocono and was also very good at Dover but he has never won in 22 tries at Michigan.

That leaves the door open for other drivers to get a win on this very fast 2 mile oval. This week I have articles on 2013 season win less drivers and who will get one this year and it seems that many of them will have a chance this weekend. Guys like Biffle, Gordon, Jr, Newman, and Kurt Busch all have multiple wins at MIS and non of them have a win in 2013.

I think this years race could bring a 2013 season first time winner and also some very fast racing with the new Gen 6 car. Take a look back at last years June results at MIS. Lets get on to the Good, Middle, and Bad Drivers in recent races at MIS.


The Good:
  • Greg Biffle- Lets start here, he drives for Roush. Now Fords have had a slow start to the 2013 season but if there was a time to get it going it would be a Jack Roush car at MIS speedway. In the Biff's last 10 he has 1 win, 5 top 5's and 6 top 10's. Best Chance Forecast: I like Biff to find another top 5, but until Ford shows they have figured it out I can't say he is a clear cut favorite to win.
  • Carl Edwards- Look above at what was said about Biffle, then apply to Carl. His stats look about the same, 1 win, 5 top 5's and 7 top 10's. Best Chance Forecast: Same as Biffle, top 5, but if Fords were to find another win, a Roush car at MIS is the place.
  • Dale Earnhardt Jr- Enough Ford's already. Jr's last Cup win was a year ago at MIS when he was in his last very long win less streak. This year he is trying to put together a run that will put him in good shape for his first title run. Best Chance Forecast: I don't know why but I think another average top 10 finish is in store for Jr. (I could be wrong, he is driving another movie aspired paint scheme this weekend like his MIS win last year)
The Middle
  • Denny Hamlin- The middle man this week is actually also a good bet to win at MIS. He does have 2 wins in the last 10 races here, but he also only has a average finish of 15. He has been a feast or famine driver at MIS as of late so he will either push for the win or have troubles. Look for the former this weekend.
The Bad
  • Jimmie Johnson- This is a reach, JJ isn't bad at MIS, but the fact that JJ has been so good at most tracks leave me wanting more. (So no mistake, he is a still a good option if you are looking at it for a fantasy option). JJ's average finish leaves something to be desired (15.7 in the last 10) and he only has 4 top 10's in the last 10 (2 top 5's). Also note, he has yet to win at MIS in his career.
  • Paul Menard- Lets get to a guy who really hasn't been good at all at MIS. Menard has two top 10's and 1 top 5 in his last 10 races here. Not only that his average finish is way down to 21.6. If he wants to hang around the Chase talks he will have to figure it out at MIS this Sunday.
  • Marcus Ambrose- He is a guy I just had to get in this article. He could also be considered in the "Laying Low" section with his teammate Almirola because his last two were finishes of 9th and 5th. Other then those two finishes Ambrose has struggled at MIS. Maybe he has figured it out though, so he could be a sleeper.
  • Kurt Busch- In Kurts last 10 races here he has run into some bad luck and it has resulted in an average finish of 21.6 with 2 top 10's and 1 top 5's. But Kurt has been fast this year and he does know how to go fast at MIS, in the last 10 he has 2 poles in his name.
Laying Low
  • Ryan Newman- His last 10 numbers do not look very overwhelming, actually they don't look good at all. But if you check out Newman's last 4 starts at MIS and there is hope (8, 15, 5, and 6). He could have a chance to sneak up on the field this weekend, hopefully he doesn't "run" into Gilliland though.
  • Aric Almirola- Aric only has two career starts at MIS but I think this is the kind of track that he could excel at the more and more he runs it. Last year he finished 17th and 20th and this he has a chance to improve on that. I think he can pull off a top 15 and maybe even get back in the top 10.

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