Pure Michigan 400
Michigan International Speedway
By Richard Tix
It is that time of year again, the time where I get to head back to Michigan International Speedway and focus on the race in person and not behind a TV and computer screen. There is nothing like going to a race in person and it never gets old even after attending year after year. Every time I go to MIS it is different as you continue to meet new fans and create new memories.
It's not just the race either, it's the whole weekend and experience. Michigan International Speedway has one of the best fan experiences around. Track president Roger Curtis (@MISroger) does a fantastic job not only promoting how awesome the MIS experience is by ways of social media, but also reaches out to fans attending the track (PS: If you follow him on Twitter he is great at interacting. Also, every 1,000 new followers he gets he gives a once in a lifetime NASCAR giveaway).
I have yet to meet him, but I have heard many good things from fans who have. I have heard he runs around the infield and the camping sites sharing his great attitude with fans who have made the trip from all over (including a lot from Canada). I have also witnessed him give away some great fan experiences over Twitter to lucky fans like the above mentioned. All because he cares about the fans experience and it gives him a way to give back.
Looking past Roger, even he will admit he isn't the reason the track is great all by himself, the whole staff, helpers, and track volunteers are top notch. They always reach out to help you get where you are going and keep you in a good mood.
After all of that you are still left with a fun track that is one of the fastest around that is housing your favorite driver for the weekend. I have always recommended the trip to MIS for anyone interested for every such reason just mention, but also you should plan a trip to any track near you within reason.
The best part about NASCAR is how great each track experience can be and how unique they are. I have yet to make another Cup track as it is not an easy feat while living in MN in my current standing, but soon I hope to start branching out and also hitting other stops during the year.
Fan's tend to focus too much on the negatives that come with going to a race like prices of tickets, hotels, and airfare. To be honest, there are always a way around many of these obstacles if you look hard enough. If you plan a head you can get great tickets for a reasonable price. Some hotels may jack up prices but if you look a bit further out (45 min-1 hr) you can still find great deals. It is not always doable, but if it is within your means and you are a NASCAR fan try and get to the track. The race day experience is what it is all about and MIS brings it! So, what are you waiting for? You still have time to go to MIS this year and pick up some great tickets!
Now, lets get back to our regularly schedule weekend preview!
The Good
- Joey Logano- JoLo won this very race back in 2013 which really seemed to get him on the fast track to where he is now. Since then he has finishes of 9th, 3rd, and 5th (5 straight top 10's total). Since switching to Penske Joey has been a front runner race after race, in fact Penske has been the new RFR in the past few years at MIS (not to the full extent obviously).
- Kevin Harvick- Michigan wasn't always one of Harvicks tracks, but since 2013 (5 races) he has four 2nd place finishes. Earlier this year was his lone blemish in the five race span, but I would expect him to get back on track this weekend and start a new top 10 streak.
- Clint Bowyer- What current Cup driver has 9 straight top 10's at MIS? If you answered Bowyer you would be correct. Now, he only has 1 top 5 in that span so he might not threaten for the win. The fact remains, no other driver has more than 5 top 10's in that 9 race stretch.
- Extra Credit- Paul Menard (4 straight top 10's, 5 in his last 6 starts)
The Middle
- Brad Keselowski- Middle? Lately he has been more on the borderline good category but lets be honest. these categories all have there flaws based on opinion. Since BK has been in the #2 he has 5 top 10's, 8 finishes of 13th or better, in 9 total races. He has three straight top 10's so the same statement holds true for this Penske driver, they have been better than RFR here for a few years.
The Bad
- David Gilliland- Sorry David, no pass for being on a small team. 18 races without a top 10 is rough, but considering his small team the 18 races without a top 15 is worse. Actually, he only has two top 20's and four top 25's in that time.
- Trevor Bayne- Trevor actually did fair well in his first MIS race with RFR earlier this year, so I want to point that out first. But, before that he had only one top 15 and two top 20's in 8 races. RFR will want to see more from him like they did in June (9th place finish).
- Kyle Busch- Let's start here, you don't ever count out a guy like Kyle. However, his last four races have been terrible here. He has four straight finishes of 30+ and a string of bad luck. Over his career he has had a few streaks like this (not to the extent) at MIS, and he always bounced back. Look for Kyle to be a candidate to be taken off this list next year.
About the Track: Michigan International Speedway
Track Stats- Cale Yarborough won the first race at MIS in 1969 and also two of the first three.
- The furthest back a driver has started a race from and won was 32nd in 2009 by Mark Martin.
- A MIS race has been won 17 times from the Pole position, mot recently was three races ago won by Joey Logano.
- Most cautions was 10 in 2006 and the race was won by Matt Kenseth. This is also the only MIS race that had double digit cautions in 89 races.
- David Pearson has the most career MIS wins with 9. Cale Yarborough follows with 8
- Cale Yarborough has the most top 5 finishes with 21 followed by Richard Petty and Jeff Gordon (19).
- Mark Martin has the most career top 10's with 31, followed by Bill Elliott with 29.
- David Pearson has 10 career Poles at MIS (Cup leading)
Track Info
- Length: 2 miles
- Banking
- Turns: 18 degrees
- Start/Finish: 12 degrees
- Backstretch: 5 degrees
Michigan
International Speedway
|
|||||
Race
|
Date
|
Cars
|
Winner(s)
|
St
|
Make / Model
|
1969-24
|
6/15/1969
|
38
|
Cale Yarborough
|
4
|
'69 Mercury
|
1969-37
|
8/17/1969
|
44
|
David Pearson
|
1
|
'69 Ford
|
1970-19
|
6/7/1970
|
40
|
Cale Yarborough
|
4
|
'69 Mercury
|
1970-34
|
8/16/1970
|
40
|
Charlie Glotzbach
|
1
|
'69 Dodge
|
1971-23
|
6/13/1971
|
40
|
Bobby Allison
|
1
|
'69 Mercury
|
1971-36
|
8/15/1971
|
40
|
Bobby Allison
|
2
|
'69 Mercury
|
1972-14
|
6/11/1972
|
40
|
David Pearson
|
3
|
'71 Mercury
|
1972-22
|
8/20/1972
|
40
|
David Pearson
|
4
|
'71 Mercury
|
1973-16
|
6/24/1973
|
40
|
David Pearson
|
2
|
'71 Mercury
|
1974-15
|
6/16/1974
|
36
|
Richard Petty
|
4
|
'74 Dodge
|
1974-22
|
8/25/1974
|
36
|
David Pearson
|
1
|
'73 Mercury
|
1975-15
|
6/15/1975
|
36
|
David Pearson
|
3
|
'73 Mercury
|
1975-20
|
8/24/1975
|
36
|
Richard Petty
|
4
|
'74 Dodge
|
1976-15
|
6/20/1976
|
36
|
David Pearson
|
8
|
Mercury
|
1976-20
|
8/22/1976
|
36
|
David Pearson
|
1
|
Mercury
|
1977-15
|
6/19/1977
|
36
|
Cale Yarborough
|
4
|
Chevrolet
|
1977-20
|
8/22/1977
|
36
|
Darrell Waltrip
|
3
|
Chevrolet
|
1978-15
|
6/18/1978
|
36
|
Cale Yarborough
|
3
|
Oldsmobile
|
1978-20
|
8/20/1978
|
36
|
David Pearson
|
1
|
Mercury
|
1979-16
|
6/17/1979
|
36
|
Buddy Baker
|
3
|
Chevrolet
|
1979-21
|
8/19/1979
|
36
|
Richard Petty
|
5
|
Chevrolet
|
1980-16
|
6/15/1980
|
37
|
Benny Parsons
|
1
|
Chevrolet
|
1980-21
|
8/17/1980
|
37
|
Cale Yarborough
|
2
|
Chevrolet
|
1981-16
|
6/21/1981
|
37
|
Bobby Allison
|
4
|
Buick
|
1981-21
|
8/16/1981
|
36
|
Richard Petty
|
7
|
Buick
|
1982-15
|
6/20/1982
|
37
|
Cale Yarborough
|
4
|
Buick
|
1982-20
|
8/22/1982
|
38
|
Bobby Allison
|
10
|
Buick
|
1983-15
|
6/19/1983
|
37
|
Cale Yarborough
|
9
|
Chevrolet
|
1983-20
|
8/21/1983
|
37
|
Cale Yarborough
|
7
|
Chevrolet
|
1984-15
|
6/17/1984
|
40
|
Bill Elliott
|
1
|
Ford
|
1984-20
|
8/12/1984
|
40
|
Darrell Waltrip
|
7
|
Chevrolet
|
1985-14
|
6/16/1985
|
37
|
Bill Elliott
|
1
|
Ford
|
1985-18
|
8/11/1985
|
40
|
Bill Elliott
|
1
|
Ford
|
1986-14
|
6/15/1986
|
41
|
Bill Elliott
|
8
|
Ford
|
1986-19
|
8/17/1986
|
42
|
Bill Elliott
|
3
|
Ford
|
1987-14
|
6/28/1987
|
40
|
Dale Earnhardt
|
5
|
Chevrolet
|
1987-19
|
8/16/1987
|
40
|
Bill Elliott
|
3
|
Ford
|
1988-14
|
6/26/1988
|
41
|
Rusty Wallace
|
5
|
Pontiac
|
1988-19
|
8/21/1988
|
42
|
Davey Allison
|
4
|
Ford
|
1989-14
|
6/25/1989
|
40
|
Bill Elliott
|
2
|
Ford
|
1989-19
|
8/20/1989
|
40
|
Rusty Wallace
|
2
|
Pontiac
|
1990-14
|
6/24/1990
|
40
|
Dale Earnhardt
|
5
|
Chevrolet
|
1990-19
|
8/19/1990
|
41
|
Mark Martin
|
5
|
Ford
|
1991-14
|
6/23/1991
|
41
|
Davey Allison
|
4
|
Ford
|
1991-19
|
8/18/1991
|
40
|
Dale Jarrett
|
11
|
Ford
|
1992-14
|
6/21/1992
|
41
|
Davey Allison
|
1
|
Ford
|
1992-19
|
8/16/1992
|
41
|
Harry Gant
|
24
|
Oldsmobile
|
1993-14
|
6/20/1993
|
41
|
Ricky Rudd
|
2
|
Chevrolet
|
1993-20
|
8/15/1993
|
41
|
Mark Martin
|
12
|
Ford
|
1994-14
|
6/19/1994
|
42
|
Rusty Wallace
|
5
|
Ford
|
1994-21
|
8/21/1994
|
41
|
Geoffrey Bodine
|
1
|
Ford
|
1995-14
|
6/18/1995
|
42
|
Bobby Labonte
|
19
|
Chevrolet
|
1995-21
|
8/20/1995
|
42
|
Bobby Labonte
|
1
|
Chevrolet
|
1996-14
|
6/23/1996
|
40
|
Rusty Wallace
|
18
|
Ford
|
1996-21
|
8/18/1996
|
41
|
Dale Jarrett
|
11
|
Ford
|
1997-14
|
6/15/1997
|
43
|
Ernie Irvan
|
20
|
Ford
|
1997-21
|
8/17/1997
|
43
|
Mark Martin
|
2
|
Ford
|
1998-14
|
6/14/1998
|
43
|
Mark Martin
|
7
|
Ford
|
1998-21
|
8/16/1998
|
43
|
Jeff Gordon
|
3
|
Chevrolet
|
1999-14
|
6/13/1999
|
43
|
Dale Jarrett
|
6
|
Ford
|
1999-22
|
8/22/1999
|
43
|
Bobby Labonte
|
19
|
Pontiac
|
2000-14
|
6/11/2000
|
43
|
Tony Stewart
|
28
|
Pontiac
|
2000-22
|
8/20/2000
|
43
|
Rusty Wallace
|
10
|
Ford
|
2001-14
|
6/10/2001
|
43
|
Jeff Gordon
|
1
|
Chevrolet
|
2001-23
|
8/19/2001
|
43
|
Sterling Marlin
|
15
|
Dodge
|
2002-15
|
6/16/2002
|
43
|
Matt Kenseth
|
20
|
Ford
|
2002-23
|
8/18/2002
|
43
|
Dale Jarrett
|
8
|
Ford
|
2003-15
|
6/15/2003
|
43
|
Kurt Busch
|
4
|
Ford
|
2003-23
|
8/17/2003
|
43
|
Ryan Newman
|
2
|
Dodge
|
2004-15
|
6/20/2004
|
43
|
Ryan Newman
|
4
|
Dodge
|
2004-23
|
8/22/2004
|
43
|
Greg Biffle
|
24
|
Ford
|
2005-15
|
6/19/2005
|
43
|
Greg Biffle
|
25
|
Ford
|
2005-23
|
8/21/2005
|
43
|
Jeremy Mayfield
|
11
|
Dodge
|
2006-15
|
6/18/2006
|
43
|
Kasey Kahne
|
1
|
Dodge
|
2006-23
|
8/20/2006
|
43
|
Matt Kenseth
|
3
|
Ford
|
2007-15
|
6/17/2007
|
43
|
Carl Edwards
|
12
|
Ford
|
2007-23
|
8/21/2007
|
43
|
Kurt Busch
|
15
|
Dodge
|
2008-15
|
6/15/2008
|
43
|
Dale Earnhardt, Jr.
|
3
|
Chevrolet
|
2008-23
|
8/17/2008
|
43
|
Carl Edwards
|
27
|
Ford
|
2009-15
|
6/14/2009
|
43
|
Mark Martin
|
32
|
Chevrolet
|
2009-23
|
8/16/2009
|
43
|
Brian Vickers
|
1
|
Toyota
|
2010-15
|
6/13/2010
|
43
|
Denny Hamlin
|
7
|
Toyota
|
2010-23
|
8/15/2010
|
43
|
Kevin Harvick
|
8
|
Chevrolet
|
2011-15
|
6/19/2011
|
43
|
Denny Hamlin
|
10
|
Toyota
|
2011-23
|
8/21/2011
|
43
|
Kyle Busch
|
17
|
Toyota
|
2012-15
|
6/17/2012
|
43
|
Dale Earnhardt, Jr.
|
17
|
Chevrolet
|
2012-23
|
8/19/2012
|
43
|
Greg Biffle
|
13
|
Ford
|
2013-15
|
6/16/2013
|
43
|
Greg Biffle
|
19
|
Ford
|
2013-23
|
8/18/2013
|
43
|
Joey Logano
|
1
|
Ford
|
2014-15
|
6/15/2014
|
43
|
Jimmie Johnson
|
7
|
Chevrolet
|
2014-23
|
8/17/2014
|
43
|
Jeff Gordon
|
1
|
Chevrolet
|
2015-15
|
6/14/2015
|
43
|
Kurt Busch
|
24
|
Chevrolet
|
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