Week 15 Pit Road: Michigan

Weekly Review and Power Rankings

Week 15: Quicken Loans 400

By Richard Tix

Yes, NASCAR was still running its weekend races, but NASCAR Behind the Wall was not around. I appologize again as I was out of the country in Mexico on my honeymoon. I did actually try to find the Pocono race last Sunday, but had no such luck.

I was back for the rain filled Sunday race at Michigan, though. So, we skip a week of rankings but I will still put in a two week judgement when jumping from Week 13 rankings to these Week 15 rankings.

As always, the first Michigan race gets my blood flowing and ready for the race in August. I have yet to miss the August race since 2006 and am already in full race mode to get back! But, enough of that, lets get to the latest Power Rankings. **Keep in mind the "LW" is actually from week 13**

Pit Road Power Rankings Week 15

1. Martin Truex Jr (LW-3)- After his Pocono win I would have had him second Week 14, but with all the bad luck Harvick and JJ had during the rain filled MIS race, its his time to shine. His previous finishes in order give him this spot (3rd, 1st, 6th, 5th, 9th, 5th, and 10th). Other than Bristol (29th) he has top 10's in 14 of 15 races...Amazing. Finish: 3rd
2. Kevin Harvick (LW-1)- It was bad luck holding Harvick up. The #4 team hasn't seen a lot of that in 2015, after a regular season full of it in 2014. Maybe the good luck will run out? If not a second title is very favorable. Finish: 29th
3. Jimmie Johnson (LW-2)- JJ also found a rough spot at MIS, but ran well at Pocono and finished 3rd. The #48 team has plenty of room to gamble the rest of the way and Chad is always looking for new ways to gain an edge. They may have had a rough finish but don't look for them to be down too long. Finish 19th
4. Joey Logano (LW-8)- JoLo seems to have found another good stretch which was needed for the #22 team. He hasn't been running bad, but he started 2015 as the strongest competition to Harvick before drifting. Finish: 5th
5. Dale Earnhardt Jr (LW-4)- Jr didn't find his 2014 groove at Pocono (11th), but did have a strong MIS showing. It was a good finish with the rain day, but he only led one lap on the day so more can be found. Finish: 2nd
6. Kurt Busch (LW-9)- In the time NBTW was gone Kurt found a two top 10's which included a win at MIS on Sunday. He only led 6 laps, but he led the one that mattered. Either way, he is now locked (for sure) in the Chase. Finish: 1st
7. Jamie McMurray (LW-NR)- Since Dover, JMac has been the lucky #7. Meaning, he has 3 straight finishes of 7th which is very consistent. Don't get me wrong, JMac has a shot at a win still (possibly Daytona), but he may not need it because he is sitting pretty in points (7th ins points. Lucky 7). Finish: 7th
8. Brad Keselowski (LW-6)- A bit of a slip for BK, but Pocono didn't go his way. The #2 still has been pretty fast, but he hasn't been able to finish for some reason or another. Meanwhile, the #22 has. Both are safely in the Chase, but are looking for more W's. Finish: 6th
9. Matt Kenseth (LW-10)- Kenseth was coming off a 39th place Dover finish last time these rankings came around. Unfortunately for him there isn't much room to move after good finishes at Pocono and MIS. Finish: 4th
10. Kasey Kahne (LW-11)- Kahne is running well, but still not great. Its great to see him much more consistent this year compaired to 2014, which has kept him in the rankings most of the season. Yet, he hasn't put enough together to climb up them yet. Finish: 15th
11. Jeff Gordon (LW-5)- Will Gordon get a win in 2015? After last year it was crazy to think he wouldn't, but will it happen before the Chase? He may not need it because he still is 10th in points, but he is 13th in the Chase Standings. So, he doesn't have a lot or room to budge. Finish: 21st
12. Denny Hamlin (LW-NR)- Hamlin is having another weird season in 2015. He has a win, which is great and gets him to the Chase, but he also has a very high about of 20+ finishes (7 in 15 races). Right now he has a string of finishes with the same results as all season (8th, 21st, 10th, and 11th). Finish: 11th

Dropped Out: Ryan Newman (LW-7) and Paul Menard (LW-12)

Just Missed: Clint Bowyer and Kyle Larson

That's it for this week's Power Rankings. Check back in for this weekends TV/Race Schedule, Entry List, and Weekend Preview for Sonoma! Thanks for checking NBTW out as always.

Pit Road Week 15: Michigan

Weekly Review and Power Rankings

Week 15

By Richard Tix

Remember when Jimmie Johnson was win less in 2014? It wasn't that long ago. JJ fan's were picking races where he would snap out of it and JJ haters were celebrating. Just four short races ago JJ was win less and now he already has 3 total on the season. How times have changed.

Michigan International Speedway once again came down strategies and the team with the best one ended up winning. So in essence, different day, same story when it comes to JJ, Chad, and the #48 team. But this time it was different, because JJ had never won at MIS and it seemed like every time he was in position to something happened. Now, only four tracks remain on JJ's list to concur which will JJ fans rejoicing and JJ haters cringing in pain (and a few threatening to stop watching because they think he is ruining the sport. Don't get me started on that topic. All you need to know is that those kinds of statements are the dumbest ones I have heard. Because Richard Petty, Dale Earnhardt, Boston Celtics, San Francisco 49ers, Chicago Bulls, and New York Yankees have all ruined there sports too.....)

Here are the Quicken Loans 400 results if you missed the race or you just need a refresher.

Pit Road: Power Rankings Week 15 (Week 14)

1. Jimmie Johnson (LW-1)- Being atop the rankings is something that Jimmie is getting used to again. Watch out folks, he could stay here for awhile.
2. Dale Earnhardt Jr (LW-2)- 7th place finish isn't what Dale Jr was looking for at MIS, but it also isn't something to complain about. Plus, he once again gave Twitter followers and awesome after race, late night Q&A.
3. Jeff Gordon (LW-3)- Well the top 4 drivers didn't move in the standings. All had good enough days that I really didn't feel one jumping the other was worth it. 2-4 all are interchangeable so not much to see here. Once again, Gordon had a good car and a good day while finishing 6th.
4. Brad Keselowski (LW-4)- BK finished about where he should have on Sunday, 3rd. He had a good car, but to win it would have taken some luck and great calls. He did what he could on the day and makes it three finishes of 3rd or better in the last three races. He is in prime form right now.
5. Kevin Harvick (LW-7)- Harvick, as always, was a front runner on Sunday. If it wasn't for some tough luck he would be 1 or 2 every single week. I take into consideration some consistency though because team chemistry will come into play in the Chase. This team has got it, as long as trouble stays away.
6. Matt Kenseth (LW-5)- Not much to talk about when bringing up Kenseths day at MIS. He finished 14th which is exactly where his average running position was. The whole JGR team just didn't seem to have enough HP on Sunday. 
7. Jamie McMurray (LW-8)- McMurray ran most of his day at MIS up front (Average running position of 11th) and then he eventually finished 12th but, once again he showed some speed. It is the second time in the last four races that he just missed on a top 10 (the other two races he finished 10th and 5th).
8. Kyle Larson (LW-12)- Extra aero help with part of his bumper being gone or not, this kid is doing a great job learning on the fly. After his early mishap he drove from the back to the front. Then, he got a speeding penalty and again made is way towards the front. He had his highest pass differential of the season with +37 on Sunday.
9. Joey Logano (LW-11)- The two Penske Ford's were really the only two Fords that had a shot on Sunday (then again, this is the case most weeks). I'm sure a 9th place finish isn't what JoLo wanted but after engine problems late at Pocono it was a finish he needed to get back on track.
10. Paul Menard (LW-NR)- Menard started his weekend off by wining the Nationwide race (not another Cup driver!!! Ha). Then he had a very nice day on Sunday. Menard is doing what he needs to to make a run at the Chase this year. As I type this he is sitting in 13th points position with 4 top 10's in his last 6 (including a top 5). 
11. Clint Bowyer (LW-NR)- Its been a tough season for Bowyer so far, but most haven't realized that he has run pretty well over his last three races. Finishes of 4th, 11th, and 10th this week might be enough to turn it around going into Sonoma.
12. Denny Hamlin (LW-6)- Just hanging on, I'll give DH the pass because the whole JGR team didn't have enough power to compete this week. He did get caught up in late incident with Aric Almirola, but he wasn't exactly running top 15 at the time. After two top 5's in a row, Denny had hands down his worst race of the season after running in an average position of 25th, running 1 lap in the top 15, and finishing 29th.

Dropping Out: Kyle Busch and Carl Edwards

Just Missed: Tony Stewart, Kurt Busch and Ryan Newman

Honorable Mention: Justin Allgaier, Juan Pablo Montoya, and Danica Patrick

Not a very high voter turn out this week on Twitter (a lot of that had to do witth the fact that I didn't ask until late Saturday, sorry). But I did have one voter pick JJ for the win.

NASCAR now heads to Sonoma to shake it up and turn right. This race is a wild card race and every driver is going to be pushing for a win. A win and you are in the Chase so both road courses will be must watches! 

Dale Earnhardt Jr's Adrenaline Tweets: 6/16

Tweets from After Michigan

By Richard Tix

If you are on Twitter you know the biggest thing that has happened in the last NASCAR calendar year is Dale Earnhardt Jr joining twitter after his Daytona 500 win. For good reason, Dale Jr has been nothing short of awesome while interacting with fans and letting them into his day to day life. 

If you are on Twitter and you have missed out on some of his post race Q&A's you are missing out, because he answers anything and everything from the typical race questions to strange questions like, where is Juan Pablo Montoya's "Jet dryer Car?". So, NASCAR Behind the Wall is here to give you a small glimpse's into a sleepless night for Dale Earnhardt Jr.

Haha

This is awesome. I wish I could walk around his huge piece of land

People just wont drop it.

I can only imagine Sr and his reaction to finding out about Twitter

Seriously, just let Dale Jr be Dale Jr

I sure hope Jr is right on this one

Great answer! #UNC

One last time....People, drop it.

I hope people don't take this for granted. Drivers are very very busy people (notice I said people). They try and do as many appearances as possible and sign autograph's whenever they can but sometimes people forget that drivers are human also. Fans, can we treat them like fellow humans. Give them some space as they already do all they can for the fans. This simple gesture of responding to a fan on Tiwtter is awesome, but don't take it for granted. Jr gets MILLIONS of tweets to him or tweets with his twitter handle included so just be excited if you get a response. Don't get all upset because he doesn't answer you. The more you complain the closer the day will come when he stops responding to fans. So, enjoy NASCAR fans, Jr on Twitter is priceless. 

Week 15 Preview: Michigan

Michigan International Speedway

Quicken Loans 400

By Richard Tix

As NASCAR leaves its only track on the schedule with just three turns, it heads back to a track with four and plenty of speed. The past few years its about this time that fans start mumbling about Dale Jr and how he needs a win on the season. The track that comes to most fans minds? Michigan International Speedway. That's because in 2012 he broke his win less streak here, not too mention he has had some other good runs in years past.

This year the story is different and the mumbling's are not about if he will finally get a win, but instead if he will win back-to-back? That's because Dale Earnhardt Jr just won his second race of 2014 at Pocono and will have the chance to win back to back races for the first time in his career.

Strategies will play a large role in the outcome of the Quicken Loans 400. By this time in the year a lot of guys are already locked into the Chase. With that being said, those same guys may look to stretch an end of race fuel run a bit longer because they already know they will be in the last 10 races.

Same can be said for the guys who don't have a win. Would a guy win less like Kasey Kahne try and stretch his fuel if he was in a position to win, which would virtually lock him into the Chase during a year that has been full of struggles? I bring up fuel in both cases because many years the June race (heck sometimes both June and August) come down to fuel mileage.

Check out these articles from last year. Preview and Review of the June race. 

Michigan International Speedway Garages (From August Race I attended)
Michigan Weekend 2013 (More from the Garages and my weekend, in August again)

The Good, Middle, and Bad

(This is just a review of each drivers recent past performance, generally about 5-10 past races)

The Good

• Brian Vickers- This list will start out with an underdog. Vickers has no stats from MIS in the #55, but most would argue he is in better equipment then when he was in the #83. In 8 races with the 83 team he had 6 top 10's, 2 top 5's, and a win. He lone bad finish was his first one with the 83 team, 41st, his other non top 10 was 15th. Also to note, he had 3 Poles in arrow from 2008-09, so maybe he will get that mojo back after not running here since 2011. *This spot was more of a shout out with all the tough luck health issues he has had, his track record here is good.**
• Greg Biffle- Roush Racing know's what theyre doing here, and Biffle has been a part of that. In his lat 10 here he has 7 top 10's, 5 top 5's, and 2 wins. The Biff has won 2 of the last 3 races at MIS.
• Carl Edwards- Carl has 7 top 10's in the last 10 MIS races to go along with 4 top 5's. He hasn't been amazing here in the last 10 (zero wins) but he has contended and led at least a lap in 5 of them.
• Extra Credit: Tony Stewart and Denny Hamlin

The Middle

• Clint Bowyer- 6 straight top 10's, and 8 top 10s in the last 10 races. Yet, Clint hasn't been a big time contender at MIS for a win. So, it is very possible he will finish in the top 10, but it might be a stretch to think he will win.
• Extra Credit: Dale Earnhardt Jr

The Bad

• Kurt Busch- This maybe a stretch, but in the last 10 MIS races Kurt only has 3 top 10's. However 2 of those are top 5's and he has 2 Pole's in that time frame. Chance are he wont finish bad, but this is all by recent stats. Most of his troubles have been engine issues or crashes.
• Jimmie Johnson- Luck has not been on JJ's side at MIS. His last three finishes are 40th, 28th, and 27th. In his last 10 starts at MIS he has 6 finishes of 22nd or higher. Bad luck or not, this is is a track that JJ has yet to win at in 24 tries. 
• Aric Almirola- Only four career starts at MIS, so he doesn't have a lot of track record here, but he hasn't been anything special. He doesn't have a top 15 in any of those 4 starts, but also hasn't finished worse then 20th.

Track Stats

• Cale Yarborough won the first race at MIS in 1969 and also two of the first three.
• Ford has won four straight race at MIS. Joey Logano, Greg Biffle (twice)
• 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 the last MIS race 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.

More Articles

• TV/Race Schedule for MIS
• Driver Entry List for the Quicken Loans 400
• NASCAR Heads to Michigan with Dale Earnhardt Jr on a Roll
• Power Rankings
• This Week in NASCAR: 6/9

NASCAR Heads to Michigan with Dale Earnhardt Jr on a Roll

Quicken Loans 400

By Richard Tix

NASCAR heads to Brooklyn, Michigan for its 15th race of the 2014. Fans will wined there way, up and down, through the rolling green lands of the Irish Hills on there way to Michigan International Speedway. NASCAR will get back to racing with four turns for the Quicken Loans 400 on Sunday, and as fans make there way through the beautiful surrounding areas on the way to the track I can't help but think of Dale Earnhardt's career path being the same.

Jr received this photo of he and his dad that
 he had never seen before.

When you take a step back and look at it, overall he has had a pretty great career. He has had a lot of up's and down's throughout his lifetime in NASCAR which don't always have to do with his race results. But as we get to NASCAR Dale Jr is on one of those high points, where you can see nothing but perfect green grass and a small country road. 

Dale Jr started the 2014 season with plenty of questions about a number that his father made infamous. The 3 was back, and other than Richard Childress and Austin Dillon, Jr was in the media cross-hairs. What is obvious to everyone, is that Sr meant a whole lot to Jr and every year that goes bad fans get to see more and more of that.

Finally, the talk ended and racing began and in that sense the season couldn't have started any better. Jr won the Daytona 500 for the first time since 2004 and didn't look back as the season went on. Dale Jr has had very few bumps in the road this season (other than putting himself in the grass at Texas) but of any driver in the Sprint Cup Series he could be the one to tell you about the ups, downs, and tough luck of racing.

After posting a win, 6 top 5's, and 8 top 10's in NASCAR's first 13 races of the season Jr was in the position of tough luck again at Pocono. After what became the last race restart of the day on lap 17, Jr was trying to catch up to race leader Brad Keselowski. BK had the car to beat all day at Pocono and it looked like he would cruise to a win. Then a gift came for Jr, a piece of trash got stuck on BK's grill and his temp's started to run hot.

Dale Jr stuck around, clinging onto BK hoping to make a move. Then it happened, BK got off the pace and Jr finally did something that he has had happen to him all too often when he had the car to beat, he passed BK for the lead. Dale may not have had the best car, but opportunity presents itself to those who put themselves in position to take advantage. 

Jr went onto win his second race of the 2014 season just as NASCAR heads into Michigan International Speedway. Now, most people will say this is his track, but fact is MIS is just like a lot of his career, up and down. Most fans remember MIS as the track that Jr finally broke out of his win less streak in 2012, but I would bet Jr has stuck in his head his 36th and 37th place finishes of last year. 

That's what I think is more important as NASCAR heads to MIS. Not that Jr has had a good track record at MIS (which in general I think is a false statement, he only has 10 top 10's in 29 career races and only 4 in his last 10 starts) but that he has it in the back of his head how bad last year was in Michigan when expectations were so high. This year expectations on the whole season can be thrown out the window. Its Steve Letarte's last season as Crew Chief and he and Dale Jr can just let loose. With two wins on the season he is locked into the Chase already so he and Steve can put it all on the line. When it comes to speed at MIS the #88 team should find it so all they need to do is play the correct strategy. Dale is coming into MIS on a high of confidence and a determination to improve on last year's lack luster results. Confidence is a great thing in NASCAR as is team chemistry, and Dale Earnhardt Jr will have both as he rolls into the Irish Hills past little farm houses and churches on every corner. This could just be the first time Dale Earnhardt Jr wins back to back races in his 519 Cup race career.

2014 Michigan International Speedway Entry List (Race One)

NASCAR Driver Entry List for Michigan

By Richard Tix

Michigan International Speedway Driver Entry list for the Quicken Loans 400 (List pulled from Jayski.com).

Not a very large Entry List this week as we head into the dog days of Summer. By the looks of it only two drivers will go home without starting on Sunday. Note, this is one of the weeks that Juan Pablo Montoya will be running the #12 SKF Ford for Team Penske. Trevor Bayne will also be running this week with the Wood Brothers.Brett Moffitt will also attempt to make his second race in the #66 owned my Jay Robinson with MWR help. 

More MIS Articles:

• TV/Race Schedule
• Power Rankings
• MIS Fantasy Preview- ThisSportz

2014 Michigan Schedule (Race One)

Quicken Loans 400

By Richard Tix

**All times are Eastern**

Friday June 13, 2014

• 11 am- 12:20 pm- Sprint Cup Practice- Fox Sports 1
• 12:30-1:30 pm- Nationwide Practice- Fox Sports 1
• 2-3:25 pm- Nationwide Practice- Fox Sports 1
• 3:40 pm- Sprint Cup Qualifying- Fox Sports 1

Saturday June 14, 2014

• 9-10:20 am- Sprint Cup Practice- Fox Sports 1
• 10:40 am- Nationwide Qualifying- Fox Sports 1
• 12-1:30 pm- Final Sprint Cup Practice- Fox Sports 1
• 2 pm- Nationwide Race- ESPN

Sunday June 15, 2014

• 1 pm- Sprint Cup Race. Quicken Loans 400- TNT

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!

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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