2015 Michigan International Speedway Event Schedule

Pure Michigan 400

By Richard Tix

All information was used from Michigan International Speedway (mispeedway.com). I just wanted to share all the info on another platform for anyone going to MIS this weekend (also for my own easy use as I will be there).


Friday, August 14

• 9 a.m.- Day Parking Lots Open (FREE)  
• 11 a.m.- Gates, Grandstands and New Holland Fan Plaza Open  
• 11 a.m.- Welcome Center Opens (FREE)--New Holland Fan Plaza
• 11 a.m.-1:25 p.m.- NSCS Practice  
• 11:45 a.m.- Daniel Hemric Q&A--Welcome Center
• 11:45 a.m.- Spencer Gallagher Q&A--Welcome Center
• 12 p.m.- Matt Crafton Q&A*--Champions Club
• 12-4:30 p.m.- 50/50 Raffle On Sale--Welcome Center
• 12:15 p.m.- Ben Kennedy Q&A--Welcome Center
• 12:30 p.m.- Jennifer Jo Cobb Q&A--Welcome Center
• 1:30-2:25 p.m.- NCWTS Practice  
• 2:30 p.m.- NSCS Youth Autograph Session*  
• 3-4:25 p.m.- NCWTS Final Practice  
• 4 p.m.- Keloorah (Must have a Sunday ticket for admission)*  
• 5 p.m.- Welcome Center Closes--New Holland Fan Plaza
• 5 p.m.- NCWTS Open Garage*  
• 5:05 p.m.- NSCS Qualifying  
• 6 p.m.- Saints of Valory Concert*--Keloorah
• 7 p.m.- Driver Q&A--Ryan Blaney, Clint Bowyer, David Ragan and Casey Mears*--Keloorah
• 7:30 p.m.- Big Data Concert*--Keloorah
• 9 p.m.- Kongos Concert*--Keloorah
• 11 p.m.- Keloorah Closes*  

Saturday, August 15 

• 6:30 a.m.- Day Parking Lots Open (FREE)  
• 7-11:30 a.m.- Minors Admitted in NCWTS Garage*  
• 8:30 a.m.- Gates, Grandstands and New Holland Fan Plaza Open  
• 8:30 a.m.- Welcome Center Opens (FREE)-- New Holland Fan Plaza
• 8:30 a.m.- NCWTS Youth Garage Tour*  
• 8:30-9:25 a.m.- NSCS Practice  
• 9:30 am -1:30 p.m.- 50/50 Raffle On Sale-- Welcome Center
• 9:40 a.m.- NCWTS Qualifying  
• 10 a.m.- NSCS Youth Garage Tour*  
• 11-11:30 a.m.- TV Exhibition Run  
• 11:15 a.m.- NCWTS Driver/Crew Chief Meeting-- Michigan Room
• 11:30 a.m.- Johnny Sauter Q&A*-- Champions Club
• 11:30 a.m.- Tyler Young Q&A*-- Victory Lane Club
• 12 p.m.- Cameron Hayley Q&A*-- Ignition Club
• 11:30 a.m.-12:25 p.m.- NSCS Final Practice  
• 12:30 p.m.- NCWTS Driver Introductions* 
• 1 p.m.- Careers for Veterans 200 presented by The Cooper Standard Foundation & Brad Keselowski's Checkered Flag Foundation NASCAR Camping World Truck Series (100 Laps)
• During Race- Miss Sprint Cup Q&A*-- Champions Club
• 3 p.m.- Welcome Center Closes-- New Holland Fan Plaza
• 4 p.m.- Keloorah (Must have a Sunday ticket for admission)*  
• 6 p.m.- Tim Dugger Concert* -- Keloorah
• 7:30 p.m.- Dylan Scott Concert*-- Keloorah
• 8:30 p.m.- Logan Mize Concert*-- Keloorah
• 9:30 p.m.- Parmalee Concert*-- Keloorah
• 11 p.m.- Keloorah Closes*  

Sunday, August 16

• 6 a.m.- Day Parking Lots Open (FREE)  
• 8 a.m.- Gates, Grandstands and New Holland Fan Plaza Open  
• 8 a.m.- Welcome Center Opens (FREE) -- New Holland Fan Plaza
• 9 a.m.-1 p.m.- Minors Admitted in the NSCS Garage*  
• 9:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m.- 50/50 Raffle On Sale-- Welcome Center
• 10 a.m.- Sam Hornish Jr. Q&A*-- Ignition Club
• 10 a.m.-1:30 p.m.- Track and Start-Finish Line Open for Guests with Pit Passes*  
• 10:30 a.m.- Jamie McMurray Q&A-- Chevy Display
• 11 a.m.- Kyle Larson Q&A-- Chevy Display
• 11 a.m.- Trevor Bayne Q&A*-- Victory Lane Club
• 11:30 a.m.- Kevin Harvick Q&A*-- Budweiser Acceleration Club
• 11:30 a.m.- Red Carpet Walk Begins* (Requires fans to have a Pre-Race Pit and Paddock Pass)
• 12 p.m.- Dale Earnhardt Q&A-- Chevy Display
• 12:30 p.m.- NSCS Driver/Crew Chief Meeting-- Michigan Room
• 2 p.m.- NSCS Driver Introductions* (Security with clear pit road)  
• 2:30 p.m.- Pure Michigan 400 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series (200 Laps)  
• 2:30 p.m.- Welcome Center Closes-- New Holland Fan Plaza

* FAN PARTICIPATION IN SOME ACTIVITIES REQUIRES SPECIAL ADMISSION OR A SPECIAL PASS/CREDENTIAL. CALL 800-354-1010 OR VISIT MISPEEDWAY.COM FOR DETAILS ON PIT AND PADDOCK PASSES AND DRIVER INTRO PASSES. CREDENTIALS FOR THE NASCAR GARAGE ARE NOT SOLD.

Week 23 Preview: Michigan (Race Two)

Pure Michigan 400

Week 23

By Richard Tix

Its the big one all year. Not the Daytona 500, not the All Star Race, not the (horribly long named race) at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, not Talladega, and not the last race of the season at Holmstead. Yes, its the Pure Michigan 400! 

I understand, to most of you this is just another race at Michigan, but to me this is my chance every year to actually make it to a live Cup race. Living in MN (and the costs of traveling to races) I don't get many opportunities to go to the tracks in person. Now, I would love to but I would need a job that allows this (time off and money come to mind). So I settle for getting to go to MIS once a year where my brother, our friend, his wife, and this year (for the first time) my fiance and I get to see Cup racing in person. 

We have friends that moved out to MI after college so we also get to spend time with a group of good friends as well. Since 2006 I have not missed an August race (except the year it was rained out and the date was moved). So, in my books this date shoots way up the board's when talking about races that are on my "can't wait" list, as you can imagine.

This year we may not be getting garage passes like we have almost every year in the past, but that will not get in the way of my enjoyment of actually being at the track. I may try and post some updates on the blog, but I will for sure try to send some updates via Twitter (@NASCARBTW). So keep an eye out for them. Also, my review and Power Rankings will be late (most likely Tue when I get home).

If you haven't, I suggest giving Racing to Remember a read. An article done after the passing of Kevin Ward Jr. 

Articles from NASCAR's first stop at MIS:

• Michigan Preview
• Pit Road/Power Rankings
• Dale Earnhardt Jr Adrenalin Tweets from Michigan Week
• NASCAR Heads to Michigan with Dale Earnhardt Jr on a Roll

The Good, Middle, and Bad

The Good

• Greg Biffle- RFR cars were not at there best last time around at MIS, but don't count out Biffle. He has a long track record at this track and has been on a mini hot streak as of late as he tries to make a push for the Chase.
• Brad Keselowski- In his last 6 starts at MIS he has 3 top 5's (3rd, 2nd, and 3rd) and 3 finishes in the top 15 (13th, 12th, and 12th). I still think one of these years sooner then later BK will win at MIS, maybe this will be the year?
• Kevin Harvick- In his last 6 starts at MIS he has 4 top 10's and 3 top 5's including 3 straight top 5's. In fact, those three straight top 5's have all been 2nd place finishes.

The Middle

• Clint Bowyer- Bowyer held this spot last time; "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." Well add to those stats another top 10 earlier this year, but yet again he wasn't in contention for the win.

The Bad

• Aric Almirola- Aric is the only driver of the three that was on this list earlier this year and once again makes it this time. That's not the list you want to make back to back times, but Aric finished 31st last time around while JJ (finished first) and Kurt Busch (finished 13th) left the list.
• Kyle Busch- He wont be on this list next time (I predict he should have a decent finish) but fact is his last two finishes have been 31st and 41st. For fantasy purposes take this with a grain of salt, as he has run well in years past.
• Denny Hamlin- In 6 races DH hasn't finished in the top 10. In fact, he hasn't sniffed the top 10 except for one 11th place finish in that time. His other 5 finishes? (35th, 34th, 30th, 20th, and 29th). Those are some rough numbers.

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 two 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.

More MIS Articles

• TV/Race Schedule
• Entry List
• Power Rankings
• Racing to Remember
• This Week in NASCAR: 8/11

2014 Michigan Schedule (Race Two)

Pure Michigan 400

By Richard Tix

**All times are Eastern**

Only NASCAR Sprint Cup and Camping World Truck Series Schedules for Michigan. Nationwide is at Mid Ohio. For full schedule look here. 

Friday August 15, 2014

• Noon-1:20 pm- NASCAR Sprint Cup Series practice- FOX Sports 1
• 1:30-2:30 pm- NASCAR Camping World Truck Series practice- FOX Sports 1 
• 3-4:25 pm- NASCAR Camping World Truck Series final practice- FOX Sports 1
• 4:40 pm- NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Coors Light Pole Qualifying- FOX Sports 1

Saturday August 16, 2014

• 8:30-9:20 am- NASCAR Sprint Cup Series practice- ESPN2
• 9:40 am- NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Qualifying- FOX Sports 1
• 11-11:55 am- NASCAR Sprint Cup Series final practice- ESPN2
• 12:30 pm- NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Careers for Veterans 200 (100 laps)- FOX Sports 1

Sunday August 17, 2014

• 1 pm- NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Pure Michigan 400 (200 laps)- ESPN

Week 23 Preview

Michigan International Speedway: Pure Michigan 400

Last time in Michigan we saw Roush Racing continue its dominance at the track in Brooklyn, MI when Greg Biffle won for the 4th time in his career.  Biffle is second only to Mark Martin (5) in career wins for active drivers at MIS.  Now going back in August we will get to see if Roush and Biffle can keep it going and make it three in arow.

Also, as always, the story in Michigan will be can Nascar's most popular driver finally get back into the win column for the first time this season? Michigan has been a place that Jr has looked good at and had chances to win in his last 10 starts, so he will be looking to break out of the good category and enter the great with a win.  Take a look back at last years results from the August race here and also this years June race here.

Biffle won back to back. Last August and also this June.

*A look at last June's Week 15 Preview (Michigan)*

The Good:

• Greg Biffle- Well he has to be mentioned right away. He has two straight wins, 4 career wins, and an average finish of 8.3 in his last 10 at MIS (best of any current driver in the last 10). Best Chance Forecast: He should be considered a contender again this weekend. Should find a way into the top 10 at the worst.
• Carl Edwards- Edwards was the Pole winner here in June so he knows how to be fast around MIS.  In his last 10 starts here he has one (36th in 2011) time where he was worse then 12th. He also has 7 top 10's. Best Chance Forecast: Not normal to start this list with two Ford's, but this is the one track they have been good at. Another top 10 isn't out of the question.
• Matt Kenseth- A former Ford car driver rounds out the list this week. Kenseth has 6 top 10's in his last 10 races at MIS including finishing 6th in June (4 of those top 5's). Best Chance Forecast: Well another guy taking a likely top 10 finish in this weeks Good category.

The Middle:

• Clint Bowyer- What is more middle of the road and consistent then 7 top 10s in 10 races but no top 5's? Well in this addition of Week Preview for MIS nothing. He has three straight 7th place finishes and before that two straight 8th place finishes. 5 straight top 10's for Bowyer here and he needs it to get out of his two race slump.

The Bad:

• Jimmie Johnson- Last time this was a reach in the Bad category, this time it gets a little more legit. He fiinished 28th in June and last August he finished 27th. That's back to back bad finishes and that doesn't seem to happen to JJ at any track.
• Kasey Kahne- He seems to find bad luck a lot at MIS and it hasn't helped his average finish position in his last ten (19.7). MIS is the kind of track that Kahne can finish really well at because he is fast week by week. If he stays out of trouble he could find another win.

Looking for a Long Shot?

• Joey Logano- I am on the JoLo bandwagon, but if you read NBTW regularly you may know that. I am still in the small group that thinks he will get a win this year, and at one point I thought it would be before the Chase started. Well I always like going out on a limb when picking my weekly winner so I'm taking Joey. He has been on a hot streak and he is due.

Need More?

• Pure Michigan 400 Entry List
• Austin Dillon stepping in at Michigan for SHR

Well that's it for this weeks preview. I am not sure how late the review will be back as I will be at this race and not back until Monday. Do, however, check out my Twitter for updates from the track. Also, you can check out June's Preview and Review from Nascar Behind the Wall earlier this year.