Event: Careers for Veterans 200 (100 laps, 200 miles), Michigan International Speedway. Rounding out the top 12 in order were: Jimmie Johnson, Denny Hamlin, Kevin Harvick, Chase Elliott, Alex Bowman, Ryan Blaney, Jamie McMurray, Carl Edwards, Ryan Newman, Kasey Kahne, Kyle Larson. June’s race was a strong run for Logano where he started on the pole and led 138 laps on his way to victory lane.
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– Kyle Busch and Matt Kenseth need one win to tie Hall of Famer Tim Flock for 18th on the all time wins list (39 wins). Dale Earnhardt Jr.is out again this week, and for Darlington, while still dealing with a concussion, and Jeff Gordon has a conflict and won’t be in the 88-car Sunday.
Trevor Bayne, AJ Allmendinger and Ricky Stenhouse Jr. are also on the Chase bubble heading into Sunday’s Pure Michigan 400 (NBCSN, 1 p.m. ET).
The Sprint Cup Series drivers were back on the track Friday in for the Pure Michigan 400 Coors Light pole qualifying.
Logano is a two-time victor at MI (won in 2013 also) and is now on a run of seven straight finishes of ninth or better.
Power’s win, coupled with a crash by points leader and Team Penske teammate Simon Pagenaud, means Power is now only 20 points out of the lead.
Chaotic restarts are normal as cars have the capability of spreading out, resulting in five-wide racing at times. Here are my thoughts to get you started this week.
– One driver who does not have a win this season, but is one of the favorites this weekend is Greg Biffle, driver of the Roush Fenway Racing #16 auto. After recycling the engine mapping, Hunter-Reay was able to get his auto going again, but was back in last place. I think what you’ve seen this year with all the great racing and the passing and all that is due in large part to the reduced downforce.
The series returns to Texas Motor Speedway on Saturday to complete the Firestone 600, which suffered two consecutive days of rain delays back in June. The race will resume where it was initially stopped, on Lap 71, and is expected to fulfill its scheduled 248-lap distance (barring overtime).
The green flag for the DC Solar 350 – one of the Round of 8 races in the inaugural Truck Series Chase – will drop at 5:30 p.m.
As the both drivers look to showcase their strength on the longest road course on the schedule, Suarez and Jones will have a final opportunity to capitalize on their road racing prowess and build towards the 2016 NXS Chase for the Championship playoffs.
NASCAR announced exclusively via Facebook that, beginning in 2017, kids ages 12 and younger will be admitted free to all NASCAR XFINITY Series and NASCAR Camping World Truck Series races at Kentucky Speedway.
The other former winners in the field include Daniel Ricciardo, Sebastian Vettel, Jenson Button, Kimi Raikkonen and Felipe Massa. I’m not sure I would pick Busch for the win this weekend but I believe he will be in the mix.
Paul Menard: The Nard Dog finished 18th at MI earlier this season – not that impressive until you consider he started 32nd, which made him put up 40.25 for a $6,300 salary.
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Everything for the Road America 180 Fired Up by Johnsonville NASCAR XFINITY series race and SCCA Pro Trans Am weekend begins on Thursday with test sessions for Trans Am from 9:00 a.m.to 3 p.m. There will also be a post-race driver/fan party and charity corn boil. Action starts at 7 p.m. Saturday.
