Jarrett's 1999 win last of caution-free Michigan races

With its wide banked turns and multiple grooves, Michigan International Speedway has a reputation for some great side-by-side racing. In fact, the first NASCAR event there in 1969 resulted in a last-lap battle between Cale Yarborough and LeeRoy Yarbrough, with Cale winning by five car-lengths.

But that combination can also result in a lack of caution flags. On three occasions, a Michigan race has gone the entire 400-mile distance without a break, the most recent coming in Dale Jarrett's dominating 1999 victory.

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In the 1973 Motor State 400, attrition was low and the few cars with engine problems were able to make it to the garage area without incident. By the halfway point, it was evident that David Pearson and Buddy Baker were the class of the field and the race would come down to pit strategy.

Baker led the majority of the laps -- 119 in all -- swapping the lead with Pearson, depending on stops of fuel. When Pearson stopped on Lap 153, he handed the lead to Baker. But Baker's No. 71 Dodge was forced to make a final stop on Lap 177, and despite his best efforts, he was unable to chase down Pearson's No. 21 Mercury over the closing laps, finishing 1.1 seconds behind.

The average speed of 153.485 mph would stand as the race record for another 11 years, until the 1984 Champion Spark Plug 400, when Darrell Waltrip would benefit from a caution-free race.

Terry Labonte dominated the event, taking the lead on Lap 54 and holding it for the next 116 laps. But Waltrip and Bill Elliott were close behind. And again, fuel strategy played a major role in deciding the winner.

Elliott stopped for what he hoped would be the final time on Lap 144, believing he could make it the rest of the way -- with some help from a caution flag. Waltrip rolled onto pit road eight laps later and his team was certain they could conserve enough fuel to go the distance.

When Labonte pitted for the final time on Lap 171, he handed the lead over to Waltrip. Seven laps later, Elliott went around Waltrip, who was in fuel-conservation mode. But the yellow flag that Elliott so desperately needed never came, and he finally ducked into the pits on Lap 192 for a splash-and-go.

Waltrip was surprised to see Elliott's Ford head for pit road.

"I didn't know why he pulled into the pits at that time," Waltrip said. "I thought he had a flat tire.

"If a caution flag would have come out any time within the last 100 miles, he would have been OK. It definitely would have made a difference." (Continued)