Stats Advance: Pure Michigan 400

Posted on August 10, 2015 by Staff Report

DAYTONA BEACH, FLORIDA – Below is a look at some of the top statistical performers at Michigan International Speedway in Brooklyn, Michigan going into the Pure Michigan 400 on August 16 (NBCSN at 2:30 p.m. ET).

MICHIGAN-SPECIFIC STATISTICS

Greg Biffle (No. 16 Ortho Ford)

· Four wins, ten top fives, 15 top 10s; one pole

· Average finish of 12.048, fourth-best

· Average Running Position of 10.093, series-best

· Driver Rating of 103.8, series-best

· 311 Fastest Laps Run, 10th-best

· Average Green Flag Speed of 179.305, third-fastest

· 3265 Laps in the Top 15 (80.1), series-most

· 920 Quality Passes, series-most

Kurt Busch (No. 41 Haas Automation Chevrolet)

· Three wins, five top fives, ten top 10s; two poles

· Average finish of 20.286, 13th-best

· Average Running Position of 14.669, 12th-best

· Driver Rating of 91.0, 10th-best

· 184 Fastest Laps Run, series-best

· Average Green Flag Speed of 178.517, 12th-fastest

· 2620 Laps in the Top 15 (64.3), eighth-most

· 682 Quality Passes, ninth-most

Dale Earnhardt Jr (No. 88 MICROSOFT Chevrolet)

· Two wins, eight top fives, 13 top 10s; two poles

· Average finish of 12.143, fifth-best

· Average Running Position of 12.173, fifth-best

· Driver Rating of 98.9, fifth-best

· 202 Fastest Laps Run, ninth-best

· Average Green Flag Speed of 179.174, sixth-fastest

· 2808 Laps in the Top 15 (68.9), seventh-most

· 868 Quality Passes, fourth-most

Carl Edwards (No. 19 ARRIS Toyota)

· Two wins, nine top fives, 15 top 10s; one pole

· Average finish of 9.810, series-best

· Average Running Position of 11.123, second-best

· Driver Rating of 101.1, fourth-best

· 214 Fastest Laps Run, 13th-best

· Average Green Flag Speed of 179.223, fifth-fastest

· 3099 Laps in the Top 15 (76.0), third-most

· 887 Quality Passes, second-most

Jeff Gordon (No. 24 PEPSI Chevrolet)

· Three wins, 19 top fives, 27 top 10s; six poles

· Average finish of 15.667, 11th-best

· Average Running Position of 13.660, eighth-best

· Driver Rating of 93.3, seventh-best

· 233 Fastest Laps Run, third-best

· Average Green Flag Speed of 178.486, 13th-fastest

· 2615 Laps in the Top 15 (64.1), ninth-most

· 696 Quality Passes, eighth-most

Kevin Harvick (No. 4 Jimmy John’s/Budweiser Chevrolet)

· One win, seven top fives, 12 top 10s; one pole

· Average finish of 12.333, sixth-best

· Average Running Position of 13.934, 10th-best

· Driver Rating of 91.5, ninth-best

· 170 Fastest Laps Run, eighth-best

· Average Green Flag Speed of 178.883, ninth-fastest

· 2279 Laps in the Top 15 (55.9), 13th-most

· 675 Quality Passes, 10th-most

Jimmie Johnson (No. 48 Lowe’s Chevrolet)

· One win, five top fives, 11 top 10s

· Average finish of 15.429, 10th-best

· Average Running Position of 11.955, fourth-best

· Driver Rating of 101.2, third-best

· 415 Fastest Laps Run, fourth-best

· Average Green Flag Speed of 179.598, second-fastest

· 2909 Laps in the Top 15 (71.4), sixth-most

· 776 Quality Passes, fifth-most

Kasey Kahne (No. 5 Farmers Insurance Chevrolet)

· One win, eight top fives, ten top 10s; three poles

· Average finish of 17.000, 12th-best

· Average Running Position of 15.213, 13th-best

· Driver Rating of 89.5, 13th-best

· 184 Fastest Laps Run, second-best

· Average Green Flag Speed of 178.966, seventh-fastest

· 2357 Laps in the Top 15 (57.8), 11th-most

· 772 Quality Passes, sixth-most

Matt Kenseth (No. 20 Dollar General Toyota)

· Two wins, 13 top fives, 19 top 10s

· Average finish of 11.286, third-best

· Average Running Position of 11.319, third-best

· Driver Rating of 102.0, second-best

· 174 Fastest Laps Run, 11th-best

· Average Green Flag Speed of 179.234, fourth-fastest

· 3125 Laps in the Top 15 (76.6), second-most

· 873 Quality Passes, third-most

Brad Keselowski (No. 2 Miller Lite Ford)

· Three top fives, five top 10s

· Average finish of 14.083, eighth-best

· Average Running Position of 13.687, ninth-best

· Driver Rating of 90.6, 12th-best

· 55 Fastest Laps Run, sixth-best

· Average Green Flag Speed of 178.856, 10th-fastest

· 1478 Laps in the Top 15 (63.1), 10th-most

· 379 Quality Passes, 12th-most

Joey Logano (No. 22 Shell Pennzoil Ford)

· One win, three top fives, eight top 10s; one pole

· Average finish of 14.154, ninth-best

· Average Running Position of 14.207, 11th-best

· Driver Rating of 91.9, eighth-best

· 82 Fastest Laps Run, fifth-best

· Average Green Flag Speed of 178.951, eighth-fastest

· 1445 Laps in the Top 15 (56.8), 12th-most

· 410 Quality Passes, 11th-most

Tony Stewart (No. 14 Mobil 1/Bass Pro Shops Chevrolet)

· One win, 12 top fives, 20 top 10s

· Average finish of 11.053, second-best

· Average Running Position of 13.103, seventh-best

· Driver Rating of 94.1, sixth-best

· 104 Fastest Laps Run, 12th-best

· Average Green Flag Speed of 178.751, 11th-fastest

· 2635 Laps in the Top 15 (71.7), fifth-most

· 746 Quality Passes, seventh-most

The NASCAR Sprint Cup Series 2015 Top 10 at Michigan

	Driver	Races	Poles	Wins	Top Fives	Top 10s	DNFs	Average Finish	Driver Rating
	Driver	Races	Poles	Wins	Top Fives	Top 10s	DNFs	Average Finish	Driver Rating
1	Kevin Harvick	29	1	1	7	12	1	13.6	91.5
2	Joey Logano	13	1	1	3	8	1	14.2	91.9
3	Dale Earnhardt Jr	32	2	2	8	13	3	15.2	98.9
4	Jimmie Johnson	27	0	1	5	11	3	16	101.2
5	Brad Keselowski	12	0	0	3	5	0	14.1	90.6
6	Martin Truex Jr	19	0	0	4	6	1	17.2	81.1
7	Matt Kenseth	32	0	2	13	19	1	10.5	102.0
8	Kurt Busch	29	2	3	5	10	8	20.6	91.0
9	Jamie McMurray	25	0	0	1	5	2	18.7	72.5
10	Denny Hamlin	19	0	2	5	8	2	15.1	87.9

* – Based on last 21 races at Michigan International Speedway (2005 – 2015).

Michigan International Speedway Data

Season Race #: 23 of 36 (08-16-15)

Track Size: 2-miles

Banking/Turn 1 & 2: 18 degrees

Banking/Turn 3 & 4: 18 degrees

Banking/Frontstretch: 5 degrees

Banking/Backstretch: 2 degrees

Frontstretch Length: 3,600 feet

Backstretch Length: 2,242 feet

Race Length: 200 laps / 400 miles

Top 10 Driver Ratings at Michigan

Greg Biffle………………………….. 107.1

Jimmie Johnson…………………… 102.5

Matt Kenseth……………………….. 101.2

Carl Edwards………………………. 100.5

Dale Earnhardt Jr.………………….. 98.0

Tony Stewart…………………………. 95.8

Jeff Gordon………………………….. 93.6

Joey Logano………………………… 91.8

Kevin Harvick………………………… 90.2

Kurt Busch……………………………. 89.9

Note: Driver Ratings compiled from 2005-2015 races (21 total) among active drivers at Michigan International Speedway.

Qualifying/Race Data

2014 pole winner:

Jeff Gordon, Chevrolet

206.558 mph, 34.857 secs. 08-17-14

2014 race winner:

Jeff Gordon, Chevrolet

141.788 mph, (02:49:16), 08-17-14

Track qualifying record:

Jeff Gordon, Chevrolet

206.558 mph, 34.857 secs. 08-17-14

Track race record:

Dale Jarrett, Ford

173.997 mph, (2:17:56), 06-13-99

At Michigan International Speedway:

History

· Michigan International Speedway sits on more than 1,400 acres in the “Irish Hills” of Southeastern Michigan. Ground-breaking took place on Sept. 28, 1967.

· The first NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race at Michigan was held June 15, 1969 – won by Cale Yarborough at a speed of 139.254 mph.

· The track was known as Michigan Speedway during the time Roger Penske was the primary owner (1996-99).

· The first race was 500 miles in length; the second was scheduled for 600. The track was re-measured to 2.04 miles for the last race in 1970 and both races in 1971 – with the race distance being 402 miles. All other races have been scheduled for 400 miles.

· The 2-mile speedway underwent a repave in 2012.

Starts

· There have been 92 NASCAR Sprint Cup races at Michigan International Speedway since the first race there in 1969. Other than 1973, which had just one race, there have been two races each season since 1969.

· 377 drivers have competed in at least one NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race at Michigan International Speedway; 275 in more than one.

· Bill Elliott leads the series in starts at Michigan with 61. Jeff Gordon leads all active drivers with 45 starts.

· Jimmie Johnson leads all active drivers in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series in average starting position at Michigan with a 9.556.

· Two active NASCAR Sprint Cup Series driver have posted their first career start at Michigan International Speedway: Carl Edwards (8/22/2004) and Landon Cassill (6/13/2010).

Poles

· Donnie Allison won the inaugural Coors Light pole at Michigan in 1969 with a speed of 160.135 mph.

· 46 drivers have Coors Light poles at Michigan, led by David Pearson with 10. Jeff Gordon leads all active drivers with six.

· Six drivers have won consecutive Coors Light poles at Michigan. David Pearson holds the record for most consecutive poles at Michigan with five; fall 1976 through 1978.

· Youngest Michigan pole winner: Joey Logano (08/16/2013 – 23 years, 2 months, 23 days).

· Oldest Michigan pole winner: Mark Martin (08/19/2012 – 53 years, 7 months, 10 days).

· One active driver has posted his first career NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Coors Light pole at Michigan International Speedway: J.J. Yeley (6/17/2007).

Wins

· 36 different NSCS drivers have won at Michigan International Speedway, led by David Pearson with nine wins; Greg Biffle leads all active drivers with four.

· Eight drivers have posted consecutive wins at Michigan International Speedway, including four consecutive by Bill Elliott (1985 sweep and 1986 sweep).

· Youngest Michigan winner: Joey Logano (08/18/2013 – 23 years, 2 months, 25 days).

· Oldest Michigan winner: Harry Gant (08/16/1992 – 52 years, 7 months, 6 days).

· Roush Fenway Racing has the most wins at Michigan in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series with 13: Mark Martin (four), Greg Biffle (four), Carl Edwards (two), Matt Kenseth (two) and Kurt Busch (one).

· Eight different manufacturers have won in the NSCS at Michigan; led by Ford with 34 victories; followed by Chevrolet with 23. Toyota has four wins at Michigan.

· 18 of the 92 (19.5%) NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races at Michigan have been won from the Coors Light pole; the most recent was Jeff Gordon last season.

· The Coors Light pole position is the most proficient starting position in the field, producing more winners (18) than any other starting position at Michigan International Speedway.

· 26 of the 92 (28.2%) NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races at Michigan have been won from the front row: 18 from the pole and eight from second-place.

· 69 of the 92 (75%) NASCAR Sprint Cup races at Michigan have been won from a top-10 starting position.

· Seven of the 92 (7.6%) NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races at Michigan have been won from a starting position outside the top 20.

· The deepest in the field that a race winner has started at Michigan is 32nd, by Mark Martin in the spring of 2009.

· All active NASCAR Sprint Cup Series winners at Michigan International Speedway participated in at least one or more races before visiting Victory Lane. Tony Stewart won at Michigan in his third appearance, the fewest previous starts among the active NSCS winners.

· Kevin Harvick competed at Michigan International Speedway 19 times before winning in the fall of 2010; the longest span of any the active NASCAR Sprint Cup Series winners.

· Among the active NSCS Michigan winners Kevin Harvick (19), Dale Earnhardt Jr. (17) Kyle Busch (13), Jeff Gordon (11) and Joey Logano (10) all made 10 or more attempts before their first win.

Additional Finishing Position Stats

· Jeff Gordon leads the series in runner-up finishes at Michigan with eight; followed by Darrell Waltrip with seven and Kevin Harvick with five.

· NASCAR Hall of Famer Cale Yarborough leads the series in top-five finishes at Michigan with 21; Jeff Gordon leads all active drivers with 19.

· Mark Martin leads the series in top-10 finishes at Michigan with 31; followed by Bill Elliott with 29. Jeff Gordon leads all active drivers with 27.

· Carl Edwards leads all active drivers in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series in average finishing position at Michigan with a 9.818.

· Jamie McMurray leads the series among active drivers with the most NASCAR Sprint Cup Series starts at Michigan without visiting Victory Lane at 25; followed by Casey Mears at 24.

Track/Event Specific Stats

· Since the advent of electronic scoring the closest margin of victory (MOV) in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series at Michigan International Speedway was the June 10, 2001 race won by Jeff Gordon over Ricky Rudd with a MOV of 0.085 second.

· There have been two NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races resulting with a green-white-checkered finish at Michigan International Speedway (Scheduled No. of Laps/Actual No. of Laps): fall of 2011 (200/203); and fall of 2012 (200/201).

· Five of the 92 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races at Michigan International Speedway have been shortened due to weather conditions; the most recent was the event on 6/14/2015.

· Qualifying has been cancelled due to weather conditions in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series at Michigan International Speedway four times; most recently the spring of 2008 race.

· Jeff Gordon leads all active drivers in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series in laps led at Michigan with 1,058 laps led in 45 starts.

Female Competitor Stats

· Four female drivers have competed at Michigan International Speedway in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series: Janet Guthrie, Robin McCall, Shawna Robinson and Danica Patrick. Of the four female drivers to compete at Michigan, Guthrie has the best finish (10th).

Driver	Starting Position	Finishing Position	Date
Danica Patrick	19	16	6/14/2015
Danica Patrick	14	18	8/17/2014
Danica Patrick	27	17	6/15/2014
Danica Patrick	28	23	8/18/2013
Danica Patrick	37	13	6/16/2013
Patrick Averages	25.0	17.4
Shawna Robinson	32	34	6/10/2001
Robinson Averages	32.0	34.0
Robin McCall	29	33	8/22/1982
Robin McCall	35	29	6/20/1982
McCall Averages	32.0	31.0
Janet Guthrie	18	27	8/20/1978
Janet Guthrie	15	10	8/22/1977
Janet Guthrie	12	26	6/19/1977
Guthrie Averages	15.0	21.0

NASCAR in Michigan

· There have been 97 NASCAR Sprint Cup races at four different tracks in Michigan.

Track Name	City	NSCS
Michigan International Speedway	Brooklyn	92
Grand River Speedrome	Grand Rapids	2
Michigan State Fairgrounds	Detroit	2
Monroe Speedway	Monroe	1

· The first NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race in the state of Michigan was at Grand River Speedrome in Grand Rapids, Michigan on 7/1/1951 – won by Marshall Teague from the pole in a Hudson.

· 98 drivers in NASCAR national series history have their home state recorded as Michigan.

· Nine of the 98 have won at least one race in NASCAR’s national series.

Driver	NSCS	NXS	NCWTS
Brad Keselowski	17	33	1
Paul Goldsmith	9	0	0
Johnny Benson	1	3	14
Tim Fedewa	0	4	0
Erik Jones	0	2	5
Butch Miller	0	2	1
Tracy Leslie	0	1	0
Jack Sprague	0	1	28
Bob Keselowski	0	0	1

MILESTONES: Michigan

DRIVER	HAS	NEEDS	MILESTONE	DESCRIPTION
DRIVER	HAS	NEEDS	MILESTONE	DESCRIPTION
AJ Allmendinger	249	1	250th NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Start	Allmendinger is tied with Jack Smith for 100th on the all-time NSCS starts list, six starts behind Juan Pablo Montoya in 99th (255 starts).
Jimmie Johnson	74	2	76th NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Win	Jimmie Johnson is eighth on the all-time NSCS wins list, two wins behind NASCAR Hall of Famer Dale Earnhardt in seventh (76 wins).
Tony Stewart	48	2	50th NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Win	Stewart is 13th on the all-time NSCS wins list, two wins behind NASCAR Hall of Famer Ned Jarrett in 12th (50 wins).
Carl Edwards	24	1	25th NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Win	Edwards is 31st on the all-time NSCS wins list, one win behind Dale Earnhardt Jr., Joe Weatherly and Denny Hamlin tied for 28th (25 wins).
Tony Stewart	299	1	300th NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Top-10 Finish	Stewart is 17th on the all-time NSCS top-10 finishes list, two top 10s behind James Hylton in 16th (301 top 10s).
Jeff Gordon	24,830	170	25,000 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Laps Led	Gordon can become the sixth driver in NSCS history to lead 25,000 laps; joining Richard Petty, Dale Earnhardt, Cale Yarborough, David Pearson and Bobby Allison.
Matt Kenseth	9,602	398	10,000 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Laps Led	Kenseth can become the 16th driver in series history to lead 10,000 or more laps.
Kevin Harvick	7,954	46	8,000 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Laps Led	Kevin Harvick can become the 24th driver in series history to lead 8,000 or more laps.
#43 car	199	1	200 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Wins	The No. 43 car is second on the all-time NSCS wins list, five wins behind the No. 11 car in first (204). The last win for the No. 43 car came at Daytona last season.
Chevrolet	749	1	750th NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Win	Chevrolet will attempt to post the manufacturer’s 750th win in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series this weekend. Chevrolet leads the series in wins.

Posted on August 9, 2015 by Nascar

WATKINS GLEN, N.Y. — It’s no longer a matter of when will Kyle Busch crack the top 30 in the points standings.

It’s become a matter of whether he can maintain the spot with just four races remaining before the start of the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup at Chicagoland Speedway.

Sunday’s second-place finish in the Cheez-It 355 at the Glen improved the Joe Gibbs Racing driver’s points position by two spots. He now sits 30th in the standings, one of the necessary qualifiers to make the Chase.

Kyle also has four wins. His Chase eligibility waiver required one win for him to earn one of the 16 berths.

But he has to stay in the top 30, and there are no guarantees in NASCAR. Four weeks can be four chances to move even deeper inside the top 30, or four chances to stumble.

“We couldn’t afford running out of gas like we did last week and taking home an even worse finish this week because of how many cars finish on the lead lap typically at a road course,” Busch said after finishing second to Team Penske driver Joey Logano at Watkins Glen International and referencing the fuel gamble that occurred at Pocono Raceway. “We’d be back in the 30s somewhere.”

It happened at Pocono last weekend during the Windows 10 400 as Busch, momentarily in the top 30 with the race lead and a clear path to the checkered flag, ran out of gas. He finished 21st and remained outside of the top 30 in points.

“I’m sure that was weighing on Adam’s mind on being able to save it and make it to the end and just playing it a little bit more cautious, which is fine,” Busch said of crew chief Adam Stevens. “I’m with Adam 100 percent of the way all the time. He’s doing a great job right now.

“We’ve obviously got some things clicking and he knows what he’s doing, so for me to argue that point doesn’t make any sense.”

Sidelined for the first 11 races after breaking his right leg and left foot in a crash during the XFINITY Series season opener at Daytona International Speedway, Busch and his No. 18 team have performed almost flawlessly since returning at Charlotte Motor Speedway for the Coca-Cola 600.

Forty-first in points after his first start of the season, an 11th-place finish at CMS, Busch eventually reeled off four wins in a span of five races, including three in a row at Kentucky, New Hampshire and Indianapolis.

“For us to be in the top 30 right now, that obviously allows us to change our mindset maybe a little bit here going forward,” said Busch, who led for three consecutive laps on the 2.45-mile road course. “We maybe could have played this race a little bit differently if we were like the No. 4 car (of defending series champion Kevin Harvick) who had absolutely nothing to lose, and lo and behold, they run out (of gas) and come home third.

“We run out and come home 21st last week. Just an overall good day for us, though, with our bunch.”

Busch, a winner of 33 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races, has qualified for the Chase for two consecutive years and seven times overall.

An eighth appearance isn’t guaranteed. A good bet perhaps, but not quite a given.

Posted on August 9, 2015 by Staff Report

All times ET

Monday, August 10
6 a.m., NASCAR Victory Lap (re-air), NBCSN
7 a.m., NASCAR Victory Lap (re-air), NBCSN
8 a.m., NASCAR Victory Lap (re-air), NBCSN
Noon, NASCAR 120, NBCSN
2 p.m., TUDOR United SportsCar Championship – Road America (re-air), FOX Sports 1
5:30 p.m., NASCAR America, NBCSN
6 p.m., NASCAR Race Hub, FOX Sports 1
2 a.m., NASCAR Race Hub (re-air), FOX Sports 2

Tuesday, August 11
6 a.m., NASCAR America (re-air), NBCSN
7 a.m., NASCAR America (re-air), NBCSN
5 p.m., NASCAR America, NBCSN
6 p.m., NASCAR Race Hub, FOX Sports 1
2 a.m., NASCAR Race Hub (re-air), FOX Sports 1

Wednesday, August 12
6 a.m., NASCAR America (re-air), NBCSN
7 a.m., NASCAR America (re-air), NBCSN
4:30 p.m., NASCAR America: Scan All 43 Special (re-air), NBCSN
5 p.m., NASCAR America, NBCSN

Thursday, August 13
6 a.m., NASCAR America (re-air), NBCSN
7 a.m., NASCAR America (re-air), NBCSN
4:30 p.m., NASCAR America: States of NASCAR #6 (re-air), NBCSN
5 p.m., NASCAR America, NBCSN
7 p.m., NASCAR K&N Series East: Watkins Glen (tape), NBCSN
11 p.m., NASCAR K&N Series East: Watkins Glen (re-air), NBCSN

Friday, August 14
6 a.m., NASCAR America (re-air), NBCSN
7 a.m., NASCAR America (re-air), NBCSN
10 a.m., The 10: NASCAR’s Most Outrageous Moments (re-air), FOX Sports 1
10:30 a.m., TUDOR United SportsCar Championship – Road America (re-air), FOX Sports 1
11 a.m., NASCAR Sprint Cup Series practice, NBCSN
1:30 p.m., NASCAR Camping World Truck Series practice, FOX Sports 1
1:30 p.m., NASCAR XFINITY Series practice, NBCSN
3 p.m., NASCAR XFINITY Series final practice, RSN (CSN Mid-Atlantic, CSN Chicago, CSN Northwest, CSN Bay Area)/NBC Sports Live Extra
4:45 p.m., NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Coors Light Pole Qualifying, NBCSN
6 p.m., NASCAR America, NBCSN
8 p.m., NASCAR Camping World Truck Series final practice (same-day delay), FOX Sports 1
9:30 p.m., 1979 Daytona 500 (re-air), FOX Sports 1
10 p.m., Being: Stewart-Haas Racing (re-air), FOX Sports 1

Saturday, August 15
8:30 a.m., NASCAR Sprint Cup Series practice, CNBC
9 a.m., The 10: Greatest Truck Series Moments (re-air), FOX Sports 1
9:30 a.m., NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Keystone Light Pole Qualifying, FOX Sports 1
11:15 a.m., NASCAR XFINITY Series Coors Light Pole Qualifying, RSN (CSN Mid-Atlantic, CSN Chicago, CSN Bay Area)/NBC Sports Live Extra
11:30 a.m., NASCAR Sprint Cup Series final practice, CNBC
12:30 p.m., NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Setup, FOX Sports 1
1 p.m., NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Careers for Veterans 200 Presented by Cooper Standard and Brad Keselowski‘s Checkered Flag Foundation
3 p.m., NASCAR XFINITY Series Countdown to Green, NBCSN
3:30 p.m., NASCAR XFINITY Series Nationwide Children’s Hospital 200 at Mid-Ohio, NBCSN

Sunday, August 16
11:30 a.m., NASCAR RaceDay: Michigan, FOX Sports 1
1:30 p.m., NASCAR America Sunday, NBCSN
2 p.m., NASCAR Sprint Cup Series: Countdown to Green, NBCSN
2:30 p.m., NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Pure Michigan 400, NBCSN
3 p.m., TUDOR United SportsCar Championship: Road America, FOX Sports 1
5:30 p.m., NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Post-Race Show, NBCSN
11 p.m., NASCAR Victory Lap, NBCSN
Midnight, NASCAR Victory Lane, FOX Sports 1
3:30 a.m., NASCAR Victory Lane (re-air), FOX Sports 1

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Posted on August 9, 2015 by Staff Report

With only four races left until the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup, it’s time to check up on Kyle Busch, driver of the No. 18 Toyota for Joe Gibbs Racing, as he tries to rebound from early-season injuries and make the Chase. He is currently the only driver with multiple wins who has yet to clinch a spot in the Chase.

WHAT JUST HAPPENED: After starting the Watkins Glen race in the eighth spot, Kyle Busch finished second at the Cheez-It 355 — his fifth top five at the Glen. With Kevin Harvick on the losing side of a fuel strategy on the white-flag lap, Busch snagged the runner-up position at the road course. “Rowdy,” who led three laps, entered the top 30 with his second-place finish. Despite getting into the top 30, this does not secure a Chase spot.

WHAT HE NEEDS: With four wins this season, Busch still needs to stay in the top 30 in the standings and be able to start the remaining regular-season races to be eligible for the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup. With four races to go before Chicagoland, Busch is unofficially in 30th place. He is six points ahead of Cole Whitt, who currently sits in 31st.

WHAT’S NEXT: The NASCAR Sprint Cup Series is headed to Michigan International Speedway for the Pure Michigan 400. In 21 starts there, Busch has one win, four top fives, 6 top 10s and one pole. His victory at Michigan came in 2011’s Pure Michigan 400. The last time he raced at Michigan was back in June for the Quicken Loans 400, where he finished in 43rd after a crash on Turn 4 while on Lap 53.

Posted on August 9, 2015 by Staff Report

Polesitter, AJ Allmendinger lost power on his No. 47 JTG Daugherty Racing Chevrolet and was sitting on pit road during the fourth caution in Sunday’s race.

A frustrated Allmendinger was heard saying on the radio, “I shut it off trying to save fuel. Last time I ever do that … When I popped the clutch, nothing.”

Allmendinger’s best chance for making the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup is at Watkins Glen, as he is the defending race winner and that win punched his ticket into last year’s Chase.

After his pit crew worked on his car, Allmendinger finally got power back and re-entered the race one lap down. ‘Dinger led 21 laps before the power outage.

Posted on August 9, 2015 by Staff Report

MORE: Gordon lends his voice for Disney project | Watkins Glen results

Jeff Gordon had mechanical issues early on at Watkins Glen during the Cheez-It 355.

Sunday’s race was one of his best chances to lock up a Chase berth, given his road course prowess (4 wins, 4 poles and 9 top 10s in 22 starts at Watkins Glen; he also has five wins at Sonoma, the series’ other road course), Gordon was set back thanks to early brake problems.

While on pit road, the four-time champion received a new brake line on the No. 24 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet and re-entered the race on Lap 33, scored in 43rd place and four laps down.

Gordon entered Sunday’s race in 10th place in the driver points standings. He finished the race in 41st place and lost two spots in the standings, falling to 12th place, 203 points behind leader Kevin Harvick .

Posted on August 9, 2015 by Staff Report

The NASCAR Sprint Cup Series and NASCAR Camping World Truck Series will race this week at Michigan International Speedway. The NASCAR XFINITY Series will be racing at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course in a stand-alone event. Sprint Cup Series and XFINITY Series practices, qualifying sessions and races can also be watched on NBC Sports Live Extra. All events for the Camping World Truck Series can be found on FOX Sports 1. Check out the full schedule below.

All times are ET

SUNDAY, AUG. 16

PRE-RACE SCHEDULE
— 12:30:00 p.m.:NSCS Driver/Crew Chief Meeting (Michigan Room)
— 2:00:00 p.m.: NSCS Drivers Introductions w/ NASCAR Special Awards
— 2:21:00 p.m.: MIS Wave (Kid Rock’s “All Summer Long” audio track plays)
— 2:28:00 p.m.: Intro Canadian Anthem
— 2:28:15 p.m.: Canadian Anthem by: MIS’ Own, Lisa Bascom
— 2:30:00 p.m.: Presentation of Colors: Michigan State Police
— 2:30:20 p.m.: Moment of Silence
— 2:30:50 p.m.: Invocation by: Fr. Geoff Rose
— 2:31:15 p.m.: Intro National Anthem
— 2:31:30 p.m.: National Anthem by: Jena Irene Ascuitto
— 2:33:00 p.m.: Flyover TOT by: Three (3) Aero L-39 Albatros Aircraft
— 2:38:00 p.m.: “Drivers, Start Your Engines”: Michael Harris, Executive Director of Paralyzed Veterans of America – Michigan Chapter
— 2:46:30 p.m.: Start of the Pure Michigan 400 (200 Laps, 400 Miles)

ON TRACK: MICHIGAN
— 2:30 p.m.: NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Pure Michigan 400 (200 laps, 400 miles), NBCSN/Live Extra (Results)

PRESS CONFERENCES (Watch live)
— 5:15 p.m. (approx.): Post-NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race

FRIDAY, AUG. 14:

ON TRACK: MICHIGAN
— 11 a.m.-1:25 p.m.: NASCAR Sprint Cup Series practice, NBCSN/Live Extra (Results)
— 1:30-2:25 p.m.: NASCAR Camping World Truck Series practice, FOX Sports 1 (Results)
— 3-4:25 p.m.: NASCAR Camping World Truck Series final practice (Results) (Will be shown on FOX Sports 1 at 8 p.m. ET)
— 5:05 p.m.: NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Coors Light Pole Qualifying, NBCSN/Live Extra (Results)

ON TRACK: MID-OHIO
— 1:30-2:25 p.m.: NASCAR XFINITY Series practice, NBCSN/Live Extra (Results)
— 3-4:25 p.m.: NASCAR XFINITY Series final practice, RSN (CSN Mid-Atlantic, CSN Chicago, CSN Northwest, CSN Bay Area)/Live Extra (Results)

GARAGECAM (Watch live)
— 10:30 a.m.: NASCAR Sprint Cup Series
— 2:30 p.m.: NASCAR Camping World Truck Series

PRESS CONFERENCES (Watch live)
— 9:45 a.m.: Greg Biffle
— 10 a.m.: Matt Kenseth
— 10:15 a.m.: Ryan Blaney and Tyler Reddick
— 10:30 a.m.: Erik Jones
— 3:15 p.m.: Jeff Gordon
— 6:15 p.m. (approx.): Post-NASCAR Sprint Cup Series qualifying
— 7:15 p.m.: NASCAR executive Steve O’Donnell

SATURDAY, AUG. 15:

ON TRACK: MICHIGAN
— 8:30-9:25 a.m.: NASCAR Sprint Cup Series practice, CNBC/Live Extra (Results)
— 9:40 a.m.: NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Keystone Light Pole Qualifying, FOX Sports 1 (Results)
— 11:30 a.m.-12:25 p.m.: NASCAR Sprint Cup Series final practice, CNBC/Live Extra (Results)
— 1 p.m.: NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Careers for Veterans 200 presented by Cooper Standard and Brad Keselowski‘s Checkered Flag Foundation, (100 laps, 200 miles), FOX Sports 1 (Results)

ON TRACK: MID-OHIO
— 11:15 a.m.: NASCAR XFINITY Series Coors Light Pole Qualifying, RSN (CSN Mid-Atlantic, CSN Chicago, CSN Bay Area)/Live Extra (Results)
— 3:30 p.m.: NASCAR XFINITY Series Nationwide Children’s Hospital 200 at Mid-Ohio (75 laps, 169.35 miles), NBCSN/Live Extra (Results)

PRESS CONFERENCES (Watch live)
— 2:45 p.m.: (approx.): Post-NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race

Posted on August 9, 2015 by Reid Spencer

WATKINS GLEN, N.Y. – Now that Watkins Glen has started repaving its racing surface, running “the Boot” may be back on the table for NASCAR races.

The current configuration of the Glen for NASCAR Sprint Cup and XFINITY Series races eliminates the Boot, which contains Turns 6 through 9, and shortens the course from 3.40 miles to 2.45 miles.

But with repaving already having taken place in the Boot, smoothing the bumps in that portion of the track, NASCAR is considering running the full Grand Prix Course, which currently is used for the Tudor United Sports Car Championship.

“We could,” NASCAR Executive Vice President and Chief Racing Development Officer Steve O’Donnell told the NASCAR Wire Service before Sunday’s Cheez-It 355 at the Glen. “We’re discussing it with the track. It’s something we’re looking at down the road.”

Even with the addition of the Boot, Watkins Glen wouldn’t be the longest road course on the NASCAR rotation. Road America in Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin, which hosts the XFINITY Series, measures 4.048 miles.

Posted on August 9, 2015 by Reid Spencer

RELATED: Complete race results | Series standings | SHOP: Logano gear

WATKINS GLEN, N.Y. — A week after running out of fuel while leading with three laps left at Pocono, Joey Logano finished off an unprecedented weekend sweep at Watkins Glen International with his first road course victory in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series.

Pressuring race leader Kevin Harvick over a 30-lap green-flag run to the finish of Sunday’s Cheez-It 355 at the Glen, Logano made the winning pass through the final two corners at the 2.45-mile road course as Harvick ran out of fuel in Turn 6.

Picking up his second victory of the season and the 10th of his career, Logano crossed the finish line 5.273 seconds ahead of Kyle Busch, who grabbed second place as Harvick coasted over the stripe to secure third.

Matt Kenseth came home fourth, and Kurt Busch recovered from a pit road penalty (crewmen over the wall too soon) to finish fifth, as Logano became the first driver ever to win both the XFINITY and Sprint Cup Series races at Watkins Glen International in the same weekend.

“I’m still just trying to catch my breath,” Logano said after climbing from his No. 22 Team Penske Ford. “I was really excited after that one. I was running down Harvick there for a little bit, and once I got close to him, he started to pick up his pace a little bit, which was good, because I needed him to run out of gas.

“I started to catch him a little bit, and I drove into (Turn) 1 too hard (on the final lap) and started to wheel hop. I just about lost it, and at that point you just hope he runs out of gas, which he did in the last corner. It makes up for last week. We lost the race last week the same way, so it makes up for it to get it this week.”

Logano led only one lap — the last one.

With Logano’s victory, every driver who has won a race this season — with the exception of Kyle Busch — has clinched a berth in the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup, assuming each starts the remaining races of the regular season. Busch cracked the top 30 in the standings for the first time after returning from an 11-race injury absence.

With four victories, Busch must simply finish the 26-race regular season four races hence in the top 30, and that was the primary reason he didn’t make a harder push to catch Logano in the closing laps.

“I think that was some of (crew chief) Adam (Stevens’) worry, too,” said Busch, who like Logano, had pitted for fuel under caution on Lap 58 of 90 and who, like Logano, had run out of gas in the closing laps at Pocono. “We couldn’t afford running out of gas like we did last week and taking home an even worse finish this week, because of how many cars finish on the lead lap typically at a road course.

“We’d be back in the 30s somewhere. I’m sure that was weighing on Adam’s mind on being able to save it and make it to the end and just playing it a little bit more cautious, which is fine. I’m with Adam 100 percent of the way all the time.”

The race dealt potentially devastating blows to several drivers hopeful of qualifying for the Chase on points.

Jeff Gordon had brake problems almost from the outset and finished 41st, dropping two spots to 12th in the standings. Kasey Kahne ’s No. 5 Chevrolet was the victim of a hard wreck when the field accordioned behind Sam Hornish Jr. on a restart on Lap 49; he fell two positions in the points to 17th, outside the window for making the Chase.

RELATED: Gordon has early brake troubles

Jamie McMurray‘s Chevrolet ran into the back of Logano’s Ford on that same restart, crushing the nose of the car. McMurray came home 40th and dropped one position to ninth in the standings.

If there are no more first-time winners in the next four weeks, and if Kyle Busch remains in the top 30, there will be five Chase spots available on points. Currently, the top five drivers in the standings without a victory are McMurray, Paul Menard , Gordon, Ryan Newman and Clint Bowyer.