Weekly NASCAR.com preview: Aug. 10-Aug. 16

Posted on August 10, 2015 by Staff Report

See what’s coming this week to NASCAR.com

Here’s what you’ll see on NASCAR.com this week:

MONDAY: Buddy Baker passed away Monday, and we’ll remember his life with stories, videos and photos … Senior writer Kenny Bruce details Kevin Harvick‘s finish at Watkins Glen after the driver of the No. 4 ran out of fuel late … The Rundown will recap how every driver in the field fared, 1-43.

TUESDAY: This week’s Power Rankings presented by Outback is sure to get a shakeup now that Joey Logano has two wins on the season, and has looked great in recent weeks … @nascarcasm will have his winner’s Facebook page, as well as vanity license tags for NASCAR drivers … Hear the best from the scanner in "Scanner Sounds."

WEDNESDAY: New paint schemes will be on display at Michigan and Mid-Ohio, and we’ll have them all in Paint Scheme Preview … High 5 presents the best NASCAR content from around the web … Chris Buescher, the NASCAR XFINITY Series points leader, returns to Mid-Ohio, the site of his first national series win.

THURSDAY: Driver Reports highlights the 16 drivers currently on the Chase Grid, and how they fare at Michigan … The high drag package returns at Michigan, and we’ll break down one that means — and how it’s different from the low downforce setup … Speaking of those new packages, which one has been better? Kenny Bruce and RJ Kraft debate.

FRIDAY: The Sprint Cup Series gets on track at 11 a.m. ET, and we’ll have full coverage from a busy day at the track … 8 Tweets You Might Have Missed highlights the best from social media over the past week.

Also coming this week: @nascarcasm is doing a voice-to-text interview with Andy Lally. We’re sure that will go super smooth.

Posted on August 10, 2015 by

RELATED: Full race results | Series Standings | Chase Grid

Breaking down how the full 43-car field fared at Watkins Glen International.

1. Joey Logano, No. 22 Ford, Team Penske. “It’s on fire boys. Burning it down for real,” Logano radioed his team after completing his burnout. Logano slipped by Kevin Harvick, who ran out of fuel on the last lap, to sweep the WGI weekend and become the first driver to do so. | WATCH: Logano wins fuel mileage thriller

2. Kyle Busch, No. 18 Toyota, Joe Gibbs Racing. Busch, who started saving fuel in the closing laps, is now 30th in the points and on pace to be Chase eligible thanks to his runner-up result. | MORE: How is Busch’s looking for the Chase?

3. Kevin Harvick, No. 4 Chevrolet, Stewart-Haas Racing. Harvick led a race-high 29 laps, but didn’t save enough fuel to make it to the end and ran out on the final lap. | Watch: Harvick reacts to fuel shortage at the Glen

4. Matt Kenseth, No. 20 Toyota, Joe Gibbs Racing. Kenseth was running second when he was told to let Joey Logano by so he could save a lap of fuel for the 10-lap sprint to the finish.

5. Kurt Busch, No. 41 Chevrolet, Stewart-Haas Racing. An early race off pit road penalty didn’t hamper Busch, who was asked to save the car while maneuvering through the field.

6. Clint Bowyer, No. 15 Toyota, Michael Waltrip Racing. Bowyer pitted from seventh under caution on Lap 58 and started his climb through the field after restarting 19th.

7. Brad Keselowski, No. 2 Ford, Team Penske. Keselowski stayed out during the first caution period and went on to pace the field for the next 27 laps.

8. Carl Edwards, No. 19 Toyota, Joe Gibbs Racing. Edwards recorded his sixth top-10 of the year despite a lengthy pit stop during the fifth caution period when his jackman was nicked by another competitor.

9. Sam Hornish Jr., No. 9 Ford, Richard Petty Motorsports. Hornish restarted 12th for the Lap 61 restart and held on for his second career top-10 result at Watkins Glen.

10. Jimmie Johnson, No. 48 Chevrolet, Hendrick Motorsports. “Sorry guys. I just didn’t want to take the (No.) 88 out there,” Johnson radioed his team after missing the bus stop early in the race and dropping from seventh to 22nd. He also spun later on Lap 58, but he made up for it and went on to earn his 15th top 10 of the year. | WATCH: Puzzling day for Johnson

11. Dale Earnhardt Jr., No. 88 Chevrolet, Hendrick Motorsports. “I just about dislocated my shoulder trying to grab it, but it’s gone,” Earnhardt radioed his team after removing the brake tape from his floorboard. | For more in-car audio, sign up for Scanner today

12. Kyle Larson, No. 42 Chevrolet, Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates. Larson rallied after spinning on Lap 41 when he made contact while racing Austin Dillon for position. | RELATED: Larson says he apologized to Dillon

13. Paul Menard, No. 27 Chevrolet, Richard Childress Racing. Fuel conservation wasn’t a concern for Menard, who was running 17th with 11 laps remaining and came within striking distance of his best WGI result.

14. Greg Biffle, No. 16 Ford, Roush Fenway Racing. Biffle was running inside the top 10 when he missed the bus stop and had to stop on track and restart, dropping to 14th with 16 laps to go. | MORE: Biffle gets into the grass

15. Ryan Newman, No. 31 Chevrolet, Richard Childress Racing. Newman reported that he was plowing tight in Turn 9 while running 15th in the final 20 laps.

16. Aric Almirola, No. 43 Ford, Richard Petty Motorsports. Almirola was racing alongside Greg Biffle, when he got loose in Turn 1 and spun in front of Paul Menard on Lap 10. The contact resulted in significant tire rub and an unplanned pit stop.

17. Danica Patrick, No. 10 Chevrolet, Stewart-Haas Racing. After earning her best Glen starting spot, Patrick soon told her team that her car kept coming out of gear.

18. Casey Mears, No. 13 Chevrolet, Germain Racing. Mears had a clean pit stop and restarted 15th on Lap 61, when crew chief Bootie Barker told him they could make it to the end on fuel.

19. Justin Allgaier, No. 51 Chevrolet, HScott Motorsports. Allgaier was running inside the top 20 before he overdrove Turn 1 — likely with help from Jimmie Johnson — and spun on Lap 38.

20. Michael McDowell, No. 95 Ford, Leavine Family Racing. McDowell qualified 31st and earned his best Watkins Glen finish on Sunday.

21. Cole Whitt, No. 35 Ford, Front Row Motorsports. Whitt led Laps 27-28 and ran as high as fifth on Sunday before having to stop for fuel late in the race.

22. Trevor Bayne, No. 6 Ford, Roush Fenway Racing. Bayne stayed out during the fourth caution period, which included a nine-minute red-flag, and restarted seventh to briefly run inside the top 10.

23. David Ragan, No. 55 Toyota, Michael Waltrip Racing. Ragan improved from 24th to sixth on Lap 59 when most of the field opted to pit under caution.

24. AJ Allmendinger, No. 47 Chevrolet, JTG Daugherty Racing. The pole sitter led the opening 20 laps on Sunday, but later radioed his team: “There’s no power in the car. There’s nothing. … Can we have something not break for once?” | MORE: Allmendinger loses power during race

25. Martin Truex Jr., No. 78 Chevrolet, Furniture Row Racing. The outside pole sitter was running third with 24 laps to go when he had to make an unscheduled pit stop for a cut left-front tire.

26. Matt DiBenedetto, No. 83 Toyota, BK Racing. The fastest qualifying rookie made his best road course start on Sunday and proceeded to work through a tight-handling race car on Sunday.

27. Denny Hamlin, No. 11 Toyota, Joe Gibbs Racing. An early pit road speeding penalty mired Hamlin in traffic, where he subsequently made contact with another competitor, knocked out his hood pins and had to make an unscheduled stop for a popped-up hood. | WATCH: Hood issues for Hamlin

28. Alex Kennedy, No. 33 Chevrolet, Circle Sport. After making his best start of 2015, Kennedy rolled on to his second-best finish of the season.

29. Alex Bowman, No. 7 Chevrolet, Tommy Baldwin Racing. With his crew chief’s instructions to “save fuel” ringing in his ears, Bowman recorded his best Watkins Glen finish.

30. J.J. Yeley, No. 23 Toyota, BK Racing. Making his first Watkins Glen start since 2012, Yeley started 13th for the final green-flag restart but struggled to maintain position.

31. Michael Annett, No. 46 Chevrolet, HScott Motorsports. Crew chief Jay Guy encouraged Annett to save all the fuel he could after he restarted eighth with 30 laps to go.

32. Boris Said, No. 32 Ford, Go FAS Racing. The road course ringer was among those competitors caught up in the Lap 50 restart incident. He later spun on the last lap.

33. David Gilliland, No. 38 Ford, Front Row Motorsports. Gilliland endured some transmission issues and later sustained some fender damage after contact on the Lap 61 restart.

34. Ricky Stenhouse Jr., No. 17 Ford, Roush Fenway Racing. Stenhouse had to make an unscheduled pit stop with 20 laps to go for right-front tire rub.

35. Landon Cassill, No. 40 Chevrolet, Hillman Smith Motorsports. Cassill saved his car after competitors stacked up on the Lap 50 restart, but lost track position late in the race when he felt a tire going down.

36. Austin Dillon, No. 3 Chevrolet, Richard Childress Racing. Dillon suspected a flat tire on Lap 41 after making contact with Kyle Larson and subsequently shredded his tire to bring out the third caution flag.

37. Chris Buescher, No. 34 Ford, Front Row Motorsports. The XFINITY Series points leader saw his best Cup start of the year fade when he endured a broken shifter and had to make do in fourth gear.

38. Timmy Hill, No. 98 Chevrolet, Premium Motorsports. Hill made his road course debut when he lined up 43rd on Sunday at Watkins Glen.

39. Jeb Burton, No. 26 Toyota, BK Racing. An early diagnosed fuel pump issue prompted Burton to approach the race in 25-lap increments.

40. Jamie McMurray, No. 1 Chevrolet, Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates A competitor missed a shift on the Lap 50 restart and McMurray was part of the drivers collected in the pile-up. | WATCH: McMurray, Kahne crash

41. Jeff Gordon, No. 24 Chevrolet, Hendrick Motorsports. Gordon, in his Watkins Glen finale, reported that his car was “terrible” early and then went on to deal with a broken brake line. | MORE: Brake issues ruin Gordon’s day

42. Kasey Kahne, No. 5 Chevrolet, Hendrick Motorsports. Kahne fell below the Chase cutline after getting smashed up during the Lap 50 restart that collected several competitors.

43. Tony Stewart, No. 14 Chevrolet, Stewart-Haas Racing. Stewart was running fifth when something broke with his drive line, and he sat stalled on track. His team later learned the culprit was a failed seal in the rear end gear, which allowed all the oil to dump out. | WATCH: Stewart unsuccessful in his return to Watkins Glen

Posted on August 10, 2015 by Nascar

WATKINS GLEN, N.Y. – Defending series champion Kevin Harvick said he thought he’d “done a pretty good job of saving fuel” under one of the five caution flags that slowed Sunday’s Cheez-It 355 at the Glen.

According to crew chief Rodney Childers, Harvick was correct.

Unfortunately, it wasn’t quite enough.

The Stewart-Haas Racing driver ran out of fuel with the checkered flag almost in sight in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series event at Watkins Glen International. He was unable to hold off the fast-closing race winner Joey Logano, and Kyle Busch motored past under power as well before Harvick coasted across the finish line to claim third place in the series’ 22nd of 36 events.

“I was just running as fast as I needed to, to protect the lead there as I was in front of the 20 (of Matt Kenseth),” Harvick said after his 15th top-five finish of the season and his 19th top-10.

Once the Team Penske Ford of Logano began closing, however, “I had to pick up the pace just a little bit,” he said.

“But all in all, our … team did a great job today and we were in position to have a win; two corners away. But that’s just kind of how the middle of this season has gone. We’ve had really fast cars but the circumstances have just gotten the best of us.

“So, hopefully we’re saving that up for the last 10 weeks.”

Harvick, who started fourth, was able to move past Kenseth (Joe Gibbs Racing) on the 61st circuit of the 90-lap event, shortly after the day’s fifth caution flag appeared. He remained on point for the next 29 laps. But with no additional cautions appearing, and his last trip to pit road having come several laps earlier, Harvick’s crew knew their driver’s chances were questionable.

According to the team’s calculations, Harvick’s fuel cell was expected to hit empty with approximately one-half of a lap left on the 2.45-mile road course located in the Finger Lakes region of New York.

“We were fortunate we were able to keep it running at least and get it all the way back around,” Childers said. “…I’m still surprised we made it that far, though. We pitted with 40 to go and before the race we thought we could go 32 laps so we went eight more than we thought we could. Caution laps helped.”

Harvick already has secured one of the 16 positions in this year’s Chase for the Sprint Cup field. He’s a two-time winner this season (Las Vegas and Phoenix) and has been the series’ points leader for 20 consecutive weeks.

“You hate to give up any points,” said Childers, “But on the other hand, it just got to the point halfway through the race where we were like ‘Are we going to win it doing what we’re doing?’ No. ‘Do we have a good enough car to win?’ Yes.

“So we need to try to do something different. So we did … and it almost worked out. It just wasn’t enough.”

WATCH: Weekend Top Five moments from Watkins Glen

There may be disappointment at coming so close, but Sunday’s effort confirms the strength of No. 4 team heading toward the Chase, which gets underway in September.

“It tells me I have the best team on pit road,” Harvick said. “Our cars are faster than pretty much everybody else’s every week.

“The circumstances have definitely bit us quite a few times. But all in all, if you have the fastest car and you keep running in the top five and leading laps, eventually you’re going to wear them down.”

Childers agreed with that assessment.

“I feel real good about everything,” he said. “Every week when we show up at the race track I still feel like we’ve got the best team every week and the fastest car every week. The guys on pit road have just done a tremendous job all year, very consistent. I feel like we’re going to be where we need to be.

“We learned a lot last year. If everybody thinks we were strong last year, they’re going to be in for it (this year).”

Posted on August 10, 2015 by Nascar

RELATED: Buy tickets for Michigan

NASCAR teams competing at Michigan International Speedway this weekend will see several safety enhancements in place, including a temporary extension of the current pit wall by approximately 150 feet.

The extension, which lengthens the wall toward the Turn 4 end of the 2-mile speedway, comes after three drivers struck the inside of pit wall while competing at Pocono (Pennsylvania) Raceway earlier this month.

Kasey Kahne , Jeb Burton and Ray Black Jr. were involved in separate incidents at Pocono – Kahne’s impact with the pit road wall sent equipment flying and led to a delay in the race as officials worked to repair damage to the wall.

No one was injured.

According to a statement from MIS track president Roger Curtis, attenuators (energy absorbing barriers) will be placed at the end of the extension of the wall.

Curtis also said the addition of 700 linear feet of Steel and Foam Energy Reduction (SAFER) barrier to the wall at the entrance and exit of pit road, has been completed. That project was begun in April. Tire pack barriers inside Turn 1 will be in place for this weekend’s race as well, and the grass area at the exit of pit road has been paved to act as a skid pad should a car leave the racing surface in that area of the track.

Workers will begin installing another 7,500 linear feet of SAFER material along the outside walls on the front and backstretch and tri-oval wall along pit road after this weekend’s racing activities have been completed.

MIS is one of 12 facilities owned by International Speedway Corp. that hosts NASCAR Sprint Cup Series events.

The Pure Michigan 400 is scheduled for Sunday, Aug. 16 (2:30 p.m. ET, NBCSN, MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio). The day prior, the track will host the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series’ Careers for Veterans 200 Presented by Cooper Standard and Brad Keselowski’s Checkered Flag Foundation (Saturday, 1 p.m. ET, FOX Sports 1, MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio).

Posted on August 10, 2015 by Nascar

Was Buddy Baker ever scared? Probably not very often. And rarely, one would guess, while he was in a race car.

The larger-than-life Baker, who won 19 times in NASCAR’s premier series and was the first stock car driver to eclipse the 200 mph mark on a closed course, died Monday after a battle with lung cancer. He was 74.

He was a former Daytona 500 winner and drove for some of the sport’s best-known teams during a career that spanned three and a half decades.

In 1971, and for a portion of the 1972 season, Baker competed for the legendary Petty Enterprises organization. Two of his 19 wins came while he was a teammate of seven-time champion Richard Petty.

PHOTOS: Buddy Baker through the years

Saturday at Watkins Glen International, site of Sunday’s Cheez-It 355 at The Glen, NASCAR Hall of Fame crew chief Dale Inman, Petty’s crew chief during the King’s run to seven titles, recalled one instance that shook up the driver known both as “Leadfoot” and the “Gentle Giant.”

“It was 1970 or ’71, ’71 I believe; Buddy was driving for us and Richard was running for the championship,” Inman said while teams prepared for inspection and qualifying at the 2.54-mile WGI. “Buddy and one of our guys had bought these two dirt bikes and they’d go riding them in the woods. Somebody gave Richard one of those small ones; the handlebars on it weren’t hardly no wider than anything.”

According to Inman, “Richard kept nearly falling off the bike this way and that, finally fell off altogether I think. And the other guy ended up about 10 feet up a tree.

“Richard came back to the shop and was showing me all his bruises and cuts and everything and I started yelling at him, really giving him down the road and telling him I wished he’d been hurt worse. ‘Cause we were in the middle of the championship and here he was doing something foolish like that.”

Inman’s tone and obvious displeasure with what could have happened caught the easy-going Baker off-guard.

“Well, I guess it scared Buddy so bad the next thing you knew he had loaded up his bike on the trailer and got out of there,” Inman said, laughing at the recollection.

Baker won 38 poles during his career and finished fifth or better 202 times in 699 starts.

Buddy’s father Buck was the first driver to win back-to-back series titles (1956-57) and was inducted into the NASCAR Hall of Fame in 2013. Both he and Buddy were named on NASCAR’s 50 Greatest Drivers list, selected in 1998.

Buddy is a member of the National Motorsports Hall of Fame as well as the International Motorsports Hall of Fame.

Posted on August 10, 2015 by Nascar

RELATED: Baker through the years | Drivers, teams react to Baker’s passing

Buddy Baker, one of NASCAR’s fastest and most fearless drivers to ever compete in its premier series, passed away Monday from lung cancer, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio announced.

Baker, 74, won 19 times at NASCAR’s top level during a career that lasted three-and-a-half decades.

The son of two-time premier series champ Buck Baker, Buddy Baker retired from the sport following the 1994 season.

“Many of today’s fans may know Buddy Baker as one of the greatest storytellers in the sport’s history, a unique skill that endeared him to millions,” NASCAR Chairman and CEO Brian France said in a statement. “But those who witnessed his racing talent recognized Buddy as a fast and fierce competitor, setting speed records and winning on NASCAR’s biggest stages. It is that dual role that made Buddy an absolute treasure who will be missed dearly.”

He made his NASCAR debut on April 4, 1959, finishing 14th in a field of 21 at Columbia (S.C.) Speedway in a car owned by his father. He is credited with 699 career starts (excluding four career starts in the now-defunct NASCAR Convertible Division), 16th on NASCAR’s all-time career starts list. He earned 202 top-five and 311 top-10 finishes, as well as 38 poles.

Big tracks were Baker’s specialty, a fitting strength for the 6-foot, 6-inch driver. Among his notable victories were the 1980 Daytona 500 with team owner Harry Ranier and crew chief Waddell Wilson, four victories on the sprawling 2.66-mile Talladega Superspeedway and one on the sweeping 2-mile Michigan International Speedway course.

RELATED: Relive Baker’s Daytona win

Baker became the first driver to eclipse the 200 mph mark on a closed course, lapping the Talladega track at 200.096 mph during a transmission test on March 24, 1970 with car owner Cotton Owens. He bettered that mark during the test with the winged Dodge Daytona Charger eventually topping out at an average speed of 200.447 mph.

“It’s the most wonderful feeling I’ve had in a long, long time,” Baker told track officials after his day’s work was completed. “It’s something nobody can ever take away from you.”

His first premier series win came Oct. 15, 1967 in the National 500 at Charlotte Motor Speedway with car owner Ray Fox. Baker would go on to win three more times at CMS, all in the physically demanding 600-mile event held each May.

He was a two-time winner at Darlington Raceway as well, winning the 1970 Southern 500 and returning the following spring to capture the ’71 Rebel 400 at the track long billed as the “Lady in Black.”

During his career, Baker scored wins with Owens, Petty Enterprises, Nord Krauskopf, Bud Moore, Ranier and Wood Brothers Racing.

Baker drove for Petty Enterprises in 1971 and 1972 and NASCAR Hall of Famer Richard Petty issued a statement on Baker’s passing on Monday.

“Buddy was always wide open and that’s the way he raced and lived his life. He was always full of energy. He was a person you wanted to be around because he always made you feel better. He raced with us, shared his stories with us and became our friend. Buddy loved the sport and he made a lasting impression on the sport on the track, in the television booth and on the radio. Our thoughts and prayers are with the Baker family at this time.”

His last victory came in 1983 with the Stuart, Virginia-based Wood Brothers organization — he drove the No. 21 Ford to the win in the July 4 Firecracker 400 at Daytona.

In his final start on May 3, 1992, fittingly at Talladega, Baker finished 31st.

While he didn’t run the full schedule during much of his career, Baker did compete for the series’ title on occasion, finishing in the top-10 in points on five occasions. He finished a career-best fifth in ’77 while driving for Moore.

His folksy manner eventually earned Baker a job in broadcasting, where he served as a NASCAR commentator for The Nashville Network and CBS. In recent years he could be heard on SiriusXM NASCAR Radio.

“From the time we launched SiriusXM NASCAR Radio in 2007, Buddy was one of the anchors of the channel and we are honored and grateful to have worked with him all these years.He brought a wonderfully engaging personality to the airwaves and his storytelling ability made his show a joy to listen to. As one of NASCAR’s great competitors, he generously shared a wealth of knowledge – developed over many decades in the sport – with our listeners. He is greatly missed, and our thoughts and prayers are with his family,” SiriusXM said in a statement.

It was on SiriusXM’s “Late Shift” program that Baker recently announced doctors had discovered a large tumor in his lung. Because of the diagnosis, he was stepping down as co-host of the popular program.

“I think I retired five different times,” Baker told listeners. “Why? Because you build this trust and love for a sport that I don’t care what anybody tells you, there is no other form of auto racing in the world that can entertain and bring the stars that we have in our sport.  And to have a long career like I’ve had, do not shed a tear. Give a smile when you say my name.”

In 1995, Baker was inducted into the Charlotte Motor Speedway Court of Legends; in ’97 he was doubly honored, with inductions into the National Motorsports Press Association’s Hall of Fame the previous year, as well as the International Motorsports Hall of Fame.

The following year, Baker was named one of NASCAR’s 50 Greatest Drivers. His father was also among the 50 named to the legendary list.

Funeral Services will be held at Avondale Presbyterian Church, 2821 Park Rd., Charlotte, conducted by Rev. John Earles, on Aug. 18 at 2 p.m. ET. Burial will follow at Sharon Memorial Park on Monroe Road in Charlotte.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Humane Society of Iredell, 110 Robinson Rd., Mooresville, NC, 28117.

Posted on August 10, 2015 by Staff Report

Alex Bowman will make his first career start in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series on Saturday at Michigan International Speedway in the Careers for Veterans 200 presented by Cooper Standard and Brad Keselowski‘s Checkered Flag Foundation (1 p.m. ET, FOX Sports 1, MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio).

Bowman will drive the No. 00 Haas Automation Chevrolet for JR Motorsports, the Dale Earnhardt Jr.-owned team that fields entries in the NASCAR XFINITY Series as well as one Truck in the Camping World Truck Series.

“The experiences I had racing for JR Motorsports last year were a lot of fun,” Bowman said in a release provided by the team. “It’ll be a learning experience for me being my first time in a truck. Watching the 00 team so far this season, I know it’s going to be a fast truck and we’ll have a shot to run up front. The main goal is to help these guys continue learning and improving on their overall program, particularly at the big tracks, so we’ll try to do that and see if we can pick up a win at the same time.”

Bowman ran two races (at Charlotte and Phoenix) in 2014 for JRM in what is now known as the XFINITY Series in the team’s No. 5 Chevrolet.

Bowman, 22, currently competes full-time in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series driving the No. 7 Chevrolet for Tommy Baldwin Racing. He is currently 34th in points in that series.

The No. 00 Truck has run in seven of 12 races this season, the team’s first in the Camping World Truck Series. Cole Custer has made five starts, while Sprint Cup Series regulars Kevin Harvick and Kasey Kahne have made one start each. Custer won at Gateway in June, while Kahne won at Charlotte in May.

Custer is just 17 years old and is not yet of age to be able to compete at all tracks on the circuit. He is expected to compete in five more Truck Series races this season (Bristol, Canadian Tire Motorsport Park, New Hampshire, Martinsville and Phoenix).

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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