Goodyear Tire Notes: This is the same combination of left- and right-side tires that Goodyear brought to the NASCAR Nextel Cup/Craftsman Truck Series weekend in June -- this is a popular set-up in the 2007 tire lineup, being run at many major NASCAR tracks -- Michigan, California, Dover, Kansas and Kentucky (Busch and Craftsman Truck only) -- in addition, this left-side code (D-4078) is run with a different right-side at Chicagoland, Texas and Homestead this season -- while the left-side code is new this season, this right-side code (D-4062) was run at Michigan, Dover and Kansas in 2006 -- as on all NASCAR ovals greater than one mile in length, teams are required to run inner liners in all four tire positions at Michigan -- air pressure in those inner liners should be 12-25 psi greater than that of the outer tire.
Weekend Schedule
Friday, August 17, 2007
10:00 a.m. Gates Open to the Public
11:30 a.m. -1:00 p.m. NNCS Practice
1:10 p.m. -2:15 p.m. NBS Practice
2:30 p.m. -3:00 p.m. NBS Rookie Practice
3:10 p.m. NNCS Qualifying (Two Laps, All Positions)
4:45 p.m. -5:45 p.m. NBS Final Practice
Saturday, August 18, 2007
9:00 a.m. Gates Open to the Public
10:00 a.m. - 10:50 a.m. NNCS Practice
11:10 a.m. NBS Qualifying (Two Laps, All Positions)
(Impound)
1:50 p.m. - 2:50 p.m. NNCS Final Practice
3:00 p.m. Pre-Race Activities & Driver Introductions
3:30 p.m. Start of CARFAX 250 NBS Race (125 Laps, 250 Miles)
Sunday, August 19, 2007
8:00 a.m. Gates Open to the Public
1:30 p.m. Pre-Race Activities & Driver Introductions
2:00 p.m. Start of 3M Performance 400 NNCS Race (200 Laps, 400 Miles)
NNCS= NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series
NBS= NASCAR Busch Series
All Times Local (Central) * Schedule is tentative and subject to change.
Michigan International Speedway and NASCAR fought rain all weekend, postponed the 3M Performance twice, from Sunday and then Monday to Tuesday. It was the first time in 37 years that a Nextel Cup race had been run on Tuesday. For the loyal fans that stayed to watch the contest, they saw a good race, and in the end it came down to a green-white-checkers finish with Kurt Busch winning the race in near total domination. Busch led 92 of the 200 laps. It was the second victory of the season for Busch, he also dominated the Pocono track two races ago. It was the 17th career win in 243 races for Busch and puts his Miller Lite Dodge a little deeper in contention for the Chase for the Championship.
Martin Truex Jr. started last on the field and finished a strong second with Jimmie Johnson and Matt Kenseth in tow. Denny Hamlin, who became the second driver to get locked into the Chase, finished fifth followed by Dave Blaney, Carl Edwards, Brian Vickers, Bobby Labonte and Tony Stewart to round out the top ten.
It couldn't have been much worse for NASCAR's most popular driver, Dale Earnhardt Jr., finishing 12th on the day. He was running fifth late in the race but on the final pit stop, he made a rookie mistake and slid through his pit. It took a few seconds to get backed up and positioned but it cost him five or six positions on the track. He has been accused in the past of not having his head in the race come late in the season and today's incident seemed to illustrate the problem. Earnhardt is now 163 points behind 12th place Kurt Busch and a place in the Chase with three races to go before the final ten begins. If it had not been for the 100 point penalty for an unproved wing support, earlier in the year, he would be sitting in a better spot -- only 63 points out of the Chase. The Nextel Cup Series moves to Bristol Motor Speedway on this coming Saturday night for the Sharpie 500.
To read the full article...(Insider Racing News) For full final race results...(Insider Racing News) For top-40 Nextel Cup drivers points...(Insider Racing News)
Tryson Wins Crew Chief Award
With the extended two day rain delay for the running of the 3M Performance 400 at Michigan International Speedway, crew chiefs were required to wait patiently, recalculating and planning their strategies for the all important 400 mile race. For the No. 2 MillerLite Dodge crew chief, Pat Tryson, it was more than planning for the possibility of a rain affected shortened race, varying track conditions or a complete 200-lap event. Tryson needed to plan a race strategy, as well as, a points strategy, as his Penske Racing team sat 12th in the points standings, just inside the cut-off for the chase. His various strategies paid off, as a call to his driver, Kurt Busch, on lap 177 during the second last caution of the race to stay out and not pit, maintained his leader’s position, keeping Busch up front for the remainder of the race. For his calculated race strategy and race day calls, Tryson was awarded the WYPALL* Wipers Crew Chief of the Race. ...More
Rain At Michigan ~ 4 Updates ~ Will Race Tuesday
According to RaceWeather.net, the website is forecasting a 60% chance of rain in the Jackson, Michigan area (Michigan International Speedway) for Sunday and at this point, the outlook for Monday is calling for 60% chance of rain also. NASCAR has not called the race as of 10 a.m. Eastern time and will do everything possible to get it in on Sunday. The ramifications? If the race cannot be run on Sunday or Monday, then NASCAR would try for Tuesday, but that would be the last attempt. Some of the NASCAR crewmen and officials have to be in Bristol, Tennessee for a Craftsman Truck Series race on Wednesday. NASCAR spokesman, Ramsey Poston, said more than likely if the race is called, NASCAR would probably run the race at the end of the season, if at all. NASCAR did this a few years ago when a rainout occurred at New Hampshire International Speedway, before the "Chase" was implemented. How this would impact the Chase for the Championship would be the question at this point. NASCAR will explore all options before making a decision, including coming back to Michigan to race on the next Monday (August 27th). Stay tuned for further updates on the status of the 3M Performance 400 Nextel Cup Series race. ...Daily Headlines Update No. 1
NASCAR said they were not considering coming back on the 27th of August to run the race. At 1:30 p.m. NASCAR will take another look at the local radar decide then what the direction of the race will be. It has stopped raining at the track and eight jet dryers are on the track. Also pre-race activities are taking place and the driver introductions are expected to go as scheduled, at 1:30 p.m. Eastern time.
Update No. 2
NASCAR has postponed the 3M Performance 400 until 12:00 p.m., Eastern time on Monday, August 20th. The race will be carried live by ESPN2. The forecast is still not looking that great for Monday but NASCAR is commited to try and get this race in. All parking lots will open at 6:00 a.m. and grandstand gates will open at 8:00 a.m.. All Sunday tickets will be honored on Monday and MIS-operated campgrounds will allow campers to stay an extra day at no extra charge. Fans that are not camping but wish to stay in the area are welcomed to stay in their parked cars.
Update No. 3
At 3:00 p.m. Eastern time on Monday, rain is still falling at Michigan International Speedway. About 30 minutes ago NASCAR officials nearly had the track dry and ready to race when the rains returned, so the process began all over again. There looks to be a several hour window with clearing to the west of the track and as they did yesterday, NASCAR will do everything in it's power to get the race in. ESPN2 is saying that they will stay with the race until a decision is made to either run it or cancel it.
Update No. 4
Once again rain continued at Michigan International Speedway and NASCAR was forced to call off the race on Monday. Originally scheduled for noon today, track drying efforts continued for over four hours before NASCAR called it off. Weather permitting, the race is scheduled for 10 a.m. Eastern time on Tuesday. The race will be televised live on ESPN2.
Carl Edwards Atop Happy Hour Practice
Carl Edwards, who also led the second Nextel Cup practice at Michigan International Speedway, turned the quickest lap in Happy Hour practice with a lap of 38.429 seconds for a speed of 187.359 mph. Listed below are the top ten times and speeds. Full results link at the bottom.
Pos Car Driver Make Sponsor Speed Time Behind
1 99 Carl Edwards Ford Office Depot 187.359 38.429
2 11 Denny Hamlin Chevrolet FedEx Kinko's 186.911 38.521 -0.092
3 07 Clint Bowyer Chevrolet Jack Daniel's 186.780 38.548 -0.119
4 38 David Gilliland Ford M&M's 185.902 38.730 -0.301
5 16 Greg Biffle Ford 3M 185.735 38.765 -0.336
6 22 Dave Blaney Toyota Caterpillar 185.644 38.784 -0.355
7 24 Jeff Gordon Chevrolet DuPont 185.605 38.792 -0.363
8 48 Jimmie Johnson Chevrolet Lowe's 185.553 38.803 -0.374
9 31 Jeff Burton Chevrolet AT&T Mobility 185.428 38.829 -0.400
10 29 Kevin Harvick Chevrolet Shell/Pennzoil 184.957 38.928 -0.499
Jeff Gordon On Michigan Pole
First Kasey Kahne looked like he may have the car to beat for Sunday's 3M Performance 400 NASCAR Nextel Cup race at Michigan International Speedway, then Greg Biffle knocked Kahne from the top spot, only to be removed from that place by the last driver to make a qualifying run. That driver was Jeff Gordon, who turned a lap of 38.090 seconds around the 2-mile oval for a speed of 189.026 mph. The pole, the fifth at Michigan, was the 62nd of his Nextel Cup career and the sixth this season.
"Of course that late draw paid off big time for us as well, just like (Greg) Biffle stepped it up there right ahead of me," Gordon said. "I was able to do the same thing. I mean it didn't feel like a pole winning lap. I knew I was carrying good speed but I just felt like I needed to be in the throttle a lot harder than I was but it was a great lap."
Biffle will start on the outside pole with Kahne holding on for third and in a rare run, Bobby Labonte posted the fourth fastest speed. Elliott Sadler rolls off in fifth followed by Kyle Busch, Jimmie Johnson, Denny Hamlin, Clint Bowyer and Mark Martin to round out the top ten.
Dale Earnhardt Jr., who desperately needed a decent time in qualifying and an even better finish in the race, could only muster up a 39th place starting spot. With only four races left before the Nextel Cup Chase for the Championship starts, Earnhardt could be in serious trouble. Five drivers failed to qualify, Jeremy Mayfield, Dale Jarrett, Scott Wimmer, Kevin Lepage and A.J. Allmendinger.
For Full Starting Lineup...(Insider Racing News)
Crew Chiefs Return From Suspension
Hendrick Motorsports crew chiefs Steve Letarte, for Jeff Gordon (No. 24) and Chad Knaus, for Jimmie Johnson (No. 48), return to the track this week at Michigan International Speedway. Both were suspended for six weeks by NASCAR for infractions discovered on the new car bodies at Infineon Raceway in June. Ron Malec filled in for Knaus and Jeff Meendering took over duties on Gordon's car and filled in for Steve Letarte. Gordon has said that "Meendering did a tremendous job filling in for Steve, but it'll be great to have Steve back," Gordon said. "I've been impressed with Steve's ability to call a race, and he has given me great cars this year."
Last Year's Race
During last year’s race on Sunday, Aug. 20 at MIS, Roush Fenway Racing driver Matt Kenseth held off hard-charging, and two time NEXTEL Cup Series MIS race winner, Jeff Gordon to become a two-time winner at MIS in the NEXTEL Cup Series as well. The 200-lap race started with Jeff Burton on the pole, but he failed to lead one lap and ended up finishing 42nd due to engine failure. Eleven drivers led throughout the race, with Kenseth leading the most laps at 87. In the closing laps of the 400-mile event, things started to look grim for the 2003 NEXTEL Cup Series champion as Gordon was able to cut a two-second lead down to only eight car lengths, or .622 seconds, in a little over 10 laps, but Kenseth was able to prevail and capture his 13th career win. The race experienced a record setting 10 cautions, which slowed the field for a total of 36 laps.
Celebrating The '57 Chevrolet
Sunday at Michigan International Speedway it will be NASCAR Nextel Cup Series racing as usual - but a closer look at some competitors' cars will reveal a look back in time some 50 years. Eleven Team Chevy drivers will be commemorating the 50th anniversary of the '57 Chevy by sporting cues from the iconic 50-year-old design on their race cars. Additionally for fans, Motorsports Authentics is offering die-cast models, apparel and novelty items at MIS and the Woodward Dream Cruise, both of which take place this weekend.
"NASCAR is a part of Chevy's heritage and bringing the '57 Chevy back to the track - in spirit - is a unique way to celebrate 50 years of this legendary car," said Jeff Chew, marketing manager for Chevy Racing. "With a history of successful NASCAR competition, the '57 Chevy is no stranger to racing so it simply made sense to commemorate it in this way. And with the classic car's design cues combined with the aggressive form of the Monte Carlo SS, heritage and performance - both key characteristics of the Chevrolet brand - are highlighted."
Jeff Gordon Says: I'll Make It Up
“I told the guys last time that I’d make it up to them, and I plan on doing that again.” Last Sunday at Watkins Glen International, Jeff Gordon spun from the lead with less than two laps remaining. Although he recovered to finish ninth – scoring Team DuPont’s 20th top-10 in 22 races this season – and earned the first berth in the 2007 edition of the Chase for the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup, the four-time NASCAR Cup Series champion vowed to make it up to the team. It is not the first time he has made that promise to the No. 24 team. Earlier this year at Texas, Gordon was leading and looking for his first win at the 1.5-mile track when he hit the turn 4 wall with less than 25 laps remaining. He finished fourth but promised the team that he “would make it up to them.” And how did he do that? By winning his 76th career race the following week at Phoenix. And by winning again the next week at Talladega Superspeedway. In fact, he won three of the next four races following Texas.
“Obviously, I was very disappointed following the race,” Gordon said. “We were terrible during Saturday’s practice at The Glen, but the guys on the DuPont team gave me a great car and made some great calls in the pits during the race. “I wanted that win and pushed, but I pushed too hard. The team deserved the win and the driver didn’t deliver. “It’s like what happened at Texas earlier this year when I brushed the wall. I was disappointed after that race just like I was at Watkins Glen.” (more) -2- This week’s 3M Performance 400 at Michigan International Speedway marks the return of crew chief Steve Letarte, but the No. 24 team has not missed a beat in his six-race absence. In those six races, Gordon posted top-10 finishes in each of them – including four top-fives – and accumulated more points than any other driver, increasing his lead in the point standings by 173. “Jeff Meendering did a tremendous job filling in for Steve, but it’ll be great to have Steve back,” Gordon said. “I’ve been impressed with Steve’s ability to call a race, and he has given me great cars this year.” In 29 starts at Michigan, Gordon has two victories, four poles, 15 top-fives and 20 top- 10's. With a berth in the Chase secure and the seeding in it based on number of victories, expect Gordon to go all out for the victory. “It’s all about wins right now,” Gordon said. “We want to get as many bonus points as we can before the Chase starts.” “Essentially, second place pays the same amount of points for us the next four races that last place does – nothing.”
Michigan Notebook Items
Contemporary blues musician Jimmie Vaughan will perform a guitar rendition of the national anthem prior to the 3M Performance 400. Vaughan’s a good fit; the former Fabulous Thunderbirds member is also a noted designer of classic and custom cars, with his work featured in publications such as Rod & Custom, Rodder's Journal, and Custom Rodder. His first restoration was a 1951 Chevrolet Fleetwood.
Ricky Rudd (No. 88 Snickers Ford) is slated to make his 60th MIS start on Sunday, extending his all-time series lead in that category. Rudd has completed 10,408 laps at MIS, also an all-time best.
Bill Elliott also has two all-time Michigan records, for top-10 finishes (29) and lead-lap finishes (30), sharing the latter mark with Mark Martin (No. 01 U.S. Army Chevrolet).
David Stremme (No. 40 CGRFS Dodge) will return to his hometown of South Bend, Ind. on Tues., Aug. 21 for “David Stremme Day” as proclaimed by South Bend Mayor Stephen J. Luecke. Stremme will take part in a fan-friendly event at the Century Center in downtown South Bend from 5-9 p.m. The event will also raise funds for “Coaches Vs. Cancer,” headed locally by Notre Dame Basketball coach Mike Brey, as well as St. Jude’s Children's Hospital.
Michigan Cup History
Michigan International Speedway has hosted a NASCAR race every year since 1969. The 3M Performance 400 will be the 77th NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series race at MIS.
Roush Fenway Racing has won six of the last 11 NASCAR NEXTEL Cup races at MIS (Carl Edwards 6/07; Matt Kenseth 8/06; Greg Biffle 6/05, 8/04; Kurt Busch 6/03; Kenseth 6/02). If one of the five Roush Fenway drivers wins the 3M Performance 400, the team will tie the Wood Brothers for the most NEXTEL Cup Series wins on the two-mile oval at 11.
Jack Roush has won a NEXTEL Cup Series race at MIS six years straight (2002 – 2007), something that no other car owner has ever done in the 38 years the series has been visiting the Irish Hills, although the Wood Brothers came close with a five year run (1972 – 1976) with driver David Pearson.
The pole position has been the most productive starting position at MIS in NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series competition, producing 15 race winners in 76 total races. Kasey Kahne’s victory in the 3M Performance 400 in June 2006 came from the pole.
The winner of the August event at MIS has gone on to win the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup championship five times since the track’s inaugural NASCAR race in 1969. The short list includes David Pearson (1969) Richard Petty (1975 & 1979), Rusty Wallace (1989), and most recently, Jeff Gordon (1998). Gordon has won at MIS two times, once in August and once in June (2001), both years he went on to win the championship.
Recently, Ford and Dodge have combined to win the last 12 NEXTEL Cup races at MIS. Ford has taken seven checkered flags, with Dodge taking five since June 2001. Jeff Gordon’s win in 2001 was the last time a Chevrolet went to Victory Lane at MIS.
Although Carl Edwards won June’s Citizens Bank 400 in a Ford, seven Chevrolets finished in the top 10, the most since June of 1984 when seven Chevrolets finished in the top 10 as well. The August race which followed in 1984 was won by a Chevrolet, the Budweiser Chevrolet driven by Darrell Waltrip. If history repeats itself, Dale Earnhardt Jr., driver of the No. 8 Budweiser Chevrolet, could capture his first NASCAR NEXTEL Cup win at MIS in the 3M Performance 400. In his last three NEXTEL Cup races here Earnhardt Jr. hasn’t finished worse than sixth. NASCAR’s most popular driver has visited Gatorade Victory Lane at MIS twice in the Busch Series, once in 1999 and most recently in last year’s CARFAX 250.
Last year, Reed Sorenson became just the second NEXTEL Cup rookie in the past 10 years torecord top-10 finishes in both Cup races at MIS in the same season. He finished fifth in June and eighth in August. In the first race at MIS of his sophomore season, Sorenson finished 23rd and two laps down.
Ernie Irvan Will Lead Charity Walk
The Brain Injury Association of Michigan (BIAMI) and Ernie Irvan’s non-profit organization Race2Safety will hold the third annual LAPS Walk, presented by AAA and endorsed by NASCAR, on August 16 at Michigan International Speedway (MIS) in Brooklyn. Irvan, fellow NASCAR celebrities, members of the American military, NASCAR fans and Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) survivors will unite on the track in the quest to conquer TBI in America. NASCAR celebrities scheduled to appear include Irvan’s former crew chief Larry McReynolds, Jeff Hammond of SPEED Channel, and NASCAR legend Bobby Allison and former NASCAR driver Jerry Nadeau. Current drivers are expected to commit in the next few days.
To expand upon LAPS Walk’s focus of transportation and helmet-related safety, this year’s event will honor our American military with a portion of the funds raised helping provide support for returning veterans with TBIs. Two-thirds of American service personnel wounded in Iraq and Afghanistan sustain TBIs, and many returning veterans will participate in LAPS Walk
The Michigan Army National Guard will have a strong presence trackside, with activities including an obstacle course and rock-climbing wall, display of military hardware and a fly-in by Blackhawk and Chinook helicopters. A Tribute Lap prior to the start of the walk will include AAA-branded Miller Industry tow trucks driving beside the LAPS Walk pace car and military vehicles to honor those who have sustained TBIs. Additional elements of LAPS Walk will include a live musical performance by country singer and TBI activist Christi Bauerlee, and the announcement of prizes for LAPS Walk’s top fundraisers. LAPS Walk on-site registration and activities will begin at 8:00 a.m., opening ceremonies will begin at 10:30 a.m., and the walk will start at 11:15 a.m.
ESPN Covers The Race This Week
The NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series visits the 2-mile Michigan International Speedway this weekend for Sunday’s 400-mile race. ESPN will have live coverage from the Brooklyn, Mich., oval beginning at 1 p.m. ET with the pre-race NASCAR Countdown program. ESPN, which has televised more NASCAR Cup races than any other network, and ABC will have live coverage of the final 17 races of the 2007 season, including all 10 races in the Chase for the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup on ABC.
Dr. Jerry Punch will handle play-by-play for the Michigan race, joined in the booth for expert analysis by 1989 NASCAR Cup champion Rusty Wallace and two-time NASCAR champion crew chief Andy Petree. Five of Wallace’s 55 career wins as a driver came at MIS. Pit reporters will be Allen Bestwick, Dave Burns, Jamie Little and Mike Massaro. Two-time NASCAR champion crew chief Tim Brewer will report from the ESPN DISH Tech Center. ESPN’s Suzy Kolber will host NASCAR Countdown at MIS, joined by analyst Brad Daugherty, a former winning team owner in NASCAR’s Busch and Truck series, in the ESPN Pit Studio.
Rookie News
Paul Menard was the Raybestos® Rookie of the Race in the August 12 Centurion Boats at The Glen, scoring a 19th-place finish. Menard took top rookie honors for the fourth time this season.
Juan Pablo Montoya leads David Ragan by 25 points (212-187) in the Raybestos® Rookie standings entering the August 19 3M Performance 400 at Michigan International Speedway.
Montoya is 19th in the NEXTEL Cup Series championship standings, best of any Raybestos® Rookie.
A Raybestos® Rookie has won at least one race in each of the past three consecutive seasons.
The most Raybestos® Rookies to lead an August race at Michigan is FOUR in 2004.
Reed Sorenson was the Raybestos® Rookie of the Race in the 2006 GFS Marketplace 400, posting an eighth-place finish.
DID YOU KNOW? The best finish by a Raybestos® Rookie in the August race at Michigan (since 1975) is a third place effort by Tony Stewart in 1999.
DID YOU KNOW? Since 1975, Davey Allison is the only Raybestos® Rookie to win the pole position for the August race at Michigan. Allison captured the top starting spot for the 1987 race.
DID YOU KNOW? A Raybestos® Rookie has led at least one lap in each of the past EIGHT CONSECUTIVE August races at Michigan:
Rookie Point Standings
DRIVER POINTS
Juan Pablo Montoya 152
David Ragan 146
Paul Menard 93
David Reutimann 82
AJ Allmendinger 64
Brandon Whitt 2
(Insider Racing News)
