Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series at Michigan - Consumers Energy 400 Preview

brospn (60)in #sports • 6 years ago

Consumers Energy 400

Michigan International Speedway - Brooklyn, MI
Sunday August 12, 2:30 p.m. Eastern Time on NBCSN
2 Mile D-shaped Oval
Weather: Mostly Sunny, 81°F

Previous Five Winners and Pole Sitters

Race	Race Winner	Pole Sitter
Spring 2018	Clint Bowyer	Kurt busch
Summer 2017	Kye Larson	Brad Keselowski
Spring 2017	Kyle Larson	Kyle Larson
Summer 2016	Kyle Larson	Joey Logano
Spring 2016	Joey Logano	Joey Logano

The Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series returns to the Wolverine State Sunday with the Consumers Energy 400 at Michigan International Speedway. A total of 40 cars are scheduled to enter the event. Is it possible someone other than the Big Three can win again this week and punch their ticket for The Chase at the fastest track in NASCAR?

The Favorite

Michigan International Speedway is generally the fastest track in NASCAR because of its wide layout and long straightaways. Horsepower is the key to winning this race. No racing team has showcased more horsepower this season than Stewart-Haas Racing, especially its top gun Kevin Harvick.

Harvick led the most laps in the June race, but was forced to settle for a second place finish when rain shortened the event by 67 laps. That's nothing new for Harvick, he has six runner-up finishes in the last eleven Michigan races. Harvick has only one career win at Michigan in 35 career starts, it came back in 2010. He's been knocking on the door of this track quite a bit lately, Sunday could very well be the day he finally kicks it in.

Other Drivers to Watch

Harvick wasn't the only Stewart-Haas Racing driver to have a big day back in June, Clint Bowyer used pit strategy to take advantage of Mother Nature for the win and Kurt Busch claimed the pole before coming home in third place. Busch should be considered the stronger of the two drivers this week. He has three career victories at Michigan, the most recent coming in 2015. Since then he has finished in the top-twelve in six out of seven races here. The veteran driver is well aware of what it takes to win at Michigan.

"The biggest thing about Michigan is respecting the speed," Busch said. "It’s a very fast racetrack."

Kyle Larson had a disappointing race back in June, a spinout damaged his front splitter and led to a 28th place finish. Before that he had won the three previous races at Michigan. He has led laps in his last five races here and will be a serious contender for the checkered flag if he can avoid another track mishap.

Kyle Busch has only one win at Michigan, which came in 2011. No matter, Busch is on a tremendous roll this season and is a threat to win everywhere. If you throw out his crash at the mess known as Daytona, he has finished in the top-five in nine consecutive races. Included in that streak is a fourth place finish here back in June. Busch is edging closer to wrapping up the regular season drivers championship and will keep the pedal down to sew the title up.

Chase Elliott finally shook the monkey of his back last week by winning his first career Cup Series race at Watkins Glen. He will ride that momentum into Michigan this week, one of the strongest tracks in his short NASCAR career. He has finished ninth or better in all five of his career starts, including three runner-up finishes.

"It's been a good place, no doubt; I won't deny that," said Elliott. "I was really encouraged when we left Pocono in the spring race that we were going to be able to go to Michigan and be really solid again, and we went there and really struggled. I think that'll be kind of a testament to really see where we stack up and where our gains have got us because at that racetrack, the driver certainly is a big deal everywhere, but you've got to have your stuff driving good to be good at Michigan. I think we've gotten better, so I hope that we're improved, and we'll see where we stack up."

Being a member of the Big Three in good standing, Martin Truex Jr. has to be watched out for every week. That being said, Michigan has not been a good track for him. In 25 career starts he has zero wins and only six top-five finishes. He did however finish in second place last year in this race.

News Around the Track

NASCAR Chairman and CEO Brian France was arrested last Sunday following the race at Watkins Glen in the Hamptons. France was pulled over by Sag Harbor police for failing to stop at an intersection. According to police reports, he smelled of booze and was slurring his speech. He was found to have a blood alcohol content more than twice the legal limit. A search of his vehicle resulted in officers finding five oxycodone pills. France spent the night in jail and was officially charged with driving while intoxicated and criminal possession of oxycodone.

On Monday France announced he was taking an indefinite leave of absence to "focus on my personal affairs."

"I apologize to our fans, our industry and my family for the impact of my actions last night,'" France said.

France's uncle Jim France, a NASCAR vice-chairman and executive vice-president, will take over the roles of CEO and Chairman on an interim basis. NASCAR the organization said it takes his arrest "as a serious matter and will issue a statement after we have all of the facts."

I'm not sure what "facts" they are waiting to receive. Sponsorships are becoming harder to acquire for NASCAR and incidents like this certainly won't help the situation.