There are only four races left before the NASCAR Chase Grid is set for 2015. That means the Sprint Cup drivers and teams will feel the pressure to perform in the Pure Michigan 400.
Sunday afternoon the drivers will race around the 2-mile Michigan International Speedway knowing that to make the Chase Grid they need to gain every point possible and may need to win to get into NASCAR’s post-season. The track has plenty of room to race two, three and four or more wide at speeds of around and over 200 mph.
However, that also means there is plenty of room to make mistakes and leave your Chase hopes crumpled up on the track with the wrecked car. Drivers will additionally need to make sure not to have their Chase hopes destroyed by being a part of another driver’s mistake.
It won’t be just the drivers feeling the pressure to perform, so will the pit crews. A mistake in the pits can result in many spots (and therefore points) lost on the track. With the fact that at least one spot on the Chase Grid will be filled by a driver without a 2015 win, the difference in being in the Chase or out of it can come down to just a single point.
Ten drivers have locked themselves into the Chase by having at least one win this year. All those drivers need to be on the Chase Grid is attempt to qualify for the remaining four regular season races and finish the regular season in the top 30 in points. (See the graphic for the Chase Grid heading into Michigan at the bottom of the page.)
Kyle Busch has four wins, but he is only six points above 31st place in points. That means if he slips back to 31st or lower in points this week he will be removed from the Chase Grid. Based on his performance since his return that is unlikely to happen. However, as mentioned above he could have a disastrous day at Michigan by no fault of his own by being caught up in another driver’s mistake.
With that basic outline of the importance of this week’s NASCAR race, let’s take a look at the top ten in driver rating at Michigan International Speedway.
#1 – Greg Biffle – 107.1 driver rating with 4 wins
#2 – Jimmie Johnson – 103.5 driver rating with 1 win
#3 – Matt Kenseth – 101.2 driver rating with 2 wins
#4 – Carl Edwards – 100.5 driver rating with 2 wins
#5 – Dale Earnhardt Jr. – 98.0 driver rating with 2 wins
#6 – Tony Stewart – 95.8 driver rating with 1 win
#7 – Jeff Gordon – 93.6 driver rating with 3 wins
#8 – Joey Logano – 91.8 driver rating with 1 win
#9 – Kevin Harvick – 90.2 driver rating with 1 win
#10 – Kurt Busch – 89.9 driver rating with 3 wins
Greg Biffle is the top rated driver and has the most wins among active drivers at Michigan. He is currently three spots off of the Chase Grid. Greg should not only be a favorite heading into the Pure Michigan 400, he will likely being looking at this as one of the best chances he has to get the win to jump onto the Chase Grid.
Jeff Gordon is currently on the Chase Grid based on points, but not guaranteed that spot since he has not won so far in the 2015 season. To secure his chance at one more championship before he exchanges a steering wheel for a microphone he needs to get a win. He is the defending winner of the 2014 Pure Michigan 400 and might be a favorite to repeat as the winner of the race this weekend.
Kurt Busch won the rained shortened Quicken Loans 400, the first 2015 Sprint Cup Michigan race, in June. He has locked his spot on the Chase Grid and could be a threat to sweep the 2015 Michigan races to improve his seed number and bonus points to start The Chase.
Although Hendrick Motorsports teams have seemed to have some issues as of late, a gut feeling tells me to make Kasey Kahne the dark horse pick for Michigan this week. Early in the season all the Hendrick cars were performing very well and Kasey was right there close to getting a win. I have little doubt that those four teams will right whatever has been wrong with their cars. My gut tells me that Kasey could be the driver that finds his way to win at Michigan for the second time in his career this week.
Of course this could turn into another fuel mileage race for NASCAR. Michigan has been won in that manner in previous years. However, with the pressure to win to get in for most and the desire to win for bonus points for those who are locked in the Chase I feel like there is a better likelihood that it will come down to racing hard to win this time.
I guess we will all see what story unfolds on the Michigan International Speedway Sunday, August 16th when the NASCAR Sprint Cup drivers chase the grid in the Pure Michigan 400 starting at 1:30pm central time.
By: Buck Stevens
