Matt Kenseth dominated the Pure Michigan 400 from the start to the finish at Michigan International Speedway to win his third NASCAR Sprint Cup race of the 2015 season.

Matt started from the pole position in the 400 mile race that saw the first of eight caution periods before the field completed the first lap. The new high drag package caused many to have issues with handling in traffic through the entire race. The early caution periods (including a competition caution at lap 22) allowed many crew chiefs try some aggressive strategies to try to get their driver in position to win the race at the end.

One of those strategies allowed Austin Dillon, who had to start from the back of the field, to lead 19 of the 200 laps. However, Austin would only be able to transform that aggressive plan to a top five finish and not a win.

Matt and his team was able to completely embrace the high drag package and thrive with it. Matt had his #20 Toyota at the front of the field for nearly two-thirds of the race leading a race high 146 laps. The Joe Gibbs Racing (JGR) driver remained the top car through the final 25 laps of the race to claim his third Sprint Cup win at Michigan and his third of the 2015 NASCAR Sprint Cup season. The win also continues JGR’s recent domination marking the sixth trip to Victory Lane in the last eight races for the racing team.

Kevin Harvick made a charge to challenge Matt near the end of the race, but he was only able to claim the runner-up finish. Martin Truex Jr. came across the finish line in third place with Austin Dillon claiming fourth place. Matt’s JGR Teammate Denny Hamlin rounded out the top five. See the complete race results for the Pure Michigan 400 here.

The win moves Matt up to the third seed on the Chase Grid. That move also shifts some of the other positions on the Chase Grid. Kyle Busch finished the race in 11th place which improved his place in the point standings, but does not move him out of danger of being removed from the grid. Kyle is now in 29th place in points. However, he is only 23 points above 31st place. That still leaves him vulnerable to slip out of the top 30 in the point standings and not qualifying for the Chase even with his four wins.

See the complete NASCAR Sprint Cup point standings here.

You can see what the Chase Grid looks like following the NASCAR race at Michigan here.

There are only three races remaining in the regular season before the NASCAR Chase Grid is set. The drivers near the bottom of the Chase Grid without a win will be feeling the pressure more and more with each race. The drivers just off the Chase Grid will also be feeling the need to perform and likely win in order to make the Chase. That should make for some very exciting races over the next few weeks.

The next chance the NASCAR Sprint Cup drivers will get to secure their spot on the Chase Grid will be Saturday night August 22nd when the Sprint Cup series goes short trackin’ under the lights of Bristol Motor Speedway in the Irwin Tools Night race.

By: Buck Stevens