There are only four races left to get into NASCAR‘s playoffs counting the Consumer Energy 400 at Michigan International Speedway this weekend.
Last week Chase Elliott got his first ever Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series win in the race at Watkins Glen. That win locked him on the Chase Grid. However, it did not shake up the playoff picture too much since he was already above the cutoff line based on points. If another driver without a 2018 win who is below the cutoff line were to win this weekend it could change that post-season picture quite a bit. You can see what the 2018 NASCAR Cup Series Chase Grid looks like heading to Michigan at the bottom of the page.
The drivers that need that win as well as the ones who just want it (which means every driver on the track) will have to be fast and smart for 400 miles of racing around Michigan International Speedway. There is plenty of room to run around 200 mph and race side-by-side. If a driver makes a mistake or gets too aggressive while racing in packs, the result could be the multi-car style of crash that we call “the big one.”
Drivers will have to be smart getting on and off pit row to avoid penalties that could take them out of contention for the win. The crews will also need to be smart in making the right adjustments and fast servicing the cars. They will need to get them back out on the track without losing positions on the track that could also remove the driver from contention for the win.
Here’s a look at the data for the track and race this weekend.
Michigan International Speedway Data
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
Consumer Energy 400 Data
Season Race #: 23 of 36 (07-12-18)
Race Length: 200 laps / 400 miles
Stage 1 and 2 Length: 60 laps (each)
Final Stage Length: 80 laps
If you were wondering, below is a look at the active drivers that have performed the best at Michigan during the cup series careers.
Top 10 Driver Ratings at Michigan
Chase Elliott……………………….. 108.9
Matt Kenseth………………………… 99.8
Kyle Larson………………………….. 99.0
Joey Logano…………………………. 96.6
Jimmie Johnson…………………….. 96.4
Kevin Harvick……………………….. 96.2
William Byron……………………….. 95.5
Brad Keselowski……………………. 95.3
Erik Jones……………………………. 90.8
Kurt Busch…………………………… 90.4
Note: Driver Ratings compiled from 2005-2018 races (27 total) among active drivers at Michigan International Speedway.
Kyle Larson is one of three active drivers with three wins at Michigan International Speedway in NASCAR’s top division. Kyle’s three wins have come in the last four races at the track including this race last season.
Kurt Busch and Matt Kenseth are the other drivers with three Michigan wins on their resumes.
Denny Hamlin, Joey Logano and Ryan Newman have all made it to Victory Lane at the track twice.
Clint Bowyer claimed his first and only cup series win at Michigan earlier this season when the first race at the track was shortened by rain. Jimmie Johnson, Kasey Kahne, Kevin Harvick and Kyle Busch are the only other active drivers to have claimed a checkered flag from Michigan in the NASCAR Cup Series.
Will it be a repeat Michigan winner? Will it be a new Michigan winner? Will a previous 2018 winner add to their total for the season? Will a new 2018 winner emerge and change the playoff picture? Will “the big one” happen?
These and many more questions will be answered when the green flag waives to unleash the drivers in the Consumer Energy 400 at Michigan International Speedway starting at 1:30 PM central time (2:30 PM eastern time) Sunday, August 12th.
By: Buck Stevens
