This weekend NASCAR will be having a Cup Series Doubleheader Weekend at Michigan International Speedway!
There are just six races left in the 2020 NASCAR Cup Series regular season. Two of those races will take place this weekend in the shadow of the “Motor City.” That makes this weekend very important to the drivers and teams.
There will be two chances to win a race and get in the post-season with the chance at the championship for the drivers without a win. There will be two chances to win the race for your manufacture and give them bragging rights in their own backyard. What are the unchanging data points the drivers and teams will be facing both days?
Michigan Intl. 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
Here are the data points for each race this weekend.
FireKeepers Casino 400 (Saturday)
Season Race #: 21 of 36 (08-08-20)
Race Length: 156 laps / 312 miles
Stage 1 Length: 40 laps
Stage 2 Length: 45 laps
Final Stage Length: 71 laps
Consumer Energy 400 (Sunday)
Season Race #: 22 of 36 (08-09-20)
Race Length: 156 laps / 312 miles
Stage 1 Length: 40 laps
Stage 2 Length: 45 laps
Final Stage Length: 71 laps
There are six spots available in the top sixteen for the Playoffs not currently filled by drivers with at least one win. That means it is possible that with six races left those spots could be filled by six new 2020 winners. That is possible, but not probable. Below is the NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs Outlook heading to the Michigan Doubleheader Weekend.
However, with drafting under high speeds at Michigan International Speedway, it is entirely possible that we could see two new winners this weekend. Here is a look at which active drivers perform well at the track.
Top 10 Michigan Active Driver Ratings
Chase Elliott …………………………. 100.4
Matt Kenseth ………………………….. 99.8
Kevin Harvick …………………………. 99.6
Joey Logano …………………………… 99.3
Brad Keselowski ……………………… 97.2
Jimmie Johnson. …………………….. 92.6
Ryan Blaney …………………………… 92.2
Kurt Busch ……………………………… 91.5
Denny Hamlin …………………………. 91.0
Kyle Busch …………………………….. 89.3
Note: Driver Ratings compiled from 2005-2019 races (30 total) among active drivers at Michigan International Speedway.
Since we are in the era of “Win and You’re In,” here is a look at active drivers who have previous NASCAR Cup Series wins at the track.
Active Drivers with Michigan Cup Series Win(s)
Kurt Busch – 3 Wins
Matt Kenseth – 3 Wins
Joey Logano – 3 Wins
Kevin Harvick – 3 Wins
Denny Hamlin – 2 Wins
Ryan Newman – 2 Wins
Clint Bowyer – 1 Win
Jimmie Johnson – 1 Win
Kyle Busch – 1 Win
Six out of the nine active drivers that have won at Michigan before have NOT won a race in 2020. Repeating as a winner at the track would clinch their spot in the post-season.
The three that have won at the track and won this year want to add to their Playoff Points total to have a bigger advantage in the post-season.
The drivers that have won in 2020, but not at Michigan International Speedway would like to mark that track off their bucket list and also add to their Playoff Points total.
The drivers that have not won in 2020 or at Michagan want to add two check marks to their list this weekend for tracks won at and clinch a Playoffs spot.
It all should make for a very interesting couple of races this weekend in the NASCAR Cup Series Doubleheader Weekend at Michigan International Speedway. The Firekeepers Casino 400 will get started Saturday, August 8th at 3 P.M. central time (4 P.M. eastern time). The Consumers Energy 400 will get started Sunday, August 9th at 3:30 P.M. central time (4:30 P.M. eastern time).
By: Buck Stevens
