Michigan was a drought-buster for Dale Earnhardt Jr. in June as the driver of the Hendrick Motorsports No. 88 Chevrolet snapped a winless streak of 143 races. Earnhardt is one of four drivers ranked in the top 10 entering Sunday’s race with multiple victories at the 2.0-mile superspeedway. Greg Biffle, Matt Kenseth and Denny Hamlin also have two victories apiece. Reigning NASCAR Sprint Cup champion Tony Stewart has won once as has Kevin Harvick, one of two drivers among the top 10 still winless this season.
Seven members of the current top 10 posted top-10 finishing positions in Michigan’s June race. Hamlin, winner in two of his past five Michigan starts, was 34th, the only top-10 member finishing worse than 13th. Hamlin slipped to 10th in points at Watkins Glen and has five finishes of 25th or worse since the series visited Michigan’s Irish Hills earlier this season.
