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By Reid Spencer
Sporting News NASCAR Wire Service

(August 21, 2011)

BROOKLYN, Mich.—Michigan finally unrolled the welcome mat for Kyle Busch, the first official member of the 2011 Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup.

Busch got his first Sprint Cup Series victory at Michigan International Speedway in his 14th start at the 2.0-mile track, holding off Jimmie Johnson in a green-white-checkered-flag finish to win Sunday’s Pure Michigan 400.

Busch beat Johnson to the finish line by .568 seconds to claim his series-best fourth victory of the season and the 23rd of his career. Busch kept Johnson winless at Michigan, one of five active tracks on the Cup circuit where the five-time champion hasn’t been to victory lane.

Brad Keselowski continued his recent surge with a third-place run, followed by Mark Martin and Ryan Newman. Jeff Gordon, Kasey Kahne, Clint Bowyer, Tony Stewart and Matt Kenseth completed the top 10.

Continue reading “Michigan Race Recap – Kyle Busch Wins, Clinches Chase Spot”

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RACE RECAP | MICHIGAN
10 Matt Kenseth
9 Tony Stewart
8 Clint Bowyer
7 Kasey Kahne
6 Jeff Gordon 22,000 career laps led
5 Ryan Newman
4 Mark Martin
3 Brad Keselowski continues to run strong, 3rd straight top 3 finish
2 Jimmie Johnson moves to second in points

VICTORY LANE

1 Kyle Busch wins his 4th race this season and first ever Cup Series victory at Michigan. Kyle also clinches his spot in the Chase

Continue reading “Michigan Quick Cap – Kyle Busch Wins 4th of 2011”

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Four Drivers May Lock Up Chase Spots This Weekend

This is usually the time drivers start to gobble up Chase spots.

Four drivers can clinch this weekend at Michigan. Leaving this weekend, to officially clinch a spot in the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup, a driver has to have a 145-point lead over 11th place.

Those who can mathematically clinch this weekend: Kyle Busch, Carl Edwards, Jimmie Johnson, Kevin Harvick. Busch and Edwards are currently 118 points ahead of 11th. Johnson is 112 and Harvick is 104.

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Keselowski, Hamlin Remain In Wild Card Spots

Brad Keselowski and Denny Hamlin both came into the weekend holding coveted Wild Card positions. They remain holding them after vastly different races at Watkins Glen.

Keselowski, who returns to his home track of Michigan this weekend, finished second, again fighting through a broken left ankle.

Hamlin struggled, finishing 36th after a late-race wreck. Hamlin has won two of the last three races at Michigan.

Also keep an eye on Paul Menard. A winner at Indianapolis, Menard now sits 15th in points.

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Where The Wild Things Are: Outside The Top 10

At first glance, making the Chase looks easier in 2011. This season, there are two ways to make it happen – land in the top 10 after race No. 26, or win and snag one of the two wild card spots.

Neither has proven as easy as it looks.

Cracking the top 10 has always been difficult and this year is no different. Just ask Denny Hamlin, Clint Bowyer, Greg Biffle and Jeff Burton – perennial championship candidates, all of whom are currently outside the top 10 in points.

But it just might be the Wild Card battle that’s fiercest of them all. There are now four drivers between spots 11 and 20 with wins…

Continue reading “NASCAR Chase Wild Card Battle Heats Up”