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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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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.