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POINT STANDINGS | CUP SERIES
With just 3 races until the chase, after Michigan
10 Tony Stewart
9 Dale Earnhardt Jr.
8 Kurt Busch
7 Ryan Newman
6 Jeff Gordon
5 Matt Kenseth
4 Carl Edwards falls two spots from his blown motor
3 Kevin Harvick
2 Jimmie Johnson
1 Kyle Busch leads the points by 10, and clinches his spot in the chase

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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”