Michigan Is Biffle’s Best Shot
Although he ranks 12th in the series in points (645), the No. 16 3M Ford Fusion driver sits 17th in the Chase Grid Outlook, on the outside looking in, with just four races left before the postseason, because he has yet to record a victory.
“We feel like we can win one of these last four races, so that’s what we’re focusing on is winning one of these last four and getting our way into the Chase that way,” Biffle said, heading into this Sunday’s race at Michigan.
“But certainly we’re hanging on by a shoestring to make it in on points if it comes down to that.”
A wild ride of off-the-track developments further adds to the pressure. Biffle must carry the weight of proving he could be Roush Fenway Racing’s No. 1 driver after the departure of Carl Edwards at the end of the season.
Luckily, Biffle gets a shot to go for victory at Michigan this week, a track where he has won a career-best four times, including two of the last four races. He boasts ten top-five finishes in 23 Sprint Cup Series starts there in addition to two Camping World Truck Series wins. Additionally, Biffle owns the series-best average running place (8.9) and driver rating (107.8) there.
And, oh by the way, those four Sprint Cup wins … that more than any active driver.
“I cannot wait to get there,” Biffle said. “Do I think we’re going to have the fastest car? I’m hoping we’re close, but we’re definitely — I feel like we’re going to be running in the top-ten.”
Last year at Michigan, Biffle notched the 1,000th NASCAR win for Ford in its own backyard on Father’s Day and had his daughter there for her first victory lane.
Coinciding with Biffle’s triumphs is Roush Fenway’s overall success at Michigan. Since Jack Roush entered NASCAR in 1988, RFR has accumulated a track-record 13 Sprint Cup checkered flags with five different drivers: (Biffle, four; Mark Martin, four; Edwards, two; Matt Kenseth, two; and Kurt Busch, one) at the D-shaped speedway in the scenic Irish Hills area of southeastern Michigan.
“It’s just been one of those racetracks like Homestead or Darlington for us that I really like,” said Biffle of RFR’s success at Michigan. “I like the layout. I love the way it races, and we’ve just been super successful there.”
Four To Go: Time To Get Going For Those Without Wins
AJ Allmendinger’s startling victory at Watkins Glen International swiped a precious spot in the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup. Though he has yet to “officially” clinch, his win pretty much locked up a berth. (More on that later.)
So now, there are 12 different winners – all of whom will likely make the 16-driver Chase Grid. So that leaves four spots. And, neatly, there are four races remaining in the media center.
So this could get interesting.
What makes the storyline juicier: The names on the winless list, many of whom are strong at the tracks remaining in the regular season.
First up, Michigan, where Greg Biffle is king (in detail above).
But some other winless drivers could steal a first win. For instance…
Kasey Kahne: It’s been awhile since Kahne triumphed at Michigan – 2006, when he won from the pole. Still, he’s shown flashes of brilliance, finishing in the top-ten in the last two races – including a fifth-place run in June.
Matt Kenseth: A two-time winner at Michigan, Kenseth’s last victory also came in 2006. Kenseth has climbed to third in the points standings, and is far and away the highest-ranked driver without a win (thanks to 14 top-tens in the 22 races this season). As long as the next four races aren’t won by four different first-timers, his spot seems secure. Still, a win would be nice.
Ryan Newman: Newman plummeted to ninth in the points standings thanks to an accident at Watkins Glen, but a race at Michigan could cure those ills. A two-time winner at MIS, Newman won back-to-back events in 2003-04.
Brian Vickers: Vickers scored three consecutive Coors Light Poles at Michigan from 2008-09, and won from the first starting spot in this race in 2009.
As was the case last week, those with one win in 2014 are NOT rooting against the names above. Here are the clinch scenarios for Sunday:
Dale Earnhardt Jr., Brad Keselowski, Jeff Gordon, Jimmie Johnson, Carl Edwards, Joey Logano and Kevin Harvick have clinched a spot in the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup, assuming they attempt to qualify for the remaining four races.
If there is a repeat 2014 winner this weekend, any driver with one win and a locked-up top 30 spot will clinch a spot in the Chase. Potentials: Kyle Busch, Denny Hamlin, Aric Almirola, Kurt Busch and AJ Allmendinger. To clinch a top-30 spot, the clinching driver needs to have 145 points than 31st place leaving Michigan.
If there is a new winner, one-win drivers could potentially clinch a spot. But there would still be the potential for 16 different winners, and a winless points leader – meaning a winner would be bounced from the Chase. So there are no guarantees here.
Because he is so high in the points, if Matt Kenseth wins, he would clinch a spot, even though it would be his first win. Other high-ranking winless drivers could potentially clinch with a win and help.
Get Out The Brooms: Johnson Looks To Sweep Michigan
After 24 tries, Jimmie Johnson shook the monkey off his back, outpacing pole-winner Kevin Harvick by 1.214 seconds to coast to his first victory in his 25th start at Michigan in June.
The six-time series champion logged his 69th win and only has four courses on the circuit left to triumph: Chicagoland Speedway, Homestead-Miami Speedway, Kentucky Speedway and Watkins Glen.
Those tracks will have to wait. This weekend, Johnson is making his attempt at being the first driver to sweep Michigan in 18 years since Bobby Labonte achieved the feat in 1995. Furthermore, a win at Michigan would mark the 13th sweep of his career.
Before Johnson thinks of pulling out the brooms though, he must overcome some recent struggles. Following a scorching stretch in which he won three-of-four races beginning with the Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway in May, he has failed to log a top-five finish since and has placed worse than 39th in three of his last five races. At Watkins Glen last weekend, Johnson finished 28th.
Despite his struggles, the No. 48 Lowe’s Chevrolet SS driver’s three wins put him in a three-way tie for first in the series. The six-time series champion has the sixth-highest driver rating (99.7) and the most laps led on the series (1,014).
“We have had some really bad luck these past few weeks. I’m looking forward to getting back on track this weekend. The team needs a good run and I really like the track in Michigan – it’s in Chevrolet’s back yard – and it would be nice to get a sweep.”
Scorching Earnhardt Looks To Pack On Bonus Points
Call it a comeback.
After a stretch of seasons many would consider sub par for a man 11 times named NASCAR’s most-popular driver,Dale Earnhardt Jr. has catapulted himself to the top of the standings in 2014.
The No. 88 Chevrolet driver is tied for the series lead with three wins, one more than he’s had in the last seven years. And he still has 14 races left this season.
Riding high at the moment, Earnhardt isn’t ready to discuss a potential championship.
“Man, you know, you just don’t want to start thinking too far ahead, said Earnhardt following his last victory at Pocono. “We got the tracks, and the cars, and the job we do, is so technical, you really got to approach it one day at a time to be able to do it right, and do it well. “
Don’t bet against Earnhardt taking another checkered flag in the four races leading to the Chase. Already locked in, Earnhardt can only benefit from the three postseason bonus points rewarded for each win during the regular season.
Following a stretch of eight top-ten finishes in ten races, including a sweep of Pocono, Earnhardt enters Sunday’s Pure Michigan 400 with as much momentum as any Cup driver.
“I feel pretty good going to Michigan,” Earnhardt said. “We ran well earlier this year and it is just an excellent race track. It really lends itself to a good motor – good power plant.”
Earnhardt’s track record at Michigan includes two victories (2008, ’12) and 11 top-tens. He has won the pole two times at the track and has the fifth-best driver rating (97.5) and average running position there on the series (12.6).
Also Noteworthy in the Sprint Cup Series
Testing Update: There will be a NASCAR Sprint Cup Series test at Michigan International Speedway on Monday, Aug. 18.
A number of teams are already preparing for the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup. On Monday and Tuesday, Aug. 25-26, five teams will test at Chicagoland Speedway, site of the first race in the Chase. Those testing: Stewart-Haas Racing, Roush Fenway Racing, Michael Waltrip Racing, Richard Petty Motorsports and Chip Ganassi Racing. On Tuesday and Wednesday, Aug. 26-27, Hendrick Motorsports will test at Martinsville Speedway, which hosts the seventh race in the Chase – and first in the third round.
Milestone Watch
Greg Biffle will be making his 750th NASCAR national series start (425 NSCS; 244 NNS; 81 NCWTS) this weekend at Michigan. Biffle is now tied with NASCAR Hall of Famer Rusty Wallace for 26th on the all-time list.
Entertainment
The United States ice dancing team of Meryl Davis and Charlie White will serve as the grand marshals for the Pure Michigan 400 on August 17 at Michigan International Speedway.
Pure Michigan announced the results of the Pure Michigan 400 honorary starter contest today, naming Lowell Broesamle (pronounced bray-zum-lee) of Munith, Michigan as the 2014 Pure Michigan 400 honorary starter. Broesamle will wave the green flag on Sunday.