Dale Earnhardt Jr., the driver of the #88 Axalta Chevrolet, signs autographs during practice for the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Pure Michigan 400 at Michigan International Speedway on August 12, 2017, in Brooklyn, Michigan Photo – Brian Lawdermilk/Getty Images
This weekend marks the last time the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series’ most popular driver, Dale Earnhardt Jr., will compete in the series at Michigan International Speedway. Continue reading
Kasey Kahne, the driver of the #5 Liftmaster Chevrolet, stands in the garage area during practice for the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Pure Michigan 400 at Michigan International Speedway on August 12, 2017, in Brooklyn, Michigan. Photo – Brian Lawdermilk/Getty Images
Kasey Kahne’s job hunt started soon after it was announced that he would not return in 2018 to the No. 5 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet. Continue reading
Photo – Jonathan Ferrey/Getty Images
Matt DiBenedetto will return to the No. 32 Go Fas Racing Ford, he and team general manager Mason St. Hilaire announced on Saturday at Michigan International Speedway. Amid a flurry of silly season moves, this is the rare one that affords a driver and his team to build on consistency.
“Our business model, in the beginning, was be able to survive,” St. Hilaire said. “We had a revolving door of drivers for a long time, and it kept the doors open, and it kept people working, and I wouldn’t take it back for anything.”
Still, working with DiBenedetto and crew chief Gene Nead has given the team stability, and with that stability has come improvement. The team’s average finish this year (26.1) is more than six spots better than the team’s historical average.
The team has its first two top-tens this season–in the season opening Daytona 500 and the Brickyard 400.
“We had some little growing pains and had a couple little issues happen a few (races) in a row, but we’ve had that speed there all year and the more we go along, the more that we’re prepared and keep bringing better race cars to the racetrack,” DiBenedetto said.
Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series teams are revving up for the Pure Michigan 400 at Michigan International Speedway on Sunday, August 13th at 3 pm ET. Coverage begins at 2:30 pm ET on NBC Sports Network, MRN, and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio.
Drivers will race 400 miles over 200 laps with Stage 1 ending on lap 60, Stage 2 on lap 120, and the last Stage ending on the last lap 200. Continue reading