NEWS & ANALYSIS NASCAR Edwards' Returns?
Matt Tuck
Contributing Editor
Michigan International Speedway is a fast track that most drivers enjoy. It not only takes skill behind the wheel, but the entire crew has to do its part in order to win in Brooklyn where pit strategy, fuel mileage, engine strength and driver talent all have to combine for one powerful race.
The green flag laps stretch out and that means that fast, efficient pit stops can keep a driver in contention. Many times, a Michigan race ends in a fuel mileage gamble. Even last June's race saw a few frontrunners falling off the pace when they had to pit for fuel. Carl Edwards had the total package, and he was the last man standing.
Then, as soon as this race is over, the series rolls back onto the sister track of California Speedway in a couple of weeks for another two-mile contest, so the experience from this week is going to serve drivers well who are looking for a little momentum.
Favorites
The drivers already have one race each at California and Michigan under their belts, so fantasy owners will have a good indication about who will be at the front of the pack.
Edwards did everything right when last the series stopped at Michigan. Not only did he have the best car in the field, but he also got great fuel mileage. That ushered him to his first win on a two-mile unrestricted, intermediate speedway. While he had not won there before, he had been stellar all the same. The victory is one of eight top-fives and 10 top-10s for his career at California and Michigan.
No one has more momentum than Tony Stewart this week. He has three wins in the last four races after taking the checkered flags at Chicagoland Speedway, Indianapolis Motor Speedway and Watkins Glen International, and has been tough on the two-mile unrestricted, intermediate speedways. Since 2005, he has five top-fives and seven top-10s between Michigan and California, including a third at Brooklyn in June.
Dark Horses
Picking the dark horses this week is more about who runs well at Michigan rather than who has been hot lately. This is a rhythm track and drivers tend to string together several good runs, even if they struggle at other places.
Greg Biffle has always been a force at Michigan. He won back-to-back races there between August 2004 and June 2005 and has since earned three more top-10s. He has not looked overly strong on the two-milers this year, but there is always the potential for a good run in Brooklyn. At times, the No. 16 Ford has had a top-10 car only to run into bad luck, which shows he is not washed up just yet. Keep an eye on his practice numbers this weekend and if they are in the top 10, that is probably where he will finish.
Dale Earnhardt Inc. (DEI) has been much improved on the two-mile unrestricted, intermediate speedways in the past year. Earlier this season, Martin Truex Jr. and Dale Earnhardt Jr. both finished in the top-five at Michigan and Paul Menard earned a 12th-place finish. That makes Menard three-for-three in terms of top-20s at Michigan and California. He picked up a 20th at Indy three races ago, which shows that he has been moving up lately and now that he doesn't have to worry about qualification after the DEI/Ginn merger, he can concentrate on race trim.
Avoidance Principal
Reed Sorenson's first two starts at Michigan gave him an eighth and a fifth last year. For many fantasy owners, that would make him a dark horse if not a favorite. However, he has not looked so great on the two-milers this year. He was 43rd at California in February, then 23rd at Michigan. He did not look like a contender for a top-10 in either of those races and there is not much to suggest that he will turn things around this week.
Jamie McMurray picked up an eighth at Michigan earlier this summer, and three races later, he earned a win at Daytona International Speedway. Since then, he has been cold. The No. 26 Ford driver has had nothing better than a 33rd in the last three races on the ovals following the win. What makes things worse is that his eighth at Brooklyn was his first top-10 in his last four starts on the two-mile unrestricted, intermediate speedways. Typically Roush Racing runs extremely well on this type of track, but that has not helped McMurray so far.
Matt Tuck
Contributing Editor
Michigan International Speedway is a fast track that most drivers enjoy. It not only takes skill behind the wheel, but the entire crew has to do its part in order to win in Brooklyn where pit strategy, fuel mileage, engine strength and driver talent all have to combine for one powerful race.
The green flag laps stretch out and that means that fast, efficient pit stops can keep a driver in contention. Many times, a Michigan race ends in a fuel mileage gamble. Even last June's race saw a few frontrunners falling off the pace when they had to pit for fuel. Carl Edwards had the total package, and he was the last man standing.
Then, as soon as this race is over, the series rolls back onto the sister track of California Speedway in a couple of weeks for another two-mile contest, so the experience from this week is going to serve drivers well who are looking for a little momentum.
Favorites
The drivers already have one race each at California and Michigan under their belts, so fantasy owners will have a good indication about who will be at the front of the pack.
Edwards did everything right when last the series stopped at Michigan. Not only did he have the best car in the field, but he also got great fuel mileage. That ushered him to his first win on a two-mile unrestricted, intermediate speedway. While he had not won there before, he had been stellar all the same. The victory is one of eight top-fives and 10 top-10s for his career at California and Michigan.
No one has more momentum than Tony Stewart this week. He has three wins in the last four races after taking the checkered flags at Chicagoland Speedway, Indianapolis Motor Speedway and Watkins Glen International, and has been tough on the two-mile unrestricted, intermediate speedways. Since 2005, he has five top-fives and seven top-10s between Michigan and California, including a third at Brooklyn in June.
Dark Horses
Picking the dark horses this week is more about who runs well at Michigan rather than who has been hot lately. This is a rhythm track and drivers tend to string together several good runs, even if they struggle at other places.
Greg Biffle has always been a force at Michigan. He won back-to-back races there between August 2004 and June 2005 and has since earned three more top-10s. He has not looked overly strong on the two-milers this year, but there is always the potential for a good run in Brooklyn. At times, the No. 16 Ford has had a top-10 car only to run into bad luck, which shows he is not washed up just yet. Keep an eye on his practice numbers this weekend and if they are in the top 10, that is probably where he will finish.
Dale Earnhardt Inc. (DEI) has been much improved on the two-mile unrestricted, intermediate speedways in the past year. Earlier this season, Martin Truex Jr. and Dale Earnhardt Jr. both finished in the top-five at Michigan and Paul Menard earned a 12th-place finish. That makes Menard three-for-three in terms of top-20s at Michigan and California. He picked up a 20th at Indy three races ago, which shows that he has been moving up lately and now that he doesn't have to worry about qualification after the DEI/Ginn merger, he can concentrate on race trim.
Avoidance Principal
Reed Sorenson's first two starts at Michigan gave him an eighth and a fifth last year. For many fantasy owners, that would make him a dark horse if not a favorite. However, he has not looked so great on the two-milers this year. He was 43rd at California in February, then 23rd at Michigan. He did not look like a contender for a top-10 in either of those races and there is not much to suggest that he will turn things around this week.
Jamie McMurray picked up an eighth at Michigan earlier this summer, and three races later, he earned a win at Daytona International Speedway. Since then, he has been cold. The No. 26 Ford driver has had nothing better than a 33rd in the last three races on the ovals following the win. What makes things worse is that his eighth at Brooklyn was his first top-10 in his last four starts on the two-mile unrestricted, intermediate speedways. Typically Roush Racing runs extremely well on this type of track, but that has not helped McMurray so far.
