NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Race Information, Links and News

THE RACE: Quicken Loans 400

TRACK: Michigan International Speedway

NASCAR Sprint Cup Race #15 of 36 for the 2012 season

Updated: often, leading up to the race

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Event Sched | Purse/Race Awards | TV / Re-airs | Radio
Practice/Qual Times | Rundown of Race/Results | Entry/Practice/Qualifying
Track/Race Info | Local Newspapers/TV | Local TV
Weather | Camping | Paint Schemes
Chassis | Goodyear Notes | Odds


Race: Sunday, June 17, 2012 in Brooklyn, MI

Title Sponsor: Quicken

Scheduled Green Flag (approx): 1:19pm/et


Television Coverage/Re-air/TV Team

  • NASCAR Pre-race: TNT - 12:00pm/et

  • Television Race Coverage: TNT, 1:00pm/et

  • In the Booth: Adam Alexander, Wally Dallenbach Jr., Kyle Petty

  • Pit Reporters: Matt Yocum, Marty Snider, Ralph Sheheen, Chris Neville

  • TNT's Pre-race show: Adam Alexander, Larry McReynolds, Kyle Petty

  • SPEED's NASCAR Raceday Pre-Race Show: 10:00 am/et with John Roberts, Kyle Petty, Kenny Wallace

  • Scheduled Race Re-Air Dates/Times: Wednesday, June 20 at 12:00pm/et on SPEED

  • TV Listings, Links and Info:
    Jayski's TV Listings Page
    NASCAR on TV
    Race Fan TV


Radio Coverage


EVENT SCHEDULE
(Sprint Cup Series)

Times are local to the Track

Wednesday, June 13

6:00 pm NSCS Haulers Enter

Thursday, June 14

7:00 am NSCS Garage Opens
7:15 am NSCS Rookie, Spotter Meetings
8:00 am 11:00 am NSCS Testing
1:00 pm 4:00 pm NSCS Testing
6:00 pm NSCS Garage Closes

Friday, June 15

7:30 am NSCS Garage Opens 11:30 am NSCS Rookie, Spotter Meetings & Random Drawing
12:30 - 1:50 pm NSCS Practice
3:30 - 4:50 pm NSCS Happy Hour 'Final' Practice
6:00 pm NSCS Garage Closes

Saturday, June 16

10:00 am NSCS Garage Opens
1:10 pm NSCS Qualifying
6:00 - 7:15 pm NSCS 'Extra' Practice

Sunday, June 17

7:00 am NSCS Garage Opens
11:00 am NSCS Driver/Crew Chief Meeting
12:30 pm NSCS Driver Introductions
1:00 pm NSCS Quickens Loans 500 Race

NSCS = Sprint Cup Series
SUBJECT TO CHANGE
Times are local to the Track


PRACTICE & QUALIFYING
Dates / Times / TV coverage

(times in eastern time)
  • Practices:
    Friday, June 15, 12:30 - 1:50 pm/et, TV-SPEED

  • Happy Hour 'Final' practice: Friday, June 15, 3:30 - 4:50pm/et, TV-SPEED

  • Extra practice: Saturday, June 16, 6:00 - 7:15pm/et, TV-none scheduled

  • Qualifying: 2 laps for positions 1-42, Saturday, June 16 at 1:10 pm/et, no re-air scheduled.


PURSE/RACE AWARD

2012: $5,193,706
2011: $5,082,319
2010: $5,129,955
2009: $5,282,675
2008: $5,243,196
2007: $5,137,383
2006: $5,037,040
2005: $4,955,273
2004: $4,990,045
2003: $4,388,083
2002: $3,798,525


TRACK/RACE NEWS

  • Track Specifications:
    Superspeedway: 2.0-mile D-shaped oval
    Banking: turns: 18 degrees; straights: frontstretch 12 degrees, backstretch 5 degrees
    Frontstretch Length: 3,600 feet
    Backstretch Length: 2,242 feet
    73 feet wide with 10-foot apron in turns, 45 feet wide with 12-foot apron on straightaways
    Pit lane is 50 feet wide and contains space for 44 individual pit areas
    Pit Road Speed: 45mph
    Pace Car Speed: 55mph
    Seating: 84,000 [was 108,000, and 137,243]
    Opened: 1968

  • Race Festivities/Officials:
    Grand Marshal: Detroit Red Wings goalie Jimmy Howard
    Command to start engines: Jimmy Howard & his father James Howard II
    Honorary Starter/Wave Green Flag: Detroit Lions center Dominic Raiola
    Invocation: Pastor Doug Bradshaw, Williamston Free Methodist Church
    National Anthem: Members of the US Army Chorus
    Military Flyover: 2 F-16's 112th Fight Squadron, Ohio Air National Guard

  • Track Websites:
    Michigan International Speedway
    ISC Motorsports
    Michigan International Speedway - Facebook
    Michigan International Speedway - Twitter
    MIS Infield Extravaganza

  • June 2011: see my Michigan Race Info page

  • August 2011: see my Michigan Race Info page

  • August 2011 Race Winner: #18-Kyle Busch, 150.898 mph, started 17th

  • June 2011 Race Winner: #11-Denny Hamlin, 153.029, started 10th

  • Track Race Record: Dale Jarrett, June 1999, 173.997mph (no cautions)

  • Slowest Track Race Record: Richard Petty, 107.583mph, 8/24/1975

  • Oldest Race Winner: Harry Gant, 52 years, 7 months, 6 days, 8/16/1992

  • Youngest Race Winner: Kurt Busch, 24 years, 10 months, 11 days, 6/15/2003

  • August 2011 Pole Sitter: #16-Greg Biffle, 190.345mph, finished 20th

  • June 2011 Pole Sitter: #2-Kurt Busch, 188.599mph, finished 11th

  • Track Qualifying Record: #12-Ryan Newman, June 2005, 194.232mph

  • Oldest Pole Winner: Dale Jarrett, 45 years, 6 months, 21 days, 6/16/2002

  • Young Pole Winner: Jeff Gordon, 23 years, 10 months, 14 days, 6/18/1995

  • The Numbers for Michigan International Speedway (Cup):
    0 - fewest cautions (three times, most recent 6/13/99)
    1 - fewest laps led by race winner (Mark Martin, 6/14/09)
    2 - fewest cars on lead lap at finish (five times, most recent 6/15/75)
    5 - fewest leaders (five times, most recent 8/12/84)
    6 - races won from outside a top-20 starting position
    6 - wins by Dodge at MIS since manufacturer's return to NASCAR in 2001
    7 - fewest lead changes (8/12/84)
    8 - number of jet dryers available for track drying this weekend at MIS
    9 - most wins (David Pearson)
    10 - most poles (David Pearson)
    10 - most cautions (8/20/06)
    11 - wins by car owner (Wood Brothers, Jack Roush)
    14 - fewest cars running at finish (6/16/74)
    15 - most leaders (6/20/82)
    19 - drivers with more than one win
    21 - drivers with more than one pole at MIS
    24 - wins from the front row; 16 from the pole
    32 - worst starting position for race winner (Mark Martin, 2009)
    34 - different race winners
    37 - most cars on lead lap at finish (6/18/06)
    41 - different pole winners
    41 - most cars running at finish (five times, most recent 6/17/07)
    63 - most caution laps (8/24/75)
    65 - most lead changes (8/16/81)
    66 - races won from a top-10 starting spot
    85 - Sprint Cup Series races at MIS
    120 minutes - approximate amount of time it takes to dry the 2.0-mile track
    162 - laps led by race winner (Rusty Wallace, 8/20/89)
    MIS inside the numbers:
    " 5 - Number of cautions in the June event last year.
    " 10 - Different winners in the first 14 Sprint Cup races this season. Only Brad Keselowski, Denny Hamlin, Jimmie Johnson and Tony Stewart have multiple race wins.
    " 16 - Number of Sprint Cup races (19%) that have been won from the pole at MIS - the most of any starting position at the two-mile speedway.
    " 22,000 - Tons of asphalt used to repave MIS earlier this year.
    2012 Caution Update
    1 - fewest cautions this season (Fontana)
    4 - races extended beyond scheduled distance (Daytona, Martinsville, Talladega and Darlington)
    10 - most cautions this season (Daytona)
    80 - cautions in the first 14 races of 2012; includes 33 for accidents, 27 for debris and eight for spins
    433 of 4,448 - laps under caution in 2012
    574.571 of 5,633.118 - miles under caution in the first 14 races
    BONUS: In addition to Michigan Int'l Speedway, three other Michigan tracks hosted five NASCAR Sprint Cup Series events in the 1950s:
    - Grand River Speedrome (Grand Rapids)
    - Michigan State Fairgrounds (Detroit) and
    - Monroe Speedway.(Darnell Communications for SRT Motorsports and Dodge)(6-13-2012)

  • At Michigan International Speedway:
    • Michigan International Speedway sits on more than 1,400 acres in the "Irish Hills" of Southeastern Michigan. Ground-breaking took place on Sept. 28, 1967.
    • The first NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race at Michigan was held June 15, 1969.
    • The track was known as Michigan Speedway during the time Roger Penske was the primary owner (1996-99).
    • The 2-mile speedway underwent a repave this season.
    • There have been 85 NASCAR Sprint Cup races at Michigan International Speedway since the first race there in 1969. Other than 1973, which had just one race, there have been two races each season since 1969.
    • The first race was 500 miles in length; the second was scheduled for 600. The track was re-measured to 2.04 miles for the last race in 1970 and both races in 1971 - with the race distance being 402 miles. All other races have been scheduled for 400 miles.
    • Donnie Allison won the first pole.
    • The first NASCAR Sprint Cup race was won by Cale Yarborough.
    • There have been 41 different pole winners, led by David Pearson with 10. Mark Martin has five poles.
    • 34 different drivers have won races, led by David Pearson (nine); 19 drivers have more than one victory at Michigan.
    • The race winner has started from the pole 16 times, the most productive starting position. Brian Vickers (August, 2009) was the last driver to win from the pole.
    • 66 of 85 races have been won from a top-10 starting position, including 46 from the first four spots.
    • The deepest in the field a race winner has started was 32nd, by Mark Martin in the June race of 2009.
    • The Wood Brothers and Roush Fenway Racing both have 11 wins, more than any other team.
    • Carl Edwards and Matt Kenseth are the only drivers to average a top-10 finish. Edwards, who has two Michigan wins, has an average finish of 8.2. Coincidentally, Edwards' first NASCAR Sprint Cup Series start came at Michigan. Kenseth, who also has two victories, has an average finish of 9.5.
    • Youngest NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Michigan International Speedway winner: Kurt Busch (06/15/2003 - 24 years, 10 months, 11 days).
    • Oldest NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Michigan International Speedway winner: Harry Gant (08/16/1992 - 52 years, 7 months, 6 days).(NASCAR)(6-12-2012)

  • For news, stats, records and more about this race track, see: Jayski's Michigan International Speedway Track News/Rumors/Links page


RACE RUNDOWN....news and links

  • Earnhardt Jr. wins at Michigan: #88-Dale Earnhardt Jr. won the Quicken Loans 400 Sprint Cup Series race at Michigan International Speedway for his 1st win of the year, 19th career win and first win in 143 races [Michigan June 2008].
    #14-Stewart finished 2nd followed by #17-Kenseth, #16-Biffle, #48-Johnson, #24-Gordon, #15-Bowyer, #42-Montoya, #9-Ambrose [pole sitter] and #29-Harvick.
    There were 8 cautions for 39 yellow flag laps. There were 27 lead changes among 16 drivers.
    The estimated attendence was 82,000, down from 88,000 in 2011 but MIS has downsized grandstand seating from 108,000 to 84,000 since last season.
    See race results, awards, money won, laps led, cautions and more on the Michigan Race Results page (pdf) and the official rundown on the Official Race Report. (6-17/18-2012)

  • 2012 Sprint Cup Driver Championship Points Standings:
    [after Michigan, race 15 of 36]
    1) #17-Matt Kenseth [1 win], 565
    2) #88-Dale Earnhardt Jr. [1 win], 561, -4
    3) #16-Greg Biffle [1 win], 548, -17
    4) #48-Jimmie Johnson [2 wins], 532, -33
    5) #11-Denny Hamlin [2 wins], 514, -51
    6) #29-Kevin Harvick [0 wins], 504, -61
    7) #56-Martin Truex Jr. [0 wins], 497, -68
    8) #14-Tony Stewart [2 wins], 491, -74
    9) #15-Clint Bowyer [0 wins], 481, -84
    10) #2-Brad Keselowski [2 winss], 458, -107
    Chase wild card drivers:
    11) #18-Kyle Busch [1 win, 12th in points], 432, -133
    12) #39-Ryan Newman [1 win, 13th in points], 427, -138
    #20-Joey Logano [1 win, 15th in points], 407, -158
    #5-Kasey Kahne [1 win, 16th in points], 391, -174
    (ties broken by 1sts, 2nds, 3rd, etc)
    See drivers championship points standings on the Drivers Points Standings (pdf).(6-17-2012)

  • Top-35 in Owner Points and guaranteed a starting spot at Sonoma:
    #32 drops to 35th but is 52 points ahead of 36th, the #33 team.
    Rank) Car#-Driver/Team, owners pts, +/-
    32) #83-Cassill/BK Racing, 214 +64
    33) #10-Reutimann-Patrick/Baldwin, 209 +59
    34) #36-Blaney/Baldwin, 205 +55
    35) #32-Said/FAS Lane Racing, 202 +52 ahead of 36th
    these teams / drivers will need to qualify by speed:
    36) #33-TBA/Childress-Falk, 150, -52 from the top 35
    37) #21-Bayne/Wood Bros., 117, -85
    38) #49-Yeley/Robinson, 106, -96
    The teams are NOT locked in past the next race as the owners points change after each race.
    For the owner points standings, see the Owners Points Standings (pdf).(6-17-2012)

  • Race Fast Facts - Michigan International Speedway:
    #88-Dale Earnhardt Jr. won the 44th Annual Quicken Loans 400, his 19th victory in 450 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races.
    This is his first victory and 12th top-10 finish in 2012. Earnhardt Jr. matches his top-10 total of all of last season.
    With the victory, Earnhardt Jr. broke a 143-race winless streak, the sixth-longest stretch between wins in NASCAR Sprint Cup history.
    This is his second victory and ninth top-10 finish in 26 races at Michigan International Speedway. His last career victory also came at Michigan, also on Father's Day.
    #14-Tony Stewart (second) posted his 19th top-10 finish in 27 races at Michigan International Speedway. It is his seventh top-10 finish in 2012.
    #17-Matt Kenseth (third) posted his 17th top-10 finish in 26 races at Michigan International Speedway.
    Matt Kenseth leads the point standings by 4 points over Dale Earnhardt Jr.(NASCAR Statistics)(6-17-2012)

  • Michigan Notes-n-Nuggets:
    " Dale Earnhardt Jr. won his 19th Cup Series race in his 450th start.
    " The win ended a 143-race winless streak that dated back to Michigan in June 2008 (1,462 days between wins). He finished second seven times between victories.
    " This is the second consecutive week a driver broke a winless streak of more than 100 races. Joey Logano broke a 104-race winless streak last week at Pocono.
    " This is Dale Earnhardt Jr.'s second victory at Michigan in his 26th start. and he is the 11th driver to win in 2012.
    " Sunday marks Dale Earnhardt Jr.'s first victory with crew chief Steve Letarte, who ended a 115-race winless streak that dated back to Texas in April 2009 with Jeff Gordon.
    " Dale Earnhardt Jr. leads all drivers with 12 top-10 finishes in 2012.
    " Hendrick Motorsports earned its 203rd Cup Series victory; fourth of 2012, all in the last five races; and sixth Cup race at Michigan.
    " Chevrolet earned its seventh win of 2012 and 20th at Michigan.
    " Tony Stewart (second) scored his sixth top-five this season and his fifth consecutive top-10 at Michigan.
    " Matt Kenseth (third) earned his 12th top-10 in 26 races at Michigan and remains the point leader.
    " Greg Biffle (fourth) notched his eighth top-five of 2012 but fell to third in points.
    " Jimmie Johnson (fifth) earned only his fourth top-five at Michigan in 21 starts.
    " Jeff Gordon (sixth) scored just his fourth top-10 this season.
    " Juan Montoya (eighth) matched his best finish this season for just his second top-10 of 2012.
    " Marcos Ambrose (ninth) tied his best finish of 2012.
    " Carl Edwards (11th) finished 11th after starting 42nd due to fuel issues in qualifying.
    " Austin Dillon finished 24th in his first Cup start this season.
    " Joe Nemechek finished 40th in his 600th Cup Series start. (Racing Recall/nascar.com)(6-17-2012)

  • Lucky Dogs - Who got a lap back on each caution at Michigan: (and their finish)
    Caution 1: no driver a lap down
    Caution 2: no driver a lap down, that is on the track
    Caution 3: no driver a lap down, that is on the track
    Caution 4: #10-Raines, 36th
    Caution 5: #51-Busch, 30th
    Caution 6: #55-Martin, 29th
    Caution 7: none awarded as #38 was involved in wreck.
    Caution 8: #22-Allmendinger, 19th
    (6-17-2012)

  • Race Coverage of the Quicken Loans 400 Sprint Cup Series race at Michigan International Speedway is scheduled for Sunday, June 17, 2012.
    Television (TV): TNT at 1:00 pm/et; Pre-Race show at 12:00 pm/et; green flag approx 1:19pm/et
    Radio: Motor Racing Network (MRN) and Sirius XM Satellite NASCAR Radio 90
    Scheduled Race Re-Airs: on SPEED, Wednesday, June 20 at 12:00pm/et

  • Rain delays start of Cup race at MIS: The rain/drizzle has stopped at Michigan International Speedway as of 2:50pm/et. The command to start engines at 2:54pm/et. Looks like a green flag around 3:00-3:10pm/et range. The forecast: Clouds breaking for some sun with a couple of showers and a thunderstorm, mainly early; warm, high of 81 degrees, rain probability: 40%. See more weather links on my Michigan Race Info page - weather section.(6-17-2012)

  • Pit Stall Selections: The selections of pit stalls for the Quicken Loans 400 Sprint Cup Series race at Michigan International Speedway have been made.
    Pole sitter #9-Ambrose chose pit stall 1 [as do most pole sitters].
    Outside pole sitter #29-Harvick took pit stall 38, the 2nd pitstall with an opening in front of it.
    #16-Biffle, who starts 3rd took the 23rd pit stall, the 1st stall with an opening in front of it.
    The 43rd and final pit stall was taken by #17-Kenseth, who starts 6th.
    To see where the drivers/teams pit stall is, see the pit selection chart on the Pit Stall Selection chart.(6-16-2012)

  • Links to results, practices, qualifying PDF's:
    Official Race Report
    Race Results
    Drivers Points
    Owners Points
    Pitstalls
    Extra Practice Speeds
    Starting Lineup
    Qualifying Results
    Happy Hour Practice Speeds
    Qualifying Order
    Practice 1 Speeds page Test 2 Speeds page Test 1 Speeds page

  • NASCAR Green-White-Checkered Race Procedure: NASCAR allows a maximum of three restart attempts prior to the White Flag under NASCAR's Green-White-Checkered flag finish. If the leader has taken the White Flag and the caution flag is displayed, the field is frozen and the race will not be restarted. Previously, there was only one restart attempt. The procedure applies to all three national series. See rule and notes on the Green-White-Checker rule page.

  • Wave-around rule: The wave-around rule dictates that cars under penalty at the time of the caution are ineligible for the wave around.

  • See Jayski's - 2012 Sprint Cup Race Results Page for pole winner, race winner with speed and starting/finishing position, links to race results, drivers & owners points, pit stall selections, qualifying results/starting lineup, practice speeds and chase stats as well as link to race track and race information page for each race


QUALIFYING INFO, PRACTICE SPEED and ENTRIES
info, news, speeds and links

  • Extra Saturday practice for the Quicken Loans 400 Sprint Cup Series race at Michigan International Speedway is over, after 75 scheduled minutes, the top five, slowest and some notes:
    #16-Biffle 195.647 mph [7-8 miles slower then happy hour]
    #48-Johnson 194.295
    #99-Edwards 194.138
    #5-Kahne 194.070
    #1-McMurray 193.159
    pole sitter #9-Ambrose was 11th 192.781 [won pole at 203-241]
    slowest: #19-Bliss 184.247 & #26-Wise 186.355
    no speed listed for #10-Raines and #32-Schrader
    no 200mph speeds with the different left side tires.
    See top speeds, laps run, best 10-lap average on the Michigan 'Extra' Practice Speeds page (pdf).(6-16-2012)

  • Ambrose wins pole at Michigan with new track record: #9-Marcos Ambrose won the pole for the Quicken Loans 400 Sprint Cup Series race at Michigan International Speedway with a NEW TRACK RECORD speed of 203.241mph for his 1st pole of 2012 and of his career which puts Ambrose in the 2013 Shootout. #29-Harvick was 2nd fastest followed by #16-Biffle, #5-Kahne, #39-Newman, $17-Kenseth, #21-Bayne, #14-Stewart, #20-Logano and #48-Johnson.
    40 drivers, including one who missed the race [#30-Stremme] ran faster laps then the old track record of 194.232mph. 19 drivers ran over 200mph.
    The go-or-go homers who made the race (8): #21-Bayne, #33-Dillon, #23-Riggs, #98-McDowell, #19-Bliss, #26-Wise, #87-Nemechek and #49-Yeley.
    The go-or-go homers who failed to qualify for the race (2): #30-Stremme & #74-Compton
    See the starting lineup, qualifying results, order, pole pregression, go-or-go homers, notes and more on the Michigan Qualifying Page.(6-16-2012)

  • Qualifying Fast Facts - Michigan International Speedway:
    #9-Marcos Ambrose won the Coors Light Pole Award for the 44th Annual Quicken Loans 400 with a lap of 35.426 seconds, 203.241 mph, a new track record.
    This is his first pole in 134 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races.
    Ambrose becomes the fourth driver to win the pole with a lap over 200 mph. The others are Benny Parsons, Cale Yarborough and Bill Elliott.
    Ambrose's speed of 203.241 mph is the 11th-fastest pole-winning speed in NASCAR Sprint Cup Series history.
    This is his sixth top-10 start in 2012.
    #29-Kevin Harvick (second) posted his eighth top-10 start of 2012 and his eighth in 23 races at Michigan International Speedway.
    #16-Greg Biffle (third) posted his ninth top-10 start at Michigan International Speedway. It is his 11th in 15 races this season.
    40 drivers posted a faster lap than the previous Michigan track qualifying record of 194.232 mph, set by Ryan Newman in 2005.(NASCAR Statistics)(6-16-2012)

  • Goodyear to change left-side recommendation at Michigan: Based on the higher than expected speeds NASCAR Sprint Cup Series teams ran in pre-race practice on the newly repaved Michigan International Speedway, The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company has decided to change its left-side tire recommendation for Sunday's race. In the final Sprint Cup practice on Friday afternoon, #16-Greg Biffle ran an average speed in excess of 204 mph for his fastest lap. For comparison's sake, when Goodyear tested at Michigan in preparation for this race on April 3-4, the fastest average lap speed topped out in the 198-mph range. The higher speeds caused significantly higher left-side tire temperatures, which caused Goodyear to take this step.
    The tire code that teams will now run (D-4020) features a tougher tread compound, a different construction and different mold shape than the tire teams ran in practice. The replacement tire was run at Charlotte Motor Speedway after that track was repaved at the end of the 2005 season. This code was run at both races at Charlotte in both 2006 and 2007. When Goodyear decided to bring a new tire to Charlotte for the 2008 season, a quantity of this code was built as part of the back-up plan that Goodyear has in place for every race track on the circuit. Since this tire proved durable and provided an ample amount of grip for the repaved Charlotte surface, it made it a logical choice to be put in place for just this type of situation for the fresh asphalt at Michigan.
    Goodyear will ship in enough tires for teams to have 10 sets of tires for the race, which is the original NASCAR set limit for this event. Teams will run their original allotment of right-side tires (D-4528) in Sunday's race. Teams will have additional tires available for a NASCAR-scheduled practice following the Nationwide Series race on Saturday.
    "We decided this move was best to provide quality racing here on Sunday," said Greg Stucker, Goodyear's Director of Race Tires. "In collecting data and speaking with drivers and crew chiefs throughout the practice days, we had two choices to make. Our first option was to make the team's race sets available to them before practice on Friday and allow them the chance to 'scuff' them, in order to run them through a heat cycle to increase heat resistance. We did that, but after all the practice sessions ended on Friday, we concluded the safer option was to go to our contingency plan and bring in the 4020s.
    "This code has been run before under similar track conditions and we have full confidence that it will give drivers and teams the enough grip to run a great race on Sunday, while doing so in the safest possible manner. Safety is always our No. 1 concern, and by bringing this tire here this weekend, we will accomplish that goal."(Goodyear PR)(6-15-2012)

  • Sprint Cup Series practice added after Saturday's Nationwide race: Goodyear will make a tire change for Sunday's Quicken Loans 400 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race at Michigan International Speedway. The decision was made Friday evening after teams had tires that were blistering following Friday's practice sessions at the newly-repaved 2.0-mile track. Goodyear will bring a tougher left side tire from Charlotte that the teams will use in Sunday's event. The teams will qualify Saturday as scheduled at 1:10 pm/et with the tires previously allotted by Goodyear. Following the NASCAR Nationwide Series race, the teams will be given a 75-minute practice session with the new left side tires that will start at approximately 6:00pm/et. "With the new repave here at Michigan, coupled with the high temperatures we're seeing this weekend, we feel this change will help us put on the best race possible on Sunday," said Robin Pemberton, NASCAR Vice President of Competition.(NASCAR)(6-15-2012)

  • Coverage of Qualifying for the Quicken Loans 400 Sprint Cup Series race at Michigan International Speedway is scheduled for Saturday, June 16, 2012 at 1:10pm/et.
    Television (TV): SPEED, 1:00pm/et
    Scheduled Qualifying Re-Air: none

  • Qualifying Order for the Quicken Loans 400 Sprint Cup Series race at Michigan International Speedway is posted. 45 cars/drivers are listed.
    The first of the drivers scheduled to go out is #10-Raines, slowest in practice.
    The final driver scheduled to go out is #55-Martin, who was fastest in first practice.
    Qualifying order is set by the first practice session, with slowest driver going out by speed and the fastest going out last. The non-top 35 drivers are now mixed in with the top-35 in owners points, slowest to fastest.
    See the full qualifying order on the Michigan Qualifying Page.(6-15-2012)

  • 1st Friday practice for the Quicken Loans 400 Sprint Cup Series race at Michigan International Speedway is over, after 80 scheduled minutes, the top five, slowest and some notes:
    #55-Martin 201.376
    #88-Earnhardt Jr. 200.803
    #21-Bayne 200.700
    #14-Stewart 200.736
    #17-Kenseth 200.574
    slowest: #10-Raines 190.562 and #32-Schrader 190.981
    Ten drivers were over 200mph. 42 of 45 drivers were faster then the track record of 194.232mph.
    This practice sets the order for qualifying with slowest going out first and fastest out last, scheduled for Saturday, June 16th at 1:00pm/et on SPEED.
    Happy Hour practice is scheduled for 3:00pm/et this afternoon and run 80 minutes.
    See top speeds, laps run, best 10-lap average on the Michigan Practice 1 Speeds page (pdf).(6-15-2012)

  • Go-or-go homers: where did the 10 cars outside the top-35 in owners points practice at Michigan
    these drivers would make the race if the things stay the same:
    #21-Bayne 3rd fastest overall
    #33-Dillon 13th
    #98-McDowell 19th
    #19-Bliss 21st
    #23-Riggs 27th
    #49-Yeley 28th
    #26-Wise 29th
    #87-Nemechek 32nd
    if things stay the same, these drivers would miss the race
    #30-Stremme 34th
    #74-Compton 42nd
    (6-15-2012)

  • Rain Out Procedures: the rain-out qualifying procedure for all three NASCAR national series is as follows: If first practice is run, but qualifying is unable to take place, the starting lineup will be based on speeds from the car's fastest lap from the first practice, with top-35 cars in owner points no longer segregated from the non-top 35 cars. Previously, the top 35 cars lined up in front of all other eligible car owners.

  • Track records shattered in NASCAR practice at MIS UPDATES: The Sprint Cup Series qualifying record at Michigan International Speedway has been broken unofficially by several cars already this morning, at a special NASCAR test to acclimatize drivers to the newly repaved oval. Toyota driver #56-Martin Truex Jr. became the first NASCAR driver in MIS history to turn a 200-mph lap when he hit 200.261 this morning. Chevy's #88-Dale Earnhardt Jr. was right behind him, at 200.206. Chevy drivers #42-Juan Pablo Montoya (199.440 mph) and #29-Kevin Harvick (199.236 mph) also flirted with the 200-mph threshold. #18-Kyle Busch went 194.789 in his Toyota and #24-Jeff Gordon 194.610 in another Chevrolet. The old track record was 194.232, set by Ryan Newman in a Dodge in 2005.(Detroit Free Press)
    UPDATES as I see or hear them on the speeds: #55-Martin fastest at Michigan with lap of 201.089 mph in testing. Then Harvick (200.999), Truex (200.306) & Dale Jr. (200.206).(Dustin Long Twitter)
    Practice can be followed live on NASCAR.com's Leaderboard
    The top five as of 11:00am/et after 3 hours of testing:
    #55-Martin 201.089
    #29-Harvick 200.999
    #56-Truex Jr. 200.306
    #88-Earnhardt Jr. 200.206
    #14-Stewart 199.856
    41 cars have run laps so far with 39 over the old track record.
    The best 10 lap average was run by #18-Kyle Busch at 197.065mph.
    4 cars didn't test: #19-Bliss, #10-Raines, #32-Schrader & #49-Yeley.
    See the speeds, laps run, best 10-lap average on the Michigan Test Session 1 Speeds page (pdf)
    Test Session 2 - afternoon: top five speeds at end of the session:
    #14-Stewart 201.896
    #16-Biffle 201.556
    #51-Busch 201.174
    #29-Harvick 200.697
    #88-Earnhardt Jr. 200.658
    7 cars were over 200mph, 43 cars have made runs with ALL being faster then the track record speed.
    2 cars didn't test: #10-Raines and #32-Schrader.
    See the speeds, laps run, best 10-lap average on the Michigan Test Session 2 Speeds page (pdf)
    No restrictor plates planned at MIS: NASCAR officials said they have no plan to add restrictor plates used at Daytona and Talladega to reduce speeds. Vice president of competition Robin Pemberton expected speeds to slow on their own as the track rubbers in and the temperature rises. Series director John Darby said NASCAR has a speed at which liftoff is a concern as is the case at Daytona and Talladega, and "we're not there yet."(ESPN)(6-14-2012)

  • The Entry List for the Quicken Loans 400 Sprint Cup Series race at Michigan International Speedway is posted, 45 teams/drivers [for 43 spots] are listed, including:
    Tony Raines is now listed in the #10 car, Reuitmann has no ride listed.
    Ken Schrader returns to drive the #32 Ford
    Not in top 35 of owners points:
    #19-Mike Bliss (46/9)
    #21-Trevor Bayne (37/5)(2011 race winner)
    #23-Scott Riggs (43/14)
    #26-Josh Wise (41/14)
    #30-David Stremme (38/14)
    #33-Austin Dillon (36/14)
    #49-J.J. Yeley (39/14)
    #74-Stacy Compton (47/10)
    #87-Joe Nemechek (42/14)
    #98-Michael McDowell (40/14)
    In the event that qualifying is cancelled:
    the eight who would make it [8]: #'s 21,33,30,49,98,26,87,23
    missing the race would be [2]: # 74, 19
    See the full entry list at my Jayski's Michigan Entry List.(6-11/13-2012)

  • 2012 Sprint Cup Driver Championship Points Standings:
    [after Pocono, race 14 of 36]
    1) #17-Matt Kenseth [1 win], 523, -1
    2) #88-Dale Earnhardt Jr. [0 wins], 513, -10
    3) #16-Greg Biffle [1 win], 507, -16
    4) #11-Denny Hamlin [2 wins], 504, -19
    5) #48-Jimmie Johnson [2 wins], 493, -30
    6) #29-Kevin Harvick [0 wins], 470, -53
    7) #56-Martin Truex Jr. [0 wins], 465, -58
    8) #14-Tony Stewart [2 wins], 448, -759
    9) #15-Clint Bowyer [0 wins], 443, -80
    10) #2-Brad Keselowski [2 winss], 426, -97
    Chase wild card drivers:
    11) #18-Kyle Busch [1 win, 12th in points], 420, -103
    12) #39-Ryan Newman [1 win, 14th in points], 398, -125
    #20-Joey Logano [1 win, 15th in points], 398, -125
    #5-Kasey Kahne [1 win, 16th in points], 380, -143
    (ties broken by 1sts, 2nds, 3rd, etc)
    See drivers championship points standings on the Drivers Points Standings (pdf).(6-10-2012)

  • Top-35 in Owner Points and guaranteed a starting spot at Michigan:
    #36 remains in 35th but is now 55 points ahead of 36th, the #33 team.
    Rank) Car#-Driver/Team, owners pts, +/-
    32) #10-Reutimann-Patrick/Baldwin, 201, +71
    33) #32-Sorenson/FAS Lane Racing, 189, +59
    34) #83-Cassill/BK Racing, 188 +58
    35) #36-Blaney/Baldwin, 185, +55 ahead of 36th
    these teams / drivers will need to qualify by speed:
    36) #33-Leicht/Childress, 130, -55 from the top 35
    37) #21-Bayne/Wood Bros., 116, -69
    38) #30-Stremme/Inception, 103, -82
    The teams are NOT locked in past the next race as the owners points change after each race.
    For the owner points standings, see the Owners Points Standings (pdf).(6-10-2012)


Local Newspapers

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Local TV Network Stations

ABC 3 WLAJ
CBS 6 WLNS
FOX 47 WSYM
NBC 10 WILX


Weather Links

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Camping, Eating and
Travel Info

Brooklyn - Irish Hills - Chamber of Commerce
Laid Back Racing
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Some Chassis Selections by Teams for this race

  • Chassis selections for Michigan: see the list of many teams and what chassis were selected by the team to run at Michigan International Speedway:
    MISSING? why are some teams missing? some teams do not report what chassis in the race previews, press releases of websites.
    #1-Jamie McMurray: Crew Chief Kevin "Bono" Manion and the #1 McDonald's team will bring Chassis #1208 to Michigan this weekend. This chassis has raced this season at Las Vegas and Kansas finishing eighth and 14th, respectively. Most recently, this chassis raced in the Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte, finishing 21st.
    #2-Brad Keselowski: and the #2 Miller Lite Dodge Charger team will race chassis PRS-820 during Sunday's Quicken Loans 400 at Michigan International Speedway. Brad Keselowski last drove this chassis to a 36th-place finish at Texas Motor Speedway in April, after suffering fuel issues while running solidly inside the top five.
    #5-Kasey Kahne: crew chief Kenny Francis has selected Hendrick Motorsports Chassis No. 5-724 for Sunday's race at Michigan. Kahne first raced this car in May during the 600-mile Cup event at Charlotte Motor Speedway when he earned his first win with Hendrick Motorsports.
    #9-Marcos Ambrose: The #9 Richard Petty Motorsports team has prepared chassis No. 784 for this weekend's race at Michigan. This Stanley Ford was run previously this season at California and Kansas.
    #14-Tony Stewart: and crew chief Steve Addington are bringing Chassis No. 14-706 debuted in spectacular fashion in March at Auto Club Speedway, as Stewart took Chassis No. 14-706 from its ninth-place starting spot to lead twice for 42 laps en route to the win in the rain-shortened race. Prior to Fontana, the car spent numerous hours in the wind tunnel. It is a clone to Chassis No. 14-640, which won Round No. 3 at Las Vegas. Its second start in April at Kansas, was a bit quieter than its debut race, as it started 23rd and gained 10 spots to finish 13th. Its third and most recent start came at Charlotte in May where Stewart qualified 21st and finished 25th as Chassis No. 14-706 proved to be a handful throughout the 400-lap contest.
    #15-Clint Bowyer: Primary Chassis No. 727 has raced twice in 2012. It started 11th and finished 13 at Fontana and started 26th and finished 11th at Darlington. Chassis No. 721 is the backup and previously served backup duty at Las Vegas, California, Texas, Kansas, Darlington, All-Star, Charlotte and Pocono but never raced.
    #16-Greg Biffle: and the Matt Puccia led #16 3M Salute to American Heroes team is bringing primary chassis RK-809 which last ran at Charlotte in May, finishing 4th and the same car Biffle qualified third, led 90 laps and won with at Texas. The #16 team will test the backup chassis RK-803 on Thursday at MIS.
    #17-Matt Kenseth: will run primary chassis RK-808 at Michigan, which is a brand new chassis. Kenseth will pilot the #17 Ford EcoBoost Fusion.
    #21-Trevor Bayne: Donnie Wingo, crew chief of the Motorcraft/Quick Lane Fusion, has chosen the same Ford Fusion that Bayne raced at Las Vegas and Texas Motor Speedway. The car finished ninth at Vegas and was fast at Texas before a brush with the wall left the team with a disappointing finish. "It's all back like brand new," Wingo said of the Michigan entry. The veteran crew chief said the extra test day, because of the new pavement, is a big plus because it will allow the team to spend more practice time on a race set-up than they normally take.
    #22-A.J. Allmendinger and his Todd Gordon-led Penske Racing #22 Team will be racing their "PRS-821" Shell-Pennzoil Dodge Charger in this weekend's Quicken Loans 400. This chassis has been raced only once; during the April race at Texas. Dinger started 12th and finished 15th. Unlike at Pocono last week where the team's plan going in was to test one car (the "PRS-814") and race another (the "PRS-819"  and changed late Thursday afternoon to actually race the test car  the plan is different for Michigan. "We're preparing to utilize the '821' there in Thursday's testing and use it for the remainder of the weekend," crew chief Gordon said.
    #27-Paul Menard will pilot Chassis No. 397 from the Richard Childress Racing NASCAR Sprint Cup Series stable. Built new for 2012 competition, this #27 Duracell/Menards Chevy will turn its first laps at MIS. Menard and the #27 team will participate in an open test session June 14 at MIS. They are utilizing chassis No. 351 from the RCR stable, which will also serve as the backup to the primary car during this weekend's events.
    #29-Kevin Harvick: will pilot Chassis No. 378 from the Richard Childress Racing NASCAR Sprint Cup Series stable. Harvick drove this RCR racer earlier this season at Kansas where he brought home a sixth-place finish. This #29 Budweiser Folds of Honor Cyevy chassis was also used in competition twice during the 2011 season when Harvick captured a second-place finish at Chicagoland Speedway in September and a sixth-place finish at Kansas Speedway in October.
    #31-Jeff Burton will race chassis No. 393 from the Richard Childress Racing NASCAR Sprint Cup Series stable this weekend. This #31 Caterpillar/NASCAR Unites Chevy, built new for the 2012 season, was utilized twice this year at Auto Club Speedway in March (started-19th, finished-22nd) and Darlington Raceway in May (started-10th, finished-18th).
    #33-Austin Dillon will pilot Chassis No. 396 from the Richard Childress Racing NASCAR Sprint Cup Series stable. This #33 American Ethanol Chevy is a new addition to the RCR fleet and will be put through its first paces this weekend.
    #36-Dave Blaney will drive the No. 293 chassis, which he drove three times this season and five times during the 2011 season. The Harford, Ohio native's best start with the No. 293 chassis was 17th at Richmond and best finish was 23rd at Phoenix this season. TBR purchased the chassis from Richard Childress Racing, where Jeff Burton drove the chassis prior to its debut with TBR.
    #39-Ryan Newman Chassis No. 39-727 will make its second start this season at Michigan. The chassis made its debut three weeks ago at Charlotte. Newman started 16th and struggled with a tight-handling racecar before finishing 14th.
    #42-Juan Pablo Montoya: crew chief Chris "Shine" Heroy and the #42 Target team will bring Chassis #1209 to Michigan International Speedway this weekend. This is the first race for this chassis.
    #43-Aric Almirola:: The #43 Medallion Financial Ford team has prepared chassis No. 752 for the Michigan race. This chassis ran previously this season in the Sprint Showdown at Charlotte and at Kansas and Fontana.
    #48-Jimmie Johnson: Chassis No. 720 serves as the primary for Johnson at Michigan. Chassis No. 669 serves as the backup.
    #55-Mark Martin: will drive MWR chassis 734 the first race for this chassis in 2012, The backup is Chassis 726 which raced in Fontana and Darlington in 2012.
    #88-Dale Earnhardt Jr.: crew chief Steve Letarte and the #88 crew will unload Hendrick Motorsports Chassis No. 88-716. Earnhardt most recently raced this chassis to a seventh-place finish at Kansas Speedway in April.
    #99-Carl Edwards the #99 Fastenal Blue Team will be unloading chassis 782. Edwards last raced this car at the All Star race where he had an engine failure. He also raced it at California where he finished fifth.
    (from team PR's/sites if reported)(6-13-2012)


Goodyear Tires Notes / Fast Facts

  • Tire: Goodyear Eagle Speedway Radials:

    Set limits:
    Sprint Cup: 6 sets for Thursday test day, 5 sets for practice/qualifying and 10 sets for the race;
    Nationwide: 9 sets for the event (team can have no more than 6 sets at any given time)

    Number of Tires:
    Sprint Cup: Left-side  1,600; Right-side  1,650;
    Nationwide: Left-side  650; Right-side  650

    Tire Codes: Left-side -- D-4554; Right-side -- D-4528

    Tire Circumference:
    Left-side -- 87.5 in. (2,222 mm); Right-side -- 88.6 in. (2,250 mm)

    Technical Inspection Inflation:
    Left Front -- 30 psi; Left Rear -- 30 psi;
    Right Front -- 55 psi; Right Rear -- 50 psi

    Minimum Recommended Inflation:
    Left Front -- 24 psi; Left Rear -- 22 psi;
    Right Front -- 51 psi; Right Rear -- 48 psi

    Notes: Due to the track re-surfacing, Goodyear has brought a new tire combination to Michigan this week . . . teams in both the Sprint Cup and Nationwide Series did run this right-side tire code (D-4528) at Las Vegas earlier this season . . . this tire set-up came out of a Goodyear test at Michigan on April 3-4 . . . teams and drivers participating in that test were #2 Penske Racing Dodge with Brad Keselowski, #17 Roush Fenway Racing Ford with Matt Kenseth, #18 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota with Kyle Busch, #24 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet with Jeff Gordon and #42 Earnhardt-Ganassi Racing Chevrolet with Juan Pablo Montoya. . . . compared to what was run at Michigan last year, there are both compound and construction changes on both the left- and right-side tires . . . as on all NASCAR ovals greater than one mile in length, teams are required to run inner liners on all four tire positions at Michigan . . . air pressure in those inner liners should be 12-25 psi greater than that of the outer tire.


PAINT SCHEME NEWS

See all Paint Scheme news, links and chart for this race on the:
Paint Schemes Gallery & Race Chart page

The chart was removed from here as it was also posted on the Paint Schemes Gallery page, makes no sense to post the same info in two spots


Race / Cup Odds

Vegas Insider
NASCAR Race and other odds
Quicken Loans 400 Preview by Micah Roberts
NASCAR Top-Five Finish Prediction

World Sports Exchange:
Quicken Loans 400
2012 Sprint Cup Championship

(this is not to promote gambling but to offer readers odds and ideas on what the 'experts' think about the upcoming race and the Cup series season)

Race / Event Information

Advance Auto Parts Clash Info page

Daytona 500 Race Info page


Homestead Race Info page