With six races in the following four weeks to location the 2020 NASCAR Cup Series Playoff field and lots of other of the sport’s prime drivers aloof having a look to solidify themselves as legitimate championship contenders, intensity and motivation are at a season high.
The August time desk items an phenomenal pair of doubleheader speed weekends, starting with this week’s two-speed cease at Michigan World Speedway that entails Saturday’s FireKeepers On line casino 400 (4 p.m. ET on NBCSN, MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio) and Sunday’s Patrons Energy 400 (4: 30 p.m. ET on NBCSN, MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio).
And the 2-mile Michigan oval, positioned an hour from Detroit – the automaker capital of the arena – will demonstrate its prestigious Heritage Trophy to the automobile producer that either sweeps the 2-speed slate or earns the most functions per the head-10 finishers in each and every speed.
It’s motivation upon motivation. Several of NASCAR’s most efficient in the suggest time sit gentle outdoors the 16-driver Playoff eligibility cutoff line, in conjunction with impressive rookie Tyler Reddick, seven-time NASCAR Cup Series champion Jimmie Johnson and 24-year passe Michigan native Erik Jones, who has marvelous for the Playoffs the the leisure two seasons.
“Clearly with it being my house song, there’s somewhat bit of extra motivation as far as making an are trying to expend the speed,” acknowledged Jones, who drives the Joe Gibbs Racing No. 20 Toyota.
“In reality, it will be one, if no longer the supreme expend of my occupation if we would possibly perchance perchance perchance furthermore traipse out and expend one the races this weekend at Michigan. I guess that will be somewhat special to me. I grew up somewhat bit over an hour from the song so getting down there and racing is continuously a pleasure.
“Michigan has been a loyal effect of living for us. We’ve had some in actuality valid runs there and I guess we own some staunch notes and plans as far as what we own to attain to own a loyal weekend at Michigan in the doubleheader.”
And that goes beyond the sentimental feeling of a success at house.
gentle the championship standings, 14th-16th effect of living drivers Clint Bowyer, DiBenedetto and William Byron are separated by easiest 28 functions. Fourteenth effect of living Bowyer holds easiest a 43-point edge on Reddick. Byron has easiest a 15-point cushion on Reddick, who obtained an Xfinity Series speed at Michigan remaining year.
Ten drivers own secured their Playoff positions with victories, nonetheless, the list of those aloof vying for his or her first trophy of the year functions some somewhat impressive names. Fancy the reigning collection champion, Kyle Busch.
Busch has persevered unbelievably depressed luck – scoring four finishes of 30th or worse – and but aloof is in effect of living to do the Playoffs to are trying and develop into the first again-to-again champion since Johnson obtained 5 straight from 2006-2010. “Pointing” his plot into contention isn’t the everyday Busch is extinct to, nonetheless, and it’s made each and every speed feel more admire a “must expend” to put his title hopes again heading in the correct direction. He obtained at Michigan in 2011 and is driving a string of six consecutive prime-10 finishes at the song.
9 active drivers own victories at Michigan – six of them lots of trophies. Kurt Busch, Matt Kenseth, Joey Logano and championship leader Kevin Harvick own a group-most efficient three wins each and every. Denny Hamlin and Ryan Newman own a pair of trophies and Bowyer, Johnson and Kyle Busch own one expend each and every.
Of those outmoded winners, Kenseth, Newman and Johnson are aloof desiring to expend their plot into title contention. Now no longer easiest does Kenseth own three wins but the automobile he’s driving this season, the No. 42 Chip Ganassi Chevrolet, has three wins with old driver Kyle Larson at Michigan.
Fords own obtained the the leisure four races since Larson’s string of trophies(2016-17) – with championship leader Harvick a success twice in that span in conjunction with remaining year. Harvick has four runner-up finishes as well to those wins since 2014. And Harvick’s No. 4 Stewart-Haas Racing Ford group arrives in Michigan driving a trot of seven prime-5 finishes in 2020.
“We’re gentle more or much less grinding away,” Harvick acknowledged. “We more or much less got leisurely at New Hampshire (remaining week) and were in a region to do up a good deal of ground. Our group is doing a huge job and we’re doing what we own to attain each and per week and we’ve been fortunate to expend a few races and we’re ready to accumulate during the last few races sooner than the Playoffs initiate up.”
XFINITY SERIES GOES ROAD RACING
The NASCAR Xfinity Series moves to 1 among the nation’s most iconic facet road classes, Toll road America in Elkhart Lake, Wisc. for Saturday afternoon’s Henry 180 (12 p.m. ET on NBCSN, MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio) with nine races remaining to location the 12-driver Playoff field.
Historically the facet road path races had been a competitive highlight on the Xfinity Series time desk and as in total the case, a neighborhood of “ringers” or facet road path experts resembling 2013 Elkhart Lake speed winner A.J. Allmendinger and IMSA champion Andy Lally are entered amongst a field of Xfinity championship seekers which own noticeably raised their very own facet road path game with each and every passing season.
Defending speed winner Christopher Bell is now a NASCAR Cup Series rookie leaving easiest three outmoded winners in Saturday’s field – Justin Allgaier (2018), Jeremy Clements (2017) and Allmendinger (2013).
The Xfinity Series championship leaders – 5-speed winner Trip Briscoe and 4-speed winner Austin Cindric, outmoded Elkhart Lake winner Allgaier and two-speed winner Noah Gragson own confirmed themselves particularly prime-line on facet road classes. Briscoe already has a expend on the Indianapolis Motor Speedway facet road path and Cindric obtained two of the collection’ four facet road path races in 2019.
And with no note or qualifying in 2020, abilities will be key.
Undoubtedly, Cindric’s recent work – three wins and a runner-up attain in the the leisure four races – mixed alongside with his facet road path prowess makes him a provocative-earned accepted. He used to be runner-as a lot as Bell remaining year at Elkhart Lake after a success again-to-again facet road path races at Watkins Glen, N.Y. and Mid-Ohio. The 21-year passe led laps in all four 2019 facet road path races (furthermore in conjunction with the Charlotte ROVAL in the Playoffs). He completed fifth at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Toll road Path this year after a thrilling closing laps battle with Allmendinger. The driver of the No. 22 Team Penske Ford arrives in Elkhart Lake with a four-point edge over Briscoe atop the standings.
The Indiana-native Briscoe, nonetheless, has absolutely raised his own facet road path game. He earned his first facet road path victory at Indy overtaking the dueling Allmendinger-Cindric duo with a dramatic pass with two laps remaining. There’s every reason to imagine that more or much less must-survey run will return this weekend. His 5 wins are most in the collection and with Cindric’s recent rise, particularly, Toll road America looks to be to be like to be an qualified match between the season’s two title favorites. Briscoe, driver of the No. 98 Stewart-Haas Racing Ford, scored prime-10 finishes in all four facet road path checks remaining year. And he is in the midst of a valid stride – ending first or 2d in four of the the leisure six races.
The ancient Allgaier is furthermore poised to play a immense role in any facet road path occasion. He’s earned 5 prime-10 finishes in the the leisure six races at Elkhart Lake, in conjunction with a runner-up attain in 2013 to enhance his 2018 victory. He furthermore completed prime-10 in all four facet road path races remaining year with a most efficient of third at Watkins Glen. A laborious luck 2020 has pissed off the driver of the No. 7 JR Motorsports Chevrolet, but irrespective of all of it he’s scored prime-10 finishes in 5 of the the leisure six races. He used to be fourth at the season’s first facet road path speed at Indianapolis. A expend this week would absolutely be the qualified uptick for the group’s title outlook.
“I’m in actuality having a live up for heading to Toll road America and getting again to a pair facet road path racing,” acknowledged Allgaier, who obtained two of the collection facet road path races in 2018.
“This BRANDT Legit Agriculture group continues to put collectively rapid Camaros each and per week and we’ve confirmed to be in actuality valid on facet road classes through the years. There are surely some guys each and per week who will be tricky to beat, but if we can steer sure of the chaos and withhold our automobile on the song, we’ll own a huge shot at battling for the expend.”
GANDER TRUCKS RETURN
With easiest six races remaining to location the 10-driver NASCAR Gander RV & Initiate air Truck Series 2020 Playoff field, there is staunch reason to count on tight and intense racing in Friday night’s Henry Ford Health System 200 (6 p.m. ET on FS1, MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio) at Michigan World Speedway. However nonetheless, placing all of it the road is the very essence of this collection – as the championship driver standings will point out.
Hattori Racing Enterprises driver Austin Hill is no longer easiest the collection standings leader – by 43 functions over Ben Rhodes – he is furthermore the defending Michigan speed winner, earning a .125-2d victory over Sheldon Creed remaining summer in an beyond traditional time thriller. He brings a group-most efficient nine prime-10 finishes and a group-high 186 laps resulted in Michigan.
All three of those drivers, Hill, Rhodes and Creed return to the hastily Michigan two-miler assured of their Playoff alternatives, but that’s no longer the case for a pair of in every other case heavy championship favorites who are aloof immediate of a victory or a necessary functions boost.
Defending collection champion Matt Crafton punched his Playoff mark two weeks previously, a success at Kansas Speedway, but a pair of annual championship contenders – outmoded collection champion Johnny Sauter and 2019 Championship Four competitor Stewart Friesen – are aloof below the Playoff cutline.
Sauter is ranked 12th, 53 functions leisurely 10th effect of living Todd Gilliland. Sauter, the 2016 NASCAR Gander RV & Initiate air Truck Series champion, obtained at Michigan in 2014 and used to be speed runner-up in 2018. The driver of the No. 13 ThorSport Racing Ford completed 12th right here remaining year.
Friesen, driver of the No. 52 Halmar Friesen Racing Toyota, is ranked 14th – 71 functions leisurely the cutoff line. He has a pair of occupation-most efficient eighth-effect of living finishes in three begins at Michigan. His most efficient showing this season is fourth effect of living at Texas Motor Speedway. He completed 27th and 34th in the 2 collection’ most up-to-date two races at Kansas.
Tyler Ankrum, the 18-year passe regarded as one among the head up-and-coming drivers in the sport, is ranked 11th in the championship standings coming to Michigan, easiest 22 functions leisurely 10th effect of living Gilliland and 27 functions leisurely ninth effect of living Derek Kraus. Ankrum used to be main at Michigan with two laps remaining remaining summer when he used to be aloof in a nine-truck crash that compelled beyond traditional time.
Gilliland’s most efficient Michigan attain is fourth in 2018. He led 14 laps remaining year but used to be furthermore caught in the equal unhurried speed crash as Ankrum. This is also the 18-year passe Kraus’s Michigan debut.
Previous positioning themselves amongst the Playoff favorites, lots of of the supreme ranked drivers in the standings are aloof hunting for that first victory of the season to ship them into title contention on a high demonstrate.
Hill (Kansas), Grant Enfinger (Daytona, Atlanta), remaining year’s Michigan runner-up Creed (Kentucky) and now Crafton (Kansas) are the finest collection regulars with victories. That system that six of the 10 Playoff positions will be crammed per functions standings unless a new – championship eligible driver – wins over the following six races.
Standard collection champion Brett Moffitt is amongst those reputedly valid in the championship standings but aloof hunting for a victory state. His two wins at Michigan (2016 and 2018) do him the winningest driver in Friday night’s field. He’s completed in the head-5 in three of his four Michigan begins. He is fifth in the functions standings.
Rhodes, driver of the No. 99 ThorSport Ford, can furthermore be counted amongst the highly-motivated this weekend. His eight prime-10 finishes this season are 2d easiest to Hill’s nine. The 23-year passe Kentucky native Rhodes has a pair of prime-10 finishes at Michigan, in conjunction with a most efficient of sixth effect of living twice (2016 and 2018). He used to be 23rd remaining year.
NASCAR Cup Series
Subsequent Stir: FireKeepers On line casino 400
The Put: Michigan World Speedway
The Date: Saturday, August 8
The Time: 4 p.m. ET
TV: NBCSN, 3: 30 p.m. ET
Radio: MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio
Distance: 312 miles (156 laps); Stage 1 (Ends on Lap 40), Stage 2 (Ends on Lap 85), Closing Stage (Ends on Lap 156)
2019 Stir Winner: Joey Logano
NASCAR Cup Series
Subsequent Stir: Patrons Energy 400
The Put: Michigan World Speedway
The Date: Sunday, August 9
The Time: 4: 30 p.m. ET
TV: NBCSN, 4 p.m. ET
Radio: MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio
Distance: 312 miles (156 laps); Stage 1 (Ends on Lap 40), Stage 2 (Ends on Lap 85), Closing Stage (Ends on Lap 156)
2019 Stir Winner: Kevin Harvick
What To Stare For: Michigan World Speedway has hosted 101 NASCAR Cup Series races dating again to inaugural occasion held on June 15, 1969. The first Cup occasion at Michigan used to be obtained by NASCAR Hall of Famer Cale Yarborough driving the illustrious Wood Brothers Racing No. 21 (Mercury). … In total the 101 NASCAR Cup Series races at Michigan World Speedway own produced 50 varied poles winners and 38 varied speed winners. … NASCAR Hall of Famer David Pearson holds the legend for the most poles at Michigan World Speedway with 10 poles (1969, 1974 sweep, 1975, 1976, 1977 sweep, 1978 sweep and 1979). Joey Logano, the defending pole winner of the June Michigan speed remaining season, leads all active drivers in poles at Michigan with four (2013, 2016 sweep and 2019); followed by Kurt Busch (2010, 2011 and 2018) with three. … NASCAR Hall of Famer David Pearson leads the collection in wins at Michigan as successfully with nine victories (1969, 1972 sweep, 1973, 1974, 1975, 1976 sweep, 1978). Kurt Busch (2003, 2007, 2015), Matt Kenseth (2002, 2006, 2015), Joey Logano (2013, 2016, 2019) and Kevin Harvick (2010, 2018, 2019) lead all active collection drivers in wins at Michigan with three victories each and every. … Simplest two drivers in collection history own recorded their first NASCAR Cup Series occupation expend at Michigan World Speedway – NASCAR Hall of Famer Dale Jarrett (August 18, 1991) and Kyle Larson (August 28, 2016).
NASCAR Xfinity Series
Subsequent Stir: Henry 180
The Put: Toll road America
The Date: Saturday, August 8
The Time: 12 p.m. ET
TV: NBCSN, 11: 30 a.m. ET
Radio: MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio
Distance: 182.16 miles (45 Laps); Stage 1 (Ends on Lap 14), Stage 2 (Ends on Lap 29), Closing Stage (Ends on Lap 45)
2019 Stir Winner: Christopher Bell
What To Stare For: This weekend the NASCAR Xfinity Series will purchase on the traditionally illustrious facet road path, Toll road America. The 4.048-mile song includes 14 turns and 171 toes of elevation adjustments. … Toll road America has been house to 10 varied winners in as many begins. … Michael McDowell holds the qualifying legend at the song at 110.377 mph from August 16, 2016. … Chevrolet holds the legend for the most wins by a producer with seven and Brendan Gaughan holds the legend for the most prime fives at the song (four). … Elliott Sadler and Justin Allgaier own the most prime 10s (5) and the most lead adjustments in a speed at the song got right here in 2011 with 12. Essentially the most laps led by a speed winner used to be 35 in 2010 and the fewest laps led by a speed winner used to be one in 2011.
NASCAR Gander RV & Initiate air Truck Series
Subsequent Stir: Henry Ford Health System 200
The Put: Michigan World Speedway
The Date: Friday, August 7
The Time: 6 p.m. ET
TV: FS1, 5: 30 p.m. ET
Radio: MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio
Distance: 200 miles (100 Laps); Stage 1 (Ends on Lap 20), Stage 2 (Ends on Lap 40), Closing Stage (Ends on Lap 100)
2019 Stir Winner: Austin Hill
What To Stare For: The Gander Vans will head to Michigan World Speedway for a Friday night speed, the Henry Ford Health System 200 (6 p.m. ET on FS1, MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio). … Austin Hill obtained remaining season’s Gander Vans speed at Michigan starting from sixth-effect of living. … Michigan World Speedway is a 2-mile song with 18 levels of banking in corners, 12 levels of banking on the frontstretch and 5 levels of banking on the backstretch. The frontstretch is 3,600 toes lengthy and the backstretch is 2,242 toes lengthy. … Johnny Sauter holds the speed legend in a Toyota at 161.110 mph from August 18, 2014. … Greg Biffle, Travis Kvapil and Brett Moffitt own the most Gander Vans wins at Michigan with two, Crafton has the most poles (three) and Kyle Busch has the most prime fives (eight). … Busch and Crafton are tied for the most prime 10s (nine). … Simplest one speed has been obtained from the pole effect of living and it used to be in 2007 by Kvapil. … Toyota has the most wins by a producer at the song with eight. Jack Roush is the winningest truck proprietor with 5 victories.
— NASCAR Wire Carrier —
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