Michigan and Montreal

Michigan and Montreal

 August 13, 2012

Jimmie Johnson is the new NASCAR Sprint Cup Series points leader – and it couldn’t have come at a better time. Johnson, topping the standings for the ninth consecutive season, is among four drivers who can lock up a berth in the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup™ on Sunday at Michigan International Speedway.

Marcos Ambrose did it again at Watkins Glen International and became the sixth winner ranked 11^th through 20^th to toss his helmet into the Chase “wild card” ring. Kasey Kahne remains the provisional leader but two-time Michigan winner Ryan Newman displaced Jeff Gordon in the No. 2 “wild card” spot with four races remaining in the regular season.

Dale Earnhardt Jr. broke a four-year, 143-race drought when the series visited Michigan International Speedway in June. Drivers currently ranked among the top 10 had solid finishes. Seven placed among the top 10, the current top four in the top five.

One week after Carl Edwards made his 2012 NASCAR Nationwide Series debut a winning one at Watkins Glen International, competitors go road racing again – but this time north of the border at Circuit Gilles Villeneuve in Montreal. Edwards won’t be there but Canadian international star and 2008 winner Ron Fellows will be at the controls of JR Motorsports No. 5 Chevrolet.

Among the Canadian entrants joining Fellows are Patrick Carpentier, Jacques Villeneuve and Alex Tagliani. Elliott Sadler continues to lead the standings by 13 points over reigning NNS champion Ricky Stenhouse Jr. with Glen Coors Light Pole winner Sam Hornish Jr. ranked third.

Act 2 – the season’s second half – begins on Saturday for the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series. The championship picture remains wide open with 35 points separating leader Timothy Peters from sixth-place Parker Kligerman. The gap at the top is even closer: Peters by eight over runner up Ty Dillon.

At least one title contender will debut in a new ride. Kligerman joins Peters and two-time series champion Todd Bodine at Red Horse Racing after driving in the year’s first 11 races for Brad Keselowski Racing.