Michigan & Road America Weekend Preview
Aug. 26, 2016
Staff Report
NASCAR Wire Service
Youth movement crystal clear at Michigan
Last June, fans peeked into NASCAR’s future.
The
winner, a fresh-faced kid from Connecticut who nonetheless seemingly
has been in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series forever. The runner-up,
a 20-year-old with a NASCAR Hall of Fame pedigree. Third place, a
prodigy with the California cool persona that should one day win him
titles.
Joey
Logano (26), Chase Elliott (20) and Kyle Larson (24) finished 1-2-3 in
this season’s first Michigan race, forming the youngest
top three in NASCAR Sprint Cup Series history.
In
Sunday’s Pure Michigan 400 (2 p.m. ET on NBCSN), the same aero package
will be in play as the June race. That could bode well for
the crop of talented youngsters, which also includes 26-year-old Austin
Dillon who finished eighth in June and 22-year-old Ryan Blaney who
finished 17th.
Though
there are few guarantees in NASCAR, a strong run by the driver of the
No. 22 Ford feels like the closest to a sure thing at Michigan.
Logano
owns seven straight top-10 finishes at MIS, including two wins. During
that streak, Logano has led the most laps in three races.
For his career, Logano claims two wins, four top fives, 10 top 10s and an average finish of 12.8 in the Great Lakes State.
Look for first-time winner in final road course race of XFINITY Series season
On
Monday at the NASCAR Hall of Fame, Brennan Poole helped unveil a new
ticket program that offered free tickets for any kids under
the age of 12.
It
was an exciting start to the week for Poole, who explained the new
program to a throng of children who assembled for the ‘kids-only’
press conference.
Now, he looks for an exciting
end to the week, this time in Road America’s victory lane with a trophy – and Chase berth – in hand.
And
statistically speaking, it just might happen following Saturday’s Road
America 180 Fired Up By Johnsonville (3 p.m. ET on NBCSN).
Poole
looks to become the latest first-time winner at Road America. Over the
last six and half seasons (2010-2016) the NASCAR XFINITY
Series has seen 20 first-time series winners, and over that time, six
(30%) have come from two tracks: Road America and Texas Motor Speedway.
Road
America’s series first-time winners are Nelson Piquet Jr. (2012), AJ
Allmendinger (2013) and Brendan Gaughan (2014). This season,
the NASCAR XFINITY Series has seen two new first-time winners – Daniel
Suárez at Michigan and Justin Marks at Mid-Ohio.
Brennan
Poole joins Brandon Jones, Darrell Wallace Jr., Blake Koch and Ryan
Sieg as drivers inside the top-12 in points who are still
looking for their first NASCAR XFINITY Series career win.
With Chase spots dwindling, Hemric may need a win
Daniel
Hemric has enjoyed a strong sophomore season, scoring top 10s in all
but three races this season. The success has launched him
to second in the points standings.
But if he doesn’t win a race – which he has yet to do – all that success might mean nothing.
With
three races remaining prior to the inaugural NASCAR Camping World Truck
Series Chase, chances to lock up a spot are dwindling.
There
have been six winners, who would each take one of the eight Chase
spots. If there are two new winners, that would leave Hemric
on the outside looking in, regardless of a potential second-place
points finish.
So,
Saturday’s Career for Veterans 200 (1 p.m. ET on FS1) holds even more
importance to Hemric, who drives for Michigan native Brad
Keselowski.
“Michigan
is a very important race for our entire company,” Hemric said. “Going
off of how I ran at Michigan last year and knowing how
the truck needs to feel will play big into how we approach practice.
The most important thing is making sure the truck is exactly where it
needs to be in the race. You have to get your truck to where it's not
only fast, but it also drives good; that's the
key at Michigan. The guy who can stay in the gas the longest is
probably going to be the best."
Hemric will go for his first career win at Michigan where he finished seventh last year in his first-ever start there.
Race Weekend Guide
NASCAR Sprint Cup Series
Race:
Pure Michigan 400
Place:
Michigan International Speedway
Date and Time:
Sunday, Aug. 28 at 2 p.m. ET
Tune-in:
NBCSN, MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio
Distance:
400 miles (200 laps)
What to Watch For:
Three
races remain until the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup, leaving winless
drivers just three more chances to secure an automatic berth to the
playoffs with a victory.
... Michigan native Brad Keselowski looks for his first NASCAR Sprint
Cup Series win at his home track. … Alex Bowman will drive the No. 88
for Dale Earnhardt Jr., who recovers from concussion-like symptoms.
NASCAR XFINITY Series
Race:
Road America 180 Fired Up By Johnsonville
Place:
Road America
Date and Time:
Saturday, Aug. 27 at 3 p.m. ET
Tune-in:
NBCSN, MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio
Distance:
182.16 miles (45 laps)
What to Watch:
Only
four races are left before the NASCAR XFINITY Series Chase. ... Road
America marks the third and final road course of the season. Joey Logano
won the first at Watkins
Glen; Justin Marks won the second at Mid-Ohio. … Richard Childress
Racing has won the last two races at Road America, with Brendan Gaughan
and Paul Menard.
NASCAR Camping World Truck Series
Race:
Careers for Veterans 200
Place:
Michigan International Speedway
Date and Time:
Saturday, Aug. 27 at 1 p.m. ET
Tune-in:
FS1, MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio
Distance:
200 miles (100 laps)
What to Watch:
Ben
Kennedy is coming off his first victory, one that locked him into the
Chase. … Series wins leader William Byron looks for his sixth win, a
week after announcing that
he has signed with Hendrick Motorsports to run in the NASCAR XFINITY
Series fulltime in 2017. … Last year’s NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Sunoco
Rookie of the Year, Brett Moffitt, is coming off finishes of third
(Pocono) and second (Bristol).
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