The dog days of summer have nothing on the heat of forty-three drivers battling for the win. Throw on top of that a berth in the Chase and a ninety-degree day on track, and it was one hot day for the drivers of the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series in the Pure Michigan 400 at MIS.
In qualifying on Saturday, it was Joe Gibbs Racing that was the hottest. Matt Kenseth (#20 Dollar General Toyota) scorched his way to the pole, leading a trio of JGR drivers to start in the top three. The only team driver to not start at the front would be Kyle Busch (#18 Interstate Batteries Toyota), who started at the rear after a practice crash.
The start of the race would be all about another driver though, and not in a good way. Timmy Hill (#98 Ford) would delay the start of the race after leaking oil on the apron when leaving the pits. He would return to pit road for repairs, only to have the replacement oil pan come off on track at Lap 11, bringing out the second caution of the race.
The early stories in the race would be the new high drag package, in its second race this season, and the varying pit strategy. The package would lead to tighter racing at the front, though it would be a different pit sequence for Austin Dillon (#3 DOW Chevy) that would allow him to go from the back to the lead. He would do battle with Matt Kenseth, who led for much of the race in the Irish Hills.
As the race wore past halfway, fuel mileage would be first on the minds of drivers and crew chiefs. Many teams pitted near halfway hoping to be able to stretch their fuel out so they could finish the race with only one more stop. However, a debris caution with 80 laps to go would make the window a little easier for most teams, as they pit under caution.
However, two drivers would stay out under caution and gamble on their fuel. Austin Dillon and Carl Edwards (#19 Arris Toyota) would try and stretch it out and lead, but Matt Kenseth was too strong and charged back into the lead. But after a stretch of cautions including spins by Clint Bowyer (#15 5-Hour Energy Toyota) and Tony Stewart (#14 Mobil 1 Chevy), could those efforts be outstretched?
On the restart with just over fifty laps to go, a strong battle would shape up before final pit stops between Kenseth and Dillon for the race lead. However, the final pit stops would cost Dillon, slipping him from the battle for the lead into the pack. Yet, a caution with just under twenty laps to go could shuffle the deck when Jimmie Johnson (#48 Lowe’s Chevy) went for a spin.
In the end, no one was going to touch Matt Kenseth. He was the dominant driver all day long, leading the most laps, and winning the Pure Michigan 400 at MIS. Kevin Harvick (#4 Jimmy John’s Chevy) would finish second, and Martin Truex Jr. (#78 Furniture Row Chevy) third.
The points battle for the Top 16 spots would tighten up with Clint Bowyer’s struggles, meaning even more beating and banging in store at Bristol Motor Speedway next weekend. See the top stock car drivers in the world race at the last coliseum on Saturday night on NBC.
Main Image
