FireKeepers Casino 400
Michigan International Speedway
Brooklyn, Michigan | Sunday, June 12, 2016
1 PM EST | Live on FS1
Pocono Recap:
Rain, fog and severe weather ruled the weekend, as it postponed the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race from Sunday to Monday and shortened the NASCAR Xfinity race on Saturday. Monday was the opposite of the whole weekend as it was a beautiful day in the Pocono Mountains and it was an amazing day for the elder Busch, Kurt, as he stretched the fuel (with a Interim Crew Chief nonetheless) to take the win. Leading up to Monday's race, Hendrick Motorsports had won 5 of the last 7 Pocono races. Make that 6 of the last 8 as SHR gets their motors from the Hendrick stable. It wasn't a great day for the either of my fantasy teams, for the Yahoo league my only bright spot was Brad Keselowski. He overcame an early pit road penalty for an unapproved body modification to finish 3rd. Martin Truex Jr's Coke 600 domination stayed right there in Concord as he struggled all day to come home 19th. The day was full of comers and goers unless your last name was Elliot. The rookie from Dawsonville continued his hot streak to lead the most laps and finish 4th. Tony Stewart's hopes of the Chase took a hit as he got loose and hit the wall and in the process collected teammate Danica Patrick and Landon Cassill. But the story of the day was Kurt Busch, on the final restart his interim Crew Chief came over the radio telling him they were 2 laps short. He had more then enough to capture the flag and park the #41 Haas-Automation, Monster Energy Chevrolet into victory lane.
Pocono Shiny Star Award- Brad Keselowski
After a pit road penalty under the 3rd caution that dropped him back to 38th he rebounded to finish 3rd.
Pocono SURPRISE! Award- Chase Elliot
In his first Cup start at Pocono, Elliot dominated the middle portion of the race and if there was another caution to bring the field back to Kurt, Elliot would've challenged for the win.
Pocono Wreck of the Day- Tony Stewart/ Danica, Cassill
Tony got loose after a 3 wide situation, collected Danica on his way to the Turn 1 wall and in the process collected Landon Cassill.
On to this week, Michigan International Raceway. I have been to this track so many times I can't even remember how many. My first visit to the Irish Hills was back in 1993 at the age of 3. To short to see I had to go on the shoulders of my dad, and the whole group of us wearing bumble bee colored Miller Genuine Draft shirts. The winner that day was Ricky Rudd in the Tide Ride #5 driving for Rick Hendrick.
 |
| Here is the shirt I wore on 1993 Race day at Michigan |
Well on to my picks for this weekend FireKeepers Casino 400.
Group A-
Dale Earnhardt Jr.
JR Nation where are you? The last 3 weeks have been nothing but first wins of the season (Ku. Busch, Truex and Kenseth). Could this be the weekend for JR? Coming off a 2nd place finish at Pocono and a 2nd place finish in this race last year. the Big Mo stays with the 88 this weekend.
Joey Logano
In the last three June races Logano has finished 9th twice and 5th. He won the August race in 2013 and in the last six races he has not finished worst then 9th. First win of the season is in the windshield of the 22 team.
WE2W4- Kenseth, Harvick, Keselowski
Group B-
Carl Edwards
Edwards leads all active drivers in Average finish here (9.65) 2 wins, 9 top5s and 16 top 10s in his 23 career races at Michigan. Finished 6th last August. The #19 Toyota will be a factor by days end.
Austin Dillon
Finished 4th last August, has 1 top5 and 1 top10 in the last 4 races here at Michigan. I'm hoping his day this weekend ends better then the one at Pocono. Look for Dillon to get things rolling again this weekend.
Kasey Kahne
In 24 races at this track, Kahne has 1 win (2006). So it has been awhile but with 8 top5s and 10 top10s and the momentum he has coming into this weekend, Kahne is in an almost automatic start here.
Kyle Larson
In only 4 starts, Larson has one DNF. But other then that he has a 13th, 17th and an 8th place finish. Coming off an 11th place and the momentum he has had in the last 4 weeks I have to stick with him. This new downforce package could help Larson get that first career win.
WE2W4- Ryan Newman, Greg Biffle, Tony Stewart
Group C
Chase Elliot and Ryan Blaney
This is incredible, this class of rookies starting with these 2 is going to go down as the best ever. Chase Elliot is the closer of the two to their first career victory. Both are amazing talents and its going to be fun to watch these two for years to come. Ryan Blaney is making his 3rd cup start at Michigan and Chase is making his first start here.
I just wish I had infinite starts with these two, because I'm going with 2 totally different drivers just to have these two later in the year.
Who I'm Actually taking-
Ty Dillon and Regan Smith
Another week in the books, and I'm bringing up the rear. Its all going to pay off when I have those two rookies for the end of the year. Call it a dumb strategy but when other guys have to go with the Landon Cassill's of NASCAR I'll have two of the best young stars of NASCAR. If you watched the Sprint All-Star race and remember the awesome racing there was, that downforce package will be re-introduced. Lets see how exciting the racing is going to be. Again, Thank you to all of you that read this, I enjoy doing this. Please Please Please SHARE, LIKE, COMMENT so I can continue to make this blog better!
Until Next Time
GOD SPEED
BOOGER
No comments:
Post a Comment