Turn 4 Transitions

Wednesday, August 12, 2009

By Natalie Anthony

 

Carfax 400

August 16, 2009 (Sunday) 2:00 pm – ESPN

 

 

 

            Good news to NASCAR fans without umbrellas or ponchos; it will be 89 degrees and sunny this Sunday for Michigan International Speedway’s Carfax 400 (MIS).  Yeah, that means not dodging work on Monday or taking a long lunch to catch the race.  At least the last two rain-delayed races were worth the wait and left NASCAR reeling with awesome finishes and some crazy crashes.  Bad luck two years in a row for Sam Hornish Jr. at Watkins Glen.  2008 made contact with the water barrells and in 2009 made contact with the tire barriers.  Seems to me that track officials at Watkins Glen International need to rethink some turns and provide better safety for NASCAR drivers.    

            We are headed to the Motor City Capital of the United States and the track where manufacturers beg to get a win to boost the dominance of their cars.  Earlier this year at MIS, the #5 Chevrolet of Mark Martin pleased the automakers of Chevrolet and last season in August, Carl Edwards made Ford very happy.  Is there room for Dodge or Toyota to be in the ranks of recent winners for this Sunday’s race at Michigan?  I am going to have to say no.  Statistics show that Chevy and Ford engines and fuel tanks have a good combination that allows them to run hard on the two mile track and be there in the end based on fuel mileage.  Yes, during the June race, Jimmie Johnson and Greg Biffle relenquished their lead to Mark Martin because they ran out of gas.  Another factor that is included in completing the 200 lap race is experience in saving fuel and driving hard.   Will the Chevy of the #48 and the #16 of the Ford make the same mistake this weekend; definitely not.  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Track Stats

 

                                                                        

 

 

 

Because of some of the drivers new found knowledge of resisting the urge to waste gas, Mark Martin will not have the opportunity to repeat his win from earlier this year.  A few drivers to pay attention to this Sunday will be Carl Edwards, who is slowing but surely gaining momemtum and is striving to keep his #99 in the chase and Dale Earnhardt Jr. since he has no chance in making the chase, he will take some chances to contend for the win.  Dale put the #88 in Victory Lane in June of 2008, which happens to be the last time he won a race.  Brian Vickers will show up in the Top 10 like he has his last four races at MIS as well at Greg Biffle who has had two Top 5’s his last two races.

 

 

 

 

 

3M Performance 400

 

(August 17, 2008)       

Top 10 Results  

1.  Carl Edwards

2.  Kyle Busch

3.  David Ragan

4.  Greg Biffle

5.  Matt Kenseth

6.  Mark Martin

7.  Brian Vickers

8.  Kevin Harvick

9.  Elliott Sadler

10.Jamie McMurray

 

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Lifelock 400   (June 14, 2009)            Top 10 Results   1.  Mark Martin 2.  Jeff Gordon 3.  Denny Hamlin 4.  Carl Edwards 5.  Greg Biffle 6.  Juan Pablo Montoya 7.  Tony Stewart 8.  Kurt Busch 9.  Brian Vickers 10.Clint Bowyer