History

·         Michigan International Speedway sits on more than 1,400 acres in the “Irish Hills” of Southeastern Michigan. Ground-breaking took place on Sept. 28, 1967.

·         The first NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race at Michigan was held June 15, 1969 – won by Cale Yarborough at a speed of 139.254 mph.

·         The track was known as Michigan Speedway during the time Roger Penske was the primary owner (1996-99).

·         The two-mile speedway underwent a repave this season.

Notebook

·         There have been 87 NASCAR Sprint Cup races at Michigan International Speedway since the first race there in 1969. Other than 1973, which had just one race, there have been two races each season since 1969.

·         The first race was 500 miles in length; the second was scheduled for 600. The track was re-measured to 2.04 miles for the last race in 1970 and both races in 1971 – with the race distance being 402 miles. All other races have been scheduled for 400 miles.

·         363 drivers have competed in at least one NASCAR Sprint Cup race at Michigan International Speedway; 266 in more than one.

·         Bill Elliott leads the series in starts at Michigan with 61. Terry Labonte leads all active drivers with 55 starts; followed by Mark Martin with 54.

·         Donnie Allison won the inaugural Coors Light pole at Michigan in 1969 with a speed of 160.135 mph.

·         43 drivers have Coors Light poles at Michigan, led by David Pearson with 10. Bill Elliott leads all active drivers with six; followed by Jeff Gordon with five.

·         Six drivers have won consecutive Coors Light poles at Michigan. David Pearson holds the record for most consecutive poles at Michigan with five; fall 1976 through 1978.

·         Four active drivers have posted consecutive Coors Light poles at Michigan: Terry Labonte (1983 sweep), Bill Elliott (1984 sweep and 1988 sweep), Bobby Labonte (2003 sweep), and Brian Vickers (fall 2008 – 2009 sweep).

·         Youngest Michigan pole winner: Jeff Gordon (8/18/1995 – 23 years, 10 months, 14 days).

·         Oldest Michigan pole winner: Mark Martin (8/19/2012 – 53 years, 7 months, 10 days).

·         34 different NSCS drivers have won at Michigan International Speedway, led by David Pearson with nine wins. Bill Elliott leads all active drivers with seven; followed by Mark Martin with five.

·         Eight drivers have posted consecutive wins at Michigan International Speedway, including four consecutive by Bill Elliott (1985 sweep and 1986 sweep).

·         Youngest Michigan winner: Kurt Busch (6/15/2003 – 24 years, 10 months, 11 days).

·         Oldest Michigan winner: Harry Gant (8/16/1992 – 52 years, 7 months, 6 days).

·         Roush Fenway Racing has the most wins at Michigan in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series with 12: Mark Martin (four), Greg Biffle (three), Carl Edwards (two), Matt Kenseth (two) and Kurt Busch (one).

·         Eight different manufacturers have won in the NSCS at Michigan; led by Ford with 32 victories; followed by Chevrolet with 20.

·         16 of the 87 (18.3%) NASCAR Sprint Cup races at Michigan have been won from the Coors Light pole; the most recent was Brian Vickers in 2009.

·         The Coors Light pole position is the most proficient starting position in the field, producing more winners (16) than any other starting position at Michigan International Speedway.

·         24 of the 87 (27.5%) NASCAR Sprint Cup races at Michigan have been won from the front row: 16 from the pole and eight from second-place.

·         66 of the 87 (75.8%) NASCAR Sprint Cup races at Michigan have been won from a top-10 starting position.

·         Six of the 87 (6.8%) NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races at Michigan have been won from a starting position outside the top 20.

·         The deepest in the field that a race winner has started at Michigan was 32nd, by Mark Martin in the spring of 2009.

·         Jeff Gordon leads the series in runner-up finishes at Michigan with eight; followed by Darrell Waltrip with seven.

·         NASCAR Hall of Famer Cale Yarborough leads the series in top-five finishes at Michigan with 21; Jeff Gordon and Mark Martin lead all active drivers with 18 each.

·         Mark Martin leads the series in top-10 finishes at Michigan with 31; followed by Bill Elliott with 29.

·         Jimmie Johnson leads all active drivers in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series in average starting position at Michigan with a 9.227.

·         Carl Edwards leads all active drivers in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series in average finishing position at Michigan with an 8.235. Matt Kenseth (9.556) is the only other active driver with an average finish in the top 10.

·         All 16 active NASCAR Sprint Cup winners at Michigan International Speedway participated in at least one or more races before visiting Victory Lane. Tony Stewart won at Michigan in his third appearance, the fewest previous starts among the active NSCS winners.

·         Kevin Harvick competed at Michigan International Speedway 19 times before winning in the fall of 2010; the longest span of any of the 16 active NASCAR Sprint Cup Series winners.

·         Among the 16 active NSCS Michigan winners Kevin Harvick (19), Dale Earnhardt Jr. (17) Kyle Busch (13), Bill Elliott (13), Jeff Gordon (11) and Brian Vickers (11) all made 10 or more attempts before their first win.

·         Terry Labonte leads the series among active drivers with the most NASCAR Sprint Cup starts at Michigan without visiting Victory Lane at 55.

·         Since the advent of electronic scoring the closest margin of victory (MOV) in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series at Michigan International Speedway was the June 10, 2001 race won by Jeff Gordon over Ricky Rudd with a MOV of 0.085 second.

·         There have been two NASCAR Sprint Cup races resulting with a green-white-checkered finish at Michigan International Speedway (Scheduled No. of Laps/Actual No. of Laps): fall of 2011 (200/203); and fall of 2012 (200/201).

·         Four of the 87 NASCAR Sprint Cup races at Michigan International Speedway have been shortened due to weather conditions; the most recent was the event on 6/18/2006.   

·         Qualifying has been cancelled due to weather conditions in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series at Michigan International Speedway four times; most recently the spring of 2008 race.  

·         Three drivers have posted their first career NASCAR Sprint Cup Coors Light pole at Michigan International Speedway: Jeff Burton (8/18/1996), J.J. Yeley (6/17/2007) and Marcos Ambrose (6/17/2012).     

·         Two active NASCAR Sprint Cup Series drivers have posted their first career start at Michigan International Speedway: Carl Edwards (8/22/2004) and Landon Cassill (6/13/2010).

·         Bill Elliott leads all active drivers in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series in laps led at Michigan with 1,004 laps led in 61 starts. Jeff Gordon has led the second-most with 954.

·         Three female drivers have competed at Michigan International Speedway in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series: Janet Guthrie, Robin McCall and Shawna Robinson.

 

Driver	Starting Position	Finishing Position	Date
Janet Guthrie	12	26	6/19/1977
Janet Guthrie	15	10	8/22/1977
Janet Guthrie	18	27	8/20/1978
Robin McCall	35	29	6/20/1982
Robin McCall	29	33	8/22/1982
Shawna Robinson	32	34	6/10/2001

 

NASCAR in Michigan

·         There have been 92 NASCAR Sprint Cup races in Michigan.

Track Name	City	NSCS
Michigan International Speedway	Brooklyn	87
Grand River Speedrome	Grand Rapids	2
Michigan State Fairgrounds	Detroit	2
Monroe Speedway	Monroe	1

·         98 drivers in NASCAR national series history have their home state recorded as Michigan.

Driver	NSCS	NNS	NCWTS
Paul Goldsmith	9	0	0
Brad Keselowski	9	21	0
Johnny Benson	1	3	14
Tim Fedewa	0	4	0
Butch Miller	0	2	1
Tracy Leslie	0	1	0
Jack Sprague	0	1	28
Bob Keselowski	0	0	1

Michigan International Speedway Data

Season Race #: 15 of 36 (6-16-13)

Track Size: 2-miles

Banking/Turn 1 & 2: 18 degrees

Banking/Turn 3 & 4: 18 degrees

Banking/Frontstretch: 5 degrees

Banking/Backstretch: 2 degrees

Frontstretch Length:  3,600 feet

Backstretch Length:  2,242 feet

Race Length: 200 laps / 400 miles

 

Top 12 Driver Rating at Michigan

Greg Biffle................................ 108.9

Matt Kenseth............................. 105.5

Carl Edwards............................ 105.2

Jimmie Johnson........................ 104.2

Dale Earnhardt Jr........................ 97.1

Tony Stewart............................... 95.9

Jeff Gordon................................ 94.7

Denny Hamlin............................. 93.7

Kyle Busch................................. 92.9

Brian Vickers.............................. 91.5

Kurt Busch.................................. 89.5

Kasey Kahne.............................. 88.2

Note: Driver Ratings compiled from 2005-2012 races (16 total) among active drivers at Michigan International Speedway.

 

Qualifying/Race Data

2012 pole winner: Marcos Ambrose, Ford, 203,241 mph, 35.426 secs. 6-15-12

2012 race winner: Dale Earnhardt Jr., Chevrolet, 139.144 mph, (02:52:29), 6-17-12

Track qualifying record: Marcos Ambrose, Ford, 203,241 mph, 35.426 secs. 6-15-12

Track race record: Dale Jarrett, Ford; 173.997 mph, (2:17:56), 6-13-99

 

 

MICHIGAN-SPECIFIC STATISTICS

 

Greg Biffle (No. 16 3M / Give The Kids A Smile Ford)

·         Three wins, nine top fives, 12 top 10s; one pole

·         Average finish of 11.8

·         Series-best Average Running Position of 8.3

·         Series-best Driver Rating of 108.9

·         268 Fastest Laps Run, second-most

·         1,143 Green Flag Passes, ninth-most

·         Series-best Average Green Flag Speed of 176.334 mph

·         Series-high 2,677 Laps in the Top 15 (85.3%)

·         769 Quality Passes (passes of cars in the top 15 under green), second-most

 

Kurt Busch (No. 78 Furniture Row Racing / Serta Chevrolet)

·         Two wins, three top fives, eight top 10s; two poles

·         Average finish of 21.4

·         Average Running Position of 15.1, 10th-best

·         Driver Rating of 89.5, 11th-best

·         1,941 Laps in the Top 15 (61.8%), ninth-most

 

Kyle Busch (No. 18 M&M's Toyota)

·         One win, three top fives, five top 10s

·         Average finish of 16.4

·         Average Running Position of 14.2, ninth-best

·         Driver Rating of 92.9, ninth-best

·         Average Green Flag Speed of 175.625 mph, seventh-fastest

·         2,089 Laps in the Top 15 (66.5%), seventh-most

 

Dale Earnhardt Jr. (No. 88 National Guard “Man of Steel” Chevrolet)

·         Two wins, six top fives, 10 top 10s; two poles

·         Average finish of 14.8

·         Average Running Position of 12.5, fifth-best

·         Driver Rating of 97.1, fifth-best

·         161 Fastest Laps Run, fourth-most

·         1,313 Green Flag Passes, third-most

·         Average Green Flag Speed of 175.789 mph, fifth-fastest

·         2,083 Laps in the Top 15 (66.4%), eighth-most

·         697 Quality Passes, fourth-most

 

Carl Edwards (No. 99 Fastenal Ford)

·         Two wins, nine top fives, 13 top 10s

·         Average finish of 8.2

·         Average Running Position of 10.3, second-best

·         Driver Rating of 105.2, third-best

·         185 Fastest Laps Run, third-most

·         1,162 Green Flag Passes, seventh-most

·         Average Green Flag Speed of 176.172 mph, fourth-fastest

·         2,573 Laps in the Top 15 (82.0%), second-most

·         Series-high 790 Quality Passes

 

Jeff Gordon (No. 24 Drive To End Hunger Chevrolet)

·         Two wins, 18 top fives, 25 top 10s; five poles

·         Average finish of 11.7

·         Average Running Position of 12.6, sixth-best

·         Driver Rating of 94.7, seventh-best

·         159 Fastest Laps Run, fifth-most

·         Average Green Flag Speed of 175.591 mph, eighth-fastest

·         2,106 Laps in the Top 15 (67.1%), sixth-most

·         580 Quality Passes, 10th-most

 

Denny Hamlin (No. 11 FedEx Express Toyota)

·         Two wins, five top fives, seven top 10s

·         Average finish of 13.6

·         Average Running Position of 12.8, seventh-best

·         Driver Rating of 93.7, eighth-best

·         97 Fastest Laps Run, 12th-most

·         Average Green Flag Speed of 175.682 mph, sixth-fastest

·         1,850 Laps in the Top 15 (67.5%), 11th-most

·         610 Quality Passes, eighth-most

 

Jimmie Johnson (No. 48 Lowe's Chevrolet)

·         Four top fives, nine top 10s

·         Average finish of 15.2

·         Average Running Position of 10.3, third-best

·         Driver Rating of 104.2, fourth-best

·         Series-high 318 Fastest Laps Run

·         Average Green Flag Speed of 176.274 mph, second-fastest

·         2,392 Laps in the Top 15 (76.2%), fourth-most

·         614 Quality Passes, sixth-most

 

Kasey Kahne (No. 5 Farmers Insurance Chevrolet)

·         One win, seven top fives, eight top 10s; two poles

·         Average finish of 15.7

·         Average Running Position of 15.3, 12th-best

·         Driver Rating of 88.2, 12th-best

·         144 Fastest Laps Run, seventh-most

·         1,208 Green Flag Passes, fifth-most

·         Average Green Flag Speed of 175.478 mph, 11th-fastest

·         1,800 Laps in the Top 15 (57.3%), 12th-most

·         597 Quality Passes, ninth-most

 

Matt Kenseth (No. 20 Home Depot Husky Toyota)

·         Two wins, 12 top fives, 17 top 10s

·         Average finish of 9.6

·         Average Running Position of 10.4, fourth-best

·         Driver Rating of 105.5, second-best

·         157 Fastest Laps Run, sixth-most

·         1,112 Green Flag Passes, 12th-most

·         Average Green Flag Speed of 176.178 mph, third-fastest

·         2,512 Laps in the Top 15 (80.0%), third-most

·         716 Quality Passes, third-most

 

Mark Martin (No. 55 Aaron's Dream Machine Toyota)

·         Five wins, 18 top fives, 31 top 10s; one pole

·         Average finish of 14.0

·         Average Running Position of 15.3, 11th-best

·         Driver Rating of 87.7, 13th-best

·         104 Fastest Laps Run, 10th-most

·         Average Green Flag Speed of 175.527 mph, 10th-fastest

·         1,930 Laps in the Top 15 (61.5%), 10th-most

·         541 Quality Passes, 11th-most

 

Tony Stewart (No. 14 Brass Pro Shops / Mobil 1 Chevrolet)

·         One win, 11 top fives, 19 top 10s

·         Average finish of 11.9

·         Average Running Position of 12.8, eighth-best

·         Driver Rating of 95.9, sixth-best

·         100 Fastest Laps Run, 11th-most

·         1,095 Green Flag Passes, 13th-most

·         Average Green Flag Speed of 175.562 mph, ninth-fastest

·         2,269 Laps in the Top 15 (72.3%), fifth-most

·         648 Quality Passes, fifth-most

 

Chase Contenders

The Top 12

Following Race 14 of 36

                                                                                Rank        Season

                                                                                Last          Driver

Driver                             Points   Wins      Poles        Week        Rating

1. Jimmie Johnson       521       3           1              1           114.3

2. Carl Edwards             470       1           0              2             92.4

3. Clint Bowyer              452       0           0              3             94.8

4. Dale Earnhardt Jr.     439       0           0               6             94.6

5. Kevin Harvick            434       2           0               5             95.4

6. Matt Kenseth              418       3           2               4          114.7

7. Kyle Busch                 412       2           2               8           105.4

8. Kasey Kahne              400       1           0              7             99.2

9. Brad Keselowski        398       0           0             10             91.3

10. Greg Biffle                  395       0           0            13             80.2

11. Jeff Gordon               393       0           0             11             88.9

12. Paul Menard               385       0           0               9             76.6

______________________________________________________

 

ADDITIONAL DRIVERS

13. Tony Stewart                  378         30. David Gilliland            239

14. Aric Almirola                   377         31. Dave Blaney              232

15. Kurt Busch                     374         32. David Reutimann        202

16. Joey Logano                   369         33. David Stremme          194

17. Martin Truex Jr.               364         34. JJ Yeley                    192

18. Ryan Newman                363         35. Travis Kvapil              160

19. Jamie McMurray             363         36. Michael McDowell        80

20. Ricky Stenhouse Jr.        361         37. Timmy Hill                   80

21. Jeff Burton                     356         38. Scott Speed                75

22. Juan Pablo Montoya        337         39. Michael Waltrip            63

23. Marcos Ambrose             321         40. Terry Labonte              52

24. Mark Martin                    296         41. Ken Schrader               29

25. Denny Hamlin                 285         42. AJ Allmendinger           11

26. Casey Mears                  281         43. Scott Riggs                 10

27. Bobby Labonte                255         44. Brian Keselowski           4

28. Danica Patrick                246         45. Jason Leffler                 1

29. David Ragan                   245

Note: The first 26 races of the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series season determine which 12 drivers qualify for the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup, contested over the final 10 races of the season. After race No. 26, the top 10 earn a berth in the Chase. Spots 11 and 12 – the Wild Cards – will go to those drivers outside the top 10 with the most wins, provided they are in the top 20.

 

The NASCAR Sprint Cup Series 2013 Top 12 at Michigan International Speedway

	Driver	Races	Poles	Wins	Top Fives	Top 10s	DNFs	Average Finish	Driver Rating
1	Jimmie Johnson	22	0	0	4	9	2	15.2	104.2
2	Carl Edwards	17	0	2	9	13	0	8.2	105.2
3	Clint Bowyer	14	0	0	0	6	1	16.7	81.4
4	Dale Earnhardt Jr.	27	2	2	6	10	2	14.8	97.1
5	Kevin Harvick	24	0	1	3	8	1	14.8	82.9
6	Matt Kenseth	27	0	2	12	17	1	9.6	105.5
7	Kyle Busch	16	0	1	3	5	1	16.4	92.9
8	Kasey Kahne	18	2	1	7	8	2	15.7	88.2
9	Brad Keselowski	7	0	0	2	2	0	18.3	79.0
10	Greg Biffle	20	1	3	9	12	0	11.8	108.9
11	Jeff Gordon	40	5	2	18	25	5	11.7	94.7
12	Paul Menard	13	0	0	1	2	0	22.1	63.4

* – Based on last 16 races at Michigan International Speedway.