3M Performance 400 - Michigan International Speedway (8/19/07) - NASCAR Forum - NASCAR Space -Forums, Schedules, Race Results, News

mrsmopar12 · #1 (**permalink**) 08-14-2007, 12:41 PM

Race Capsule

What: Race 23 of 36 on Nextel Cup circuit
Where: Michigan International Speedway, Brooklyn, MI
When: August 19, 2007
Laps: 200
Track Length: 2. miles
Race Length: 400.00 miles

moenemdown15 · #2 (**permalink**) 08-15-2007, 09:09 AM

#25 to run the '57 Chevy scheme at MIS: This weekend Casey Mears' #25 National Guard/GMAC Chevy will feature a special paint scheme to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the 1957 Chevrolet, one of the most recognizable cars in American motoring history. The scheme will include decals replicating the iconic 1957 car design. In addition to the '57 Chevy paint scheme, Mears #25 Chevy will also recognize Sundance Chevrolet of Grand Ledge, Mich., on its deck lid this weekend. As a co-primary sponsor on the #25 Chevy, GMAC recognizes outstanding GM dealerships throughout the NASCAR season.(Hendrick Motorsports PR), approx 10-12 Chevy's are scheduled to run the '57 Scheme, see my Paint Scheme Gallery Chart for the most recent list and some images.(8-15-2007)

moenemdown15 · #3 (**permalink**) 08-15-2007, 09:10 AM

Domino's Pizza back on the #00: Domino's Pizza returns to the hood of David Reutimann's #00 Toyoya for a homecoming this weekend, as Domino's headquarters is based out of nearby Ann Arbor, Mich. In addition to gracing the hood of the #00 Dominos.com Camry, Domino's will also carry a special paint scheme on Reutimann’s #99 Busch Series entry. Both Reutimann and team owner Waltrip will visit Domino's World Resource Center (corporate headquarters) on Thursday to speak with employees.(Toyota PR)(8-15-2007)

free_the_eight · #4 (**permalink**) 08-15-2007, 08:00 PM

Oh, another two miler..........I LOVE LONG TRACK RACING!

mrsmopar12 · #5 (**permalink**) 08-16-2007, 11:25 AM

NASCAR team reports as the Nextel Cup tour heads to Michigan International Speedway:

Jeff Gordon

No. 24 Chevrolet, Hendrick Motorsports

This week: Although Gordon has two wins, 15 top-fives, 20 top-10s and four poles in 29 starts at Michigan International Speedway, the points leader arrives in Michigan steaming mad over his spin-out in the closing laps at Watkins Glen that turned an apparent victory into a major disappointment. That has Gordon looking for redemption Sunday. "I told the guys last time that I'd make it up to them, and I plan on doing that again," he said. Gordon already has clinched the first berth in the 12-driver lineup for the Chase, so he can go all out for victory in Sunday's race because seeding in the Chase is based on number of victories. "It's all about wins right now," Gordon said. "We want to get as many bonus points as we can before the Chase starts. Essentially, second place pays the same amount of points for us the next four races that last place does — nothing."

Last week: Gordon spun from the lead with less than two laps remaining at Watkins Glen. Although he recovered to finish ninth, scoring the team's 20th top-10 in 22 races this season, he was not a happy driver afterward. "Obviously, I was very disappointed following the race," Gordon said. "We were terrible during Saturday's practice at The Glen, but the guys on the DuPont team gave me a great car and made some great calls in the pits during the race. I wanted that win and pushed, but I pushed too hard. The team deserved the win and the driver didn't deliver. It's like what happened at Texas earlier this year when I brushed the wall. I was disappointed after that race just like I was at Watkins Glen."

Etc.: This week's race marks the return of crew chief Steve Letarte, but the No. 24 team did not miss a beat while he was on a six-race suspension. In those six races, Gordon posted top-10 finishes in each of them — including four top-fives — and accumulated more points than any other driver, increasing his lead in the point standings by 173. "Jeff Meendering did a tremendous job filling in for Steve, but it'll be great to have Steve back," Gordon said. "I've been impressed with Steve's ability to call a race, and he has given me great cars this year."

Denny Hamlin

No. 11 Chevrolet, Joe Gibbs Racing

This week: Hamlin is looking for his first top-five in three starts at Michigan. His best finish there is ninth in this race last August, and he was 14th there in June. He has completed all but one lap in those three starts and has led one lap at Michigan. This season, he has one win, nine top-fives, 13 top-10s and one pole.

Last week: Hamlin is coming off an impressive second-place finish at Watkins Glen. "It was a good race for us, but you start thinking about ways you could have won the race, and I had Jeff Gordon at a pretty vulnerable situation there on one restart. I felt like I had to be a little more aggressive — I could have got around him," Hamlin said. "And then, of course, I felt like after that we could have checked out because we could reel those guys back in after a long run. It just took a little while to get going. When I did that, I opened up the door for Tony Stewart and let him pass me, and that was kind of the move that won him the race, I think. I definitely think it's a strong run for our team. This definitely exceeds expectations we had going into this weekend, so it's still a great run for both the No. 11 (Hamlin) and the No. 20 (Stewart)."

Etc: Hamlin is excited about having Kyle Busch as his new teammate. JGR announced Tuesday that Busch is joining the team. "I think he brings a lot to the team for sure," Hamlin said. "I think his talent level ... he's definitely one of the four best talents, in my opinion, in the garage, the other one being Tony Stewart, so if I got two of the best four in the garage I'm pretty excited about having them as teammates. I think it's going to push me to be better, and overall in the future I think he's fast and I think he's going to make us have to step up our game to keep up with him."

Matt Kenseth

No. 17 Ford, Roush Fenway Racing

This week: Kenseth arrives at one of his favorite race tracks; the wide 2-mile oval is just the type of layout where the 2003 Cup champion can excel. Kenseth has two wins, six top-fives and 10 top-10s in 16 races at Michigan. He finished 42nd there in June after he was involved in a multi-car crash on the backstretch on lap 76. So far this season, Kenseth has one win, seven top-fives, 14 top-10s and an average finish of 11.4. He has led 13 of 21 races for 257 laps. "That's for sure one of my favorite tracks," Kenseth said. "It's up in the Midwest and we've had good cars there in the past. That's one that I definitely always look forward to. Like any track, success at Michigan is about having good cars. Michigan is not a super difficult track to drive if you have a car handling the way it needs to handle, so we've just been able to get the cars to drive like I need them to drive to be able to run good at that track. We've always had good engines, good aerodynamics and good-handling cars there, and that is what you need. You kind of need it all there. It's just a big ol' sweeping track and if you can get your car to handle the right way it's a lot of fun."

Last week: Kenseth finished 12th at Watkins Glen.

Etc: Since the beginning of 2000, Kenseth has more top-five and top-10 finishes on the two-mile ovals (Fontana and Michigan) than any other Cup driver during that span. Kenseth has scored 10 top-fives and 17 top-10s in a combined 27 starts at two-mile ovals.

Tony Stewart

No. 20 Chevrolet, Joe Gibbs Racing

This week: As the summer heats up, so does Stewart, who comes to Michigan with three wins in the last four Cup races this season. That has vaulted him into the top four in the standings, and he's looking for more Sunday at a track where he has one win, eight top-fives, 11 top-10s and an average finish of 13.1. He finished third at Michigan in June and has led five of 17 races at MIS for 167 laps. Stewart's Michigan victory came in the June race in 2000. "You can definitely move around at Michigan," Stewart said. "The thing about Michigan is that it's been there for so long now that there's no one, specific groove anymore. You can literally race from the white line on the apron all the way to the wall. That's the groove. Depending on how your car is driving, you can move around on the race track and help yourself. That's what makes Michigan such a fun race track for the drivers. The drivers can really help themselves out if they don't have a car that's working right. You can move around on the race track and find a spot that helps your car do what you need it to do. It's so wide and there are so many lines that you can run — that's what makes Michigan fun for drivers. You have to figure out how to gauge your momentum and know where you want to be on that race track when you enter those corners. Michigan's layout gives the drivers the flexibility to really make a difference in their car's handling."

Last week: After spinning out from "wheel hop" in the first turn at Watkins Glen, Stewart was able to rally back from 19th place to win when the leader, Jeff Gordon, did the same thing in the first turn with less than two laps remaining. Stewart's victory is important because with three wins, he would start third in the Chase thanks to the bonus points that come with winning races. "I hope what we've seen in the last four races is what we're going to see in the Chase," Stewart said. "I hope for every four races we run, we win three of them and the other ones, I hope we run second. Obviously, there's a lot of racing to go, and you see how easy and how quick a string can end and go just the opposite for you. We hope that we're getting hot at the right time and that we take the next two or three weeks and lock ourselves into the Chase to where we can, in those last couple of races, just strictly go for the win and get those extra bonus points. Then hopefully, once the Chase starts, we can be on a run like we are right now. I feel like we're in the best position of anybody right now with what's happened three out of the last four weeks. It's just a matter of keeping your fingers crossed and hoping that carries on the rest of the year."

Etc: Stewart checked in with his thoughts on having young, aggressive Kyle Busch join Joe Gibbs Racing in 2008. "I'm excited. He'll be a great teammate. He's going to be a great asset to Joe Gibbs Racing," Stewart said. "I think he's a great kid. He knows how to go fast. He's a great talent and he has a lot of natural driving ability. That's what you look for in a teammate. Kyle and I get along really well. He's aggressive like we are, and I think that kind of an attitude works at Joe Gibbs Racing. When you get people in a team that have the same aggressiveness, it makes the whole team even better."

Carl Edwards

No. 99 Ford, Roush Fenway Racing

This week: Edwards is looking to sweep both Michigan races this season — his victory in June ended a 52-race winless streak. He has one win, four top-fives and five top-10 finishes in six Cup starts at Michigan. "I always say Darlington is my favorite race track, but Michigan is becoming a close second," Edwards said. "Michigan has a lot of personal history for me, and I'm always glad to go there — it's where I made my first Cup start, where I made my 100th start and where I broke a 52-race winless streak with a win in June."

Last week: Edwards is coming off a strong eighth-place finish at Watkins Glen.

Etc.: Edwards' 52-race winless streak was a hairy problem for crewmember Tom Giacchi, who hadn't shaved in more than a year and said he wasn't going to until Edwards won a race. Giacchi was starting to look like a creature from the woods. "People grabbed their children at Wal-Mart when they saw him and locked their doors when they saw him coming," Edwards said after the victory. "He's a good-looking guy. He used to get a lot of dates."

Jeff Burton

No. 31 Chevrolet, Richard Childress Racing

This week: It would seem that the Michigan oval would be a perfect fit for Burton's driving style, but he has yet to win a race there in 27 starts. He has just four top-five and five top-10 finishes during that span with a best finish of third in the 1999 June race. Burton finished 24th at MIS in June. "We've struggled being loose there and not turning as well as we needed to," Burton said. "We just never got the right balance. We have some opinions and theories that we have built over the past couple of years based on those things, and hopefully we'll take a different package this coming week that can help us run there. We know what our problems have been. The key is knowing how to fix those problems. Michigan is a slick race track. You think of Michigan as being a two-mile high-banked real fast race track, but, in fact, it's a low-grip race track. I think the competition at Michigan is a lot better than it was 10 years ago, and you have a lot more teams that have a chance of being competitive. There are more quality teams throughout the garage area, not just drivers."

Last week: Burton was the innocent bystander in the crash between Juan Pablo Montoya and Kevin Harvick with 15 laps to go at Watkins Glen. Burton had nowhere to go and slammed into Montoya's parked car. Burton finished 40th after starting fourth.

Etc.: With four races to go in the "Race to the Chase," Burton doesn't feel that comfortable in sixth place. "Obviously, points are important," Burton said. "The first 26 races are about position and the last 10 are about racing for points, as you always do, but you are also trying to become better. We haven't run as well in the past two months as we would have liked to run. We haven't been terrible, but we haven't been great, either. We feel good about where we are now, but there is a lot of racing left to go. We have to continue to be smart and try to improve. That's what we are focusing on."

Jimmie Johnson

No. 48 Chevrolet, Hendrick Motorsports

This week: Johnson has one top-five and four top-10s in 11 starts at Michigan. He finished 19th there in June. "There are so many lanes to choose from, and from a driver's perspective that's what makes a track fun," Johnson said. "If you aren't happy with how you are getting through a turn, you go find another place on the track. That's what leads to side-by-side racing and that's what the fans like to see as well. We have been performing well, but until the last two weeks we have had some crazy bad luck and really didn't have the finishes we wanted during the summer months. We are certainly not happy in seventh, but with the way the Chase works this year — the seeding process and all that — we just have to focus on transferring and then we will be toward the top, if not tied for the top."

Last week: Johnson is hoping his third-place finish at Watkins Glen can get him back on the right track as he closes in on the Chase.

Etc: Crew chief Chad Knaus rejoins the team after a six-race absence. "I have been proud of the team and what we have done without Chad," Johnson said. "I think we have kept our pace up. But we really look forward to having him back this week, getting everything in line and getting ready for the Chase. I have to give our guys a lot of credit (for) staying focused throughout these six races."

Kyle Busch

No. 5 Chevrolet, Hendrick Motorsports

This week: Now that Busch knows he will be driving for Joe Gibbs Racing in 2008, he can focus on finishing the season strong before he departs Hendrick Motorsports. "I don't think distractions have been a problem at all for this team," Busch said. "Our worst finish of the summer has been 13th at Chicago, so we're in this for the long haul. This team has a lot of talent, and as a driver I've been giving it my all. Even when things haven't gone well, we've recovered." Although he has enjoyed success at Michigan in other racing series, Busch is still seeking his first Cup victory there. Busch led 87 laps en route to a win in the NASCAR Busch Series in August 2004, and he has also earned a pole position and two runner-up finishes in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series. In five Cup starts, the 22-year-old driver has led 40 laps around the two-mile track and scored a career-best MIS finish of sixth in June.

Last week: Busch's seventh-place finish at Watkins Glen was his 12th top-10 this season.

Etc.: Busch will make an appearance during "NASCAR Night" at the Cincinnati Reds ballpark on Aug. 20. Busch will join other NASCAR personalities, including former Hendrick Motorsports driver Terry Labonte, in greeting fans and signing autographs beginning at 5:30 p.m. The Reds will take on Busch's favorite team, the Atlanta Braves, that evening.

Clint Bowyer

No. 07 Chevrolet, Richard Childress Racing

This week: Not only is Bowyer looking for his first MIS win, he's also looking for his first top-five and top-10 finish in three races there. His best finish was 16th in June. "I learned that I had a little too much confidence going into that race," Bowyer recalled. "In practice, I thought we had the car to beat and were going to be a force to be reckoned with, but when they dropped the green flag we went backward. I don't think there was a car on the track that got passed more than we did that day. The difference between that day versus last year is that I would have overdriven the car and crashed, and, as a team, we would have shorted out and been fighting all day. In June, we were able to keep our senses about us, stay under control and get at least a halfway decent finish out of it instead of being on the hook and finishing 40th."

Last week: Bowyer finished 16th at Watkins Glen.

Etc.: Bowyer has finished every race this season and is one of only three drivers in the top 10 in points to have done so. His teammate, Kevin Harvick, and Denny Hamlin are the other two.

mrsmopar12 · #6 (**permalink**) 08-16-2007, 11:27 AM

Kevin Harvick

No. 29 Chevrolet, Richard Childress Racing

This week: This year's Daytona 500 winner is sinking fast after his latest misfortune involving Juan Pablo Montoya on Sunday. Harvick has two top-five finishes and two top-10s in 13 Michigan races, and he finished seventh there in June. "Michigan is one of those places that you have to have the entire package to compete for the win," he said. "Being successful has a lot to do with the horsepower you have under the hood and how well you can get your car to handle all over the race track. Michigan is a little different than most tracks. You can run from the white line to the wall on the first lap if you want to. At tracks like Chicago and Kansas, you have to slowly creep up the race track and wait until rubber builds to make your way up near the wall. At Michigan, you can go right to the wall on lap one or lap 100. It really doesn't matter."

Last week: Harvick's run-in and subsequent altercation with Montoya at Watkins Glen left him with a 36th-place finish. "You just got run over," Harvick said. "I guess the No. 1 (Truex) ran over the No. 42 (Montoya). It's one of those things where our Chevrolet was really good there at the end, and it just felt like we'd saved our car enough to have a chance to win there and it all just goes up in smoke because some people get impatient. But I just hate it. I'm frustrated with Montoya. It just seems like he runs over somebody every week."

Etc.: Harvick's Busch Series victory at Watkins Glen tied him with Jack Ingram for second place on the all-time Busch Series win list at 31. Only Mark Martin has more — he won 47 times. "The guys went home and pounded everything out and straightened everything out and fixed everything and basically rebuilt the car after Montreal. We brought it out for practice and it was driving well from the start," Harvick said. "We stuck to our fuel-mileage plan. Everything went right, and the car was driving really good… it made for a great day."

Martin Truex Jr.

No. 1 Chevrolet, DEI

This week: Truex finished second in the June race at Michigan, and he will drive the same car on Sunday. "One of our most dependable cars," as Truex calls it, also was used at both Pocono races, Indianapolis, Chicagoland, Las Vegas and California Speedway. "She's been a real workhorse," he said. "We've been bringing good cars to the track every week, and that helps to put your mind at ease. It's one less thing to worry about (in the race to the Chase)."

Last week: Truex was all smiles after finishing sixth at Watkins Glen to pull within 68 points of the top 10. "The car wasn't good when we started, but by the end of the day we had a top-10 car and we got the finish we deserved," said Truex. "The main thing for us is that we had a good points day."

Etc.: Truex said he was upset that he ran into Juan Pablo Montoya on the restart with 17 laps to go that triggered a multi-car accident and a confrontation between Montoya and Kevin Harvick. "I got a great restart and he swerved down to block me," said Truex. "He hit the brakes and we made contact. That's the first time I've been involved in anything like that since I've been in Cup racing."

Kurt Busch

No. 2 Dodge, Penske Racing

This week: Busch has scored five top-10 finishes in 13 starts at Michigan, including a win in 2003. In June, Busch was running in the top five when he was forced to make an unscheduled pit stop with 40 laps remaining because of loose lug nuts and finished 25th. He will be driving a new car this weekend. "We just have to keep focusing on the big picture," said crew chief Pat Tryson.

Last week: Busch knew he needed to play it safe, so he pitted while running second at Watkins Glen to take on fuel during the yellow flag for Dale Earnhardt's blown engine. Despite falling all the way to 37th after a speeding penalty on pit road, Busch was able to rally to finish 11th and boost his hold on the 12th spot in the standings. He began the day with only a seven-point edge over 13th place and ended it with a 94-point advantage.

Etc.: Busch said "that's the hardest I've ever driven to just get an 11th-place finish out of it (at Watkins Glen). It was so frustrating to have a car capable of winning or at least a top-five car and have to hit pit road because of the fuel mileage we were getting. But by the time I got home (Sunday night), it had really registered that the Glen was a big-picture race for us."

CUT-OFF FOR "CHASE FOR THE CHAMPIONSHIP"

Ryan Newman

No. 12 Dodge, Penske Racing

This week: After winning back-to-back races at Michigan in August 2003 and June '04, Newman has failed to finish in the top 10 in the last six races at the track. He will be driving the same car this weekend that ran eighth at Chicago last month. For that reason, Newman is optimistic that another top-10 run at his home track is a "real possibility."

Last week: Newman spun off the track on lap 12, but he was able to rally for a 13th-place finish to stay in the thick of the fight for the 12th spot in the Nextel Cup standings. Newman moved up to 13th place and trails teammate Kurt Busch by 94 points. "The balance (on the car) wasn't good," said Newman. "I drove it off the race track, which got us behind, and then we fought back with a good strategy. It helped in the points."

Etc.: Newman believes his team has a "really good chance" of being in the top 12 after Richmond. "We're in the hunt for the Chase, and each week it feels like we're getting closer and closer to moving into that 12th spot," said Newman.

Dale Earnhardt Jr.

No. 8 Chevrolet, DEI

This week: Earnhardt has finished in the top six in the last three races at Michigan, and he will be racing the same chassis this weekend that has posted those three top-six finishes. For that reason, Earnhardt is very optimistic that he will run up front again on Sunday. "No one has been better or more consistent at Michigan than we have been the last few years," said Earnhardt. "We're taking our favorite car. I can't wait."

Last week: Earnhardt's hopes of contending for this year's championship took a major hit at Watkins Glen as engine failure resulted in a 42nd-place finish. He was running third at the time the engine blew up. Earnhardt fell to 14th place in the standings and is 100 points out of the top 12. This was the third time in the last four races that Earnhardt had mechanical problems while running in the top five.

Etc.: Earnhardt knows "some people are going to write us off for the Chase after our problems at Watkins Glen. But I think it's foolish to do so because we're a great team and we're gonna do everything we can to scratch and claw and fight for wins and every position on every lap."

Greg Biffle

No. 16 Ford, Roush Fenway Racing

This week: Biffle has finished in the top seven in five of the last six races at Michigan, including scoring back-to-back wins in August 2004 and June 2005. He also won two Craftsman Truck Series races at MIS. "Michigan has always been one of my better tracks, so we have high hopes for this weekend," said Biffle.

Last week: Biffle kept alive his hopes of being in the top 12 after Richmond with a 10th-place finish at Watkins Glen as he moved up one spot in the standings to 15th. He is 212 points out of 12th. "After the way the race started, I'm happy with a top-10 finish," said Biffle after the race. "We were pretty loose at the beginning, but the crew made a few adjustments that made it drivable and we were able to hang on for a decent finish."

Etc.: Biffle will be one of the drivers appearing at the 3M Car Care Auto Fair at MIS on Saturday and Sunday. The Auto Fair is free to race fans and will be open both days from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. The event will be held in the AAA Motorsports Fan Plaza behind the track's main grandstand.

Casey Mears

No. 25 Chevrolet, Hendrick Motorsports

This week: Mears finished a career-best fourth at Michigan in June. He will be driving the car that he ran earlier this month at Pocono, where he finished 10th. Mears is 298 points out of 12th place with only four races left to determine the 12 drivers that will contend for this year's championship. He knows he needs another top-five run this weekend to keep alive his slim chances.

Last week: Mears rallied in the final third of the race to finish 15th after being hit by Jeff Green on lap 61. The top-15 finish allowed Mears to leap from 19th to 16th in the standings. "We had a good car today, and I think a top-10 finish was within our reach," said Mears. "Unfortunately, we lost some track position after getting spun, and then the cautions at the end of the race didn't play into our pitting strategy."

Etc.: One of Mears' prized possessions is his 1961 Chevy Impala convertible. The car features a solid-red body with red and white interior, as well as a 454-cubic-inch engine, 18-inch wheels on the front and 20-inch wheels on the rear.

Jamie McMurray

No. 26 Ford, Roush Fenway Racing

This week: McMurray finished eighth in the June race at Michigan for only his second top-10 finish in nine starts. "Michigan is one of the tracks, like Fontana, that it just seems that Roush Fenway Racing always seems to run well at and a track where there is always a Roush car in contention to win the race," said McMurray, who hopes to be that car this weekend.

Last week: McMurray, who led once for six laps, saw his hopes of a top-five finish wiped out on lap 74 when he was caught up in a multi-car accident. As a result, McMurray ended up 34th to all but end his hopes of qualifying for his year's championship chase. McMurray stands 316 points out of 12th with only four races left until the Chase begins.

Etc.: McMurray is having a hard time believing how unlucky his team has been during the last month. "It just seems that no matter what this Crown Royal team does, we can't seem to catch a break," said McMurray. "It's really hard to believe that we haven't finished better than we have over the last four weeks." His best finish in the last four races is 33rd.

Mark Martin

No. 01 Chevrolet, DEI

This week: Martin has four wins, 16 top-fives and 27 top-10s in 43 starts at Michigan. His 27 top-10s are the most of any driver. He also has two Busch Series wins and an IROC victory at the track. And that is why Martin said, "Michigan is one of my favorite tracks on the circuit. We've had a great deal of success there over the years, and I always look forward to going back."

Last week: With Martin taking the week off, rookie Regan Smith was behind the wheel at Watkins Glen. But as Smith noted, "I was in the wrong place at the wrong time" on lap 12 when Brian Vickers spun right in front of the first-year driver. The contact seriously damaged Smith's Chevrolet as the team spent 20 minutes repairing the damage. Smith returned to the track and finished 37th.

Etc.: Martin will be one of the drivers featured in the five-part series on ABC entitled "NASCAR in Primetime," which began its five-week run on Aug. 15. "I think it should be a really interesting look into what goes on each week," said Martin. "There is a lot that people don't see about this business. I think it will be a good chance for our fans to get a good look at what goes on behind the scenes."

Juan Pablo Montoya

No. 42 Dodge, Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates

This week: Montoya finished last in his first race at Michigan. "We ran really bad, so I think we just kind of delete everything we did (that weekend) and just go with a different approach," said Montoya. "We've already talked about it (the changes they will make this weekend), so it should be interesting."

Last week: Montoya's hopes of a record-setting third straight road-course win in a season were crashed with only 16 laps to go. On the restart, Montoya went to block Martin Truex Jr. and was hit from behind. The contact sent Montoya spinning into Kevin Harvick to trigger a multi-car accident. Montoya finished 39th.

Etc.: Harvick and Montoya got into a shouting and shoving match after the accident. But NASCAR doesn't plain on fining either driver. "I went to Kevin," said Montoya, "and said, 'It wasn't my fault. I got hit from behind.' He started shouting and grabbing me, and I don't appreciate that. It's pretty disappointing to see a guy like that do such a thing."

Bobby Labonte

No. 43 Dodge, Petty Enterprises

This week: Labonte has three wins and 15 top-10 finishes in 30 starts at Michigan. Twelve of his top-10s came in a 13-race period between August 1994 and August 2000. But his best finish in the last six races is 14th. He struggled in the first race this year as he ended up 34th.

Last week: Labonte was one of the cars involved in a late race accident triggered when Juan Pablo Montoya tried to block Martin Truex and was punted into Kevin Harvick. Labonte was forced to pit road for repairs, but he was still able to rally and finish 24th in the road course event at Watkins Glen.

Etc.: Doug Randolph, 41, has been named the new crew chief for Labonte. Randolph succeeds Paul Andrews. "Doug Randolph brings an outstanding resume to Petty Enterprises," said vice president of race operations Robbie Loomis. "He was a winner in the Busch Series and brings a wealth of knowledge to this team." Labonte has finished outside the top 10 in the last 14 races.

mrsmopar12 · #7 (**permalink**) 08-16-2007, 11:28 AM

OTHERS

J.J. Yeley

No. 18 Chevrolet, Joe Gibbs Racing

This week: Yeley won the pole for the June race at Michigan, but he struggled on race day as he finished 28th. For that reason, the team is bringing a different car to the track this weekend. The car has been run four times, including twice at Atlanta. "I definitely trade the pole for a top-five handling race car," said Yeley.

Last week: After finishing 18th at Watkins Glen, Yeley said, "I'm disappointed a little bit because I felt we should have a better finish. We were 13th on the final restart (on lap 82 of the 90-lap event) but got rear-ended. That knocked us back (to 20th), and we really didn't have enough time to gain it back."

Etc.: Yeley said he is "relieved a bit" with the announcement that Kyle Busch will be driving the 18 car in 2008 and he will be exiting the team at the end of the season. "There has been a lot of uncertainty for the last couple of months," said Yeley, who quickly added, "I have a lot of good opportunities in store for me."

Elliott Sadler

No. 19 Dodge, Gillett Evernham Motorsports

This week: Sadler made his first start with the Evernham team a year ago at Michigan. And it was a wonderful beginning as he qualified second and finished 10th for only his third top-10 finish at the track. But Sadler struggled in the June event as he finished 35th.

Last week: Sadler was all smiles after finishing 17th at Watkins Glen. "That was our best finish since the last road-course race where we finished 14th at Infineon," said Sadler. "We'll take 17th and information that I think we will find helpful when we return next year."

Etc.: Sadler said he "definitely thinks we are going to be better this Michigan then the last Michigan (when he finished 35th). I think we've gotten our bodies a lot better. I think we are definitely going to be more competitive." Sadler has not finished in the top 10 since the season-opening race at Daytona.

David Ragan

No. 6 Ford, Roush Fenway Racing

This week: Ragan finished 21st in his first Cup start at Michigan in June. He will be driving the car that he raced at Indy in late July. Ragan said he's "looking forward to going back to Michigan, as I am all of the tracks for a second time. I feel like I was trying to get my bearing a little bit when we were here in June."

Last week: Despite spinning out twice, Ragan was able to finish 32nd and was the last car on the lead lap at Watkins Glen. "I felt like my job today was to keep my car on the race track," said the rookie driver. "So I feel like I let the guys down a little bit. I feel like the road courses are the No. 1 thing on my plate right now to work on."

Etc.: Ragan is 136 points out of the top 20 with still 14 races left in the season. Ragan said getting into the top 20 and maybe the top 15 is the team's No. 1 goal. "I think those goals are definitely achievable," said Ragan, who is 327 points out of the top 15.

David Stremme

No. 40 Dodge, Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates

This week: Stremme finished 40th in the June race at Michigan. His best finish in three Cup starts at the track is 19th. Stremme has finished outside the top 20 in the last 10 races after eight top-20s in the first 12 races.

Last week: Stremme finished 21st at Watkins Glen as he moved up one spot in the Nextel Cup standings. Early in the race Stremme marched from 25th to 11th, but the handling went away on his Dodge during the last third of the race as he ended up just outside the top 20.

Etc.: The mayor of South Bend, Ind., Stephen J. Luecke, has proclaimed Aug. 21 as David Stremme Day. Stremme will return to his hometown for a rally at the downtown Century Center from 5-9 p.m. "I haven't really been back home to spend any quality time in about a year," said Stremme. "I am looking forward to catching up with everybody and just having a good evening together."

Robby Gordon

No. 7 Ford, Robby Gordon Motorsports

This week: Gordon finished 13th in the first Michigan race for his third straight top-20 finish at the track. His only top-10 finish at the two-mile oval in 15 starts came in August 2003. "Our performance (at Watkins Glen) shows we're getting closer to being where we need to be," said Gordon, who is 172 points out of the top 20. "We still think we can finish in the top 20."

Last week: Gordon overcame a bad pit stop early in the race to finish fifth, his seventh top-five finish in nine races at Watkins Glen. Gordon said he felt he lost at least 17 positions on his first pit stop. He moved up three spots in the standings.

Etc.: Gordon knows that races at Michigan usually "turn into fuel-mileage strategy races. We're going to do our best to plot the strategy that will put us in position late in the race to be a factor in the outcome."

moenemdown15 · #8 (**permalink**) 08-16-2007, 05:39 PM

UPDATE: Chad McCumbee will substitute for Kyle Petty in the #45 Marathon American Spirit Motor Oil Dodge for Sunday’s 3M Performance 400 at the Michigan. Petty completed a successful surgery on his hand on Tuesday in North Carolina. Petty is expected to return to the driver’s seat for next week’s Sharpie 500 at Bristol Motor Speedway.(Petty PR)(8-15-2007)

mrsmopar12 · #9 (**permalink**) 08-17-2007, 05:42 AM

3M Performance 400
Michigan International Speedway
August 19, 2007
Race 23 of 36

CAR DRIVER HOMETOWN MAKE SPONSOR OWNER

00 David Reutimann* Zephyrhills, FL Toyota Domino's Pizza Calvin Wells, III
1 Martin Truex Jr. Mayetta, NJ Chevrolet Bass Pro Shops / Tracker Teresa Earnhardt
01 Mark Martin Batesville, AR Chevrolet U.S. Army Bobby Ginn
2 Kurt Busch Las Vegas, NV Dodge Miller Lite Roger Penske
4 Ward Burton South Boston, VA Chevrolet State Water Heaters James Finch
5 Kyle Busch Las Vegas, NV Chevrolet CARQUEST / Kellogg's Rick Hendrick
6 David Ragan* Unadilla, GA Ford AAA Insurance Mike Dee
7 Robby Gordon Orange, CA Ford Jim Beam Robby Gordon
07 Clint Bowyer Emporia, KS Chevrolet Jack Daniel's Richard Childress
8 Dale Earnhardt Jr. Kannapolis, NC Chevrolet Budweiser Teresa Earnhardt
9 Kasey Kahne Enumclaw, WA Dodge Dodge Dealers / UAW Ray Evernham
10 Scott Riggs Bahama, NC Dodge Auto Value / Bumper to Bumper - Valvoline James Rocco
11 Denny Hamlin Chesterfield, VA Chevrolet FedEx Kinko's J D Gibbs
12 Ryan Newman South Bend, IN Dodge ALLTEL Roger Penske
15 Paul Menard* Eau Claire, WI Chevrolet Sylvania / Menards Bobby Ginn
16 Greg Biffle Vancouver, WA Ford 3M Jack Roush
17 Matt Kenseth Cambridge, WI Ford DEWALT John Henry
18 J.J. Yeley Phoenix, AZ Chevrolet Interstate Batteries Joe Gibbs
19 Elliott Sadler Emporia, VA Dodge Dodge Dealers / UAW Ray Evernham
20 Tony Stewart Rushville, IN Chevrolet The Home Depot Joe Gibbs
21 Bill Elliott Dawsonville, GA Ford Little Debbie Glen Wood
22 Dave Blaney Hartford, OH Toyota Caterpillar Bill Davis
24 Jeff Gordon Pittsboro, IN Chevrolet DuPont Rick Hendrick
25 Casey Mears Bakersfield, CA Chevrolet National Guard / GMAC Mary Hendrick
26 Jamie McMurray Joplin, MO Ford IRWIN Industrial Tools Geoff Smith
29 Kevin Harvick Bakersfield, CA Chevrolet Shell / Pennzoil Richard Childress
31 Jeff Burton South Boston, VA Chevrolet AT&T Mobility Richard Childress
36 Jeremy Mayfield Owensboro, KY Toyota 360 OTC Gail Davis
37 Kevin Lepage Shelburne, VT Dodge Front Row Motorsports Bob Jenkins
38 David Gilliland Riverside, CA Ford M&M's Robert Yates
40 David Stremme South Bend, IN Dodge TUMS Felix Sabates
41 Reed Sorenson Peachtree City, GA Dodge Target Chip Ganassi
42 Juan Montoya* Bogota, Colombia Dodge Texaco / Havoline Floyd Ganassi
43 Bobby Labonte Corpus Christi, TX Dodge Cheerios / Betty Crocker Richard Petty
44 Dale Jarrett Hickory, NC Toyota UPS Michael Waltrip
45 Chad McCumbee Supply, NC Dodge Marathon American Spirit Motor Oil Kyle Petty
48 Jimmie Johnson El Cajon, CA Chevrolet Lowe's Jeff Gordon
49 John Andretti Indianapolis, IN Dodge Paralyzed Veterans of America Elizabeth Morgenthau
55 Michael Waltrip Owensboro, KY Toyota NAPA Auto Parts Buffy Waltrip
66 Jeff Green Owensboro, KY Chevrolet Best Buy Joe Custer
70 Johnny Sauter Necedah, WI Chevrolet Yellow Trans. Joe Custer
78 Scott Wimmer Wausau, WI Chevrolet Furniture Row Racing Barney Visser
83 Brian Vickers Thomasville, NC Toyota Red Bull Dietrich Mateschitz
84 A.J. Allmendinger* Los Gatos, CA Toyota Red Bull Dietrich Mateschitz
88 Ricky Rudd Chesapeake, VA Ford Snickers Robert Yates
96 Tony Raines La Porte, IN Chevrolet DLP HDTV Bill Saunders
99 Carl Edwards Columbia, MO Ford Office Depot Georgetta Roush

* Denotes Rookie

mrsmopar12 · #10 (**permalink**) 08-17-2007, 05:57 AM

Nextel Cup Series
Michigan International Speedway (all times ET)

Day Time Event Network Status

Friday 11:30 a.m. Practice 1 SPEED Live
Friday 3 p.m. Bud Pole Qualifying SPEED Live
Friday 8 p.m. Practice 1 SPEED Replay
Saturday 12 a.m. Bud Pole Qualifying SPEED Replay
Saturday 10 a.m. Practice 2 SPEED Live
Saturday 1:30 p.m. Happy Hour SPEED Live
Sunday 1 p.m. NASCAR Countdown ESPN Live
Sunday 2 p.m. 3M Performance 400 ESPN/ESPN Deportes Live
Monday 1:30 a.m. 3M Performance 400 ESPN2 Replay
Monday 9 a.m. 3M Performance 400 ESPN Classic Replay

• Live events in bold