It seems as though every week the race seems to come down to fuel mileage. That seems to be the way it has been for the last several weeks.
The difference is each week something different makes the fuel mileage either matter, or not matter. At Charlotte, one tank ran dry while another driver went to victory. Kansas saw a driver use the clutch to save some precious gallons to get a win. Last Sunday at Pocono, it was different cycles that led to victory.
This week, what would have been a matter of saving fuel was stopped.
The last caution with 10 laps to go eliminated the fuel strategy completely. All the teams would come to pit road to get fuel to make it to the end.
That meant a five-lap run to the checkered flag, and as Michigan tends to do on restarts, everyone was up on the wheel hoping to get to the front.
Once everyone cleared the first two turns, it was obvious who would do battle for the win. the battle became close, and came down to the final corner.
At the end of the day, it was Denny Hamlin making his first trip to victory lane since last fall at Texas. Hard to believe the No. 11 FedEx crew had not won all year, but with engine issues and unfortunate circumstances, things didn't go right.
Even leading into the weekend, the entire Gibbs organization was in a box when all three oil pans from the team's cars were confiscated. They weren't illegal, but NASCAR said the process they followed in bringing them to the track was.
There's definitely no greater medicine than a victory, and that is what Gibbs and Hamlin needed.
No victory for any writers this week, but the points have shuffled a little bit. Here's a look at where the 11 writers stand after the Heluva Good! Sour Cream Dips 400:
Kelly Crandall (528) Matt Kenseth finished second (2)
Sal Sigala Jr. (515) Dale Earnhardt Jr. finished 21st (2)
Billy Fellin (500) Carl Edwards finished fifth (2)
Christopher Leone (492) Greg Biffle finished 15th (2)
James Broomhead (481) Carl Edwards finished fifth (1)
Misan Ayuka (476) Carl Edwards finished fifth (2)
Rob Tiongson (474) Jeff Gordon finished 17th (1)
Kara Martin (472) Carl Edwards finished fifth (1)
Michael Hirshbein (465) Kyle Busch finished third (2)
Ryan O'Hara (439) Jeff Gordon finished 17th (1)
Dustin Parks (434) Jeff Gordon finished 17th (0)
Next Race: Things become rather interesting next weekend. NASCAR heads to the west coast of California, visiting the glorious wine country. There will be plenty of left turns next Sunday, but there will be plenty more right turns also.
Yes, NASCAR will make it's first of two trips to a road course next weekend as it's time to make the yearly visit to the Infineon Raceway.
Different names will be favored in this race, and a few more faces will be seen at the track, the "ringers" if you will.
Writers, don't make a wrong turn as you make your choices for this 12-turn course. Picks for the Toyota/Save Mart 350 are due by Thursday, June 23, at 10 p.m. ET.
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