After a very exciting and dramatic finish to the final road course race of the season at Watkins Glen the NASCAR Sprint Cup series comes back to the ovals for a run at Michigan International Speedway.
No room for error…
This year’s battle just to make the Chase for the Sprint Cup is the closest as it has ever been. With the final four spots from ninth thru 12th undecided the next couple weeks are crucial.
The final two spots are wildcard spots and the only way you can earn one of those positions is to be in the top 20 in points and have won a race.
Brad Keselowski all but sealed his chances to make the Chase with his second place finish at the Glen last week. He has two wins already and has moved to 14th in the standings.
So unless Keselowski doesn’t finish any of the next four races or he has troubles, there is really only one Chase wildcard spot available.
Right now, Denny Hamlin is 12th and if the Chase started today would be in, barely.
Behind him with wins in the top 20 is Paul Menard but you have to go back to 22nd, 23rd and 25th to find the next three drivers in Marcos Ambrose, David Ragan and Regan Smith who have won this season.
All three need to find a way into the top 20 if they want to make the Chase.
Still Hamlin can’t feel easy about the road ahead of him as Clint Bowyer who is in 11th; Greg Biffle or any of the guys in the top 20 could rattle off a couple wins.
There is a chance that Hamlin could not make the Chase so he can ill afford another 36th place finish like at the Glen.
In what is turning into the closest battle to make the Chase ever will more than likely not be decided until the final laps of Richmond.
Repave…
MIS is repaving the track following the race on Sunday. They will rip up the old asphalt and lay down 22,000 tons of asphalt.
The project will be done in time for next years races. If you recall last year the track had some major upgrades around the race track.
MIS in the last two seasons has improved the scoreboards, credit card machines at concessions and also not allowing smoking in the grandstands.
Hamlin the test dummy?
Last week Joe Gibbs Racing announced it was teaming up with Toyota Racing Development and their engine program starting in 2012. Currently Michael Waltrip Racing used TRD engines in their program.
Hamlin who has suffered multiple engine woes this season wanted a head start and asked that his Michigan car be fitted with the TRD engine.
Kyle Busch in his media availability wasn’t sure why Hamlin felt the need to change this week but as he put it “The engine doesn't make much difference," he said. "We'll see what Denny likes and get his feedback on it. He'll be our test dummy and we'll get a good feel on that. If there are any hard feelings at JGR about it, I'm not sure. We're staying committed to JGR engines, and we feel that's our best opportunity to win a championship.”
Busch might not “understand” why the change for Hamlin but he also hasn’t suffered through the numerous engine failures that Hamlin and even Joey Logano have this season.
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