2006 GFS Marketplace 400:
This weekend Michigan International Speedway hosts a key event in the Race to The Chase. There are only four races to go until the cutoff. Michigan's fast, wide surface will see big-picture racing play out as drivers that are in The Chase points race for a safe finish while drivers outside of the top ten will have to gamble to try to make up ground.
Tickets:
Speedway ticket office (800) 354-1010 or (517) 592-6672
Buy online from TicketsNow (direct link)
The Track:
Built in 1968, Michigan is a 2 mile 'D' shaped oval with 18 degrees of banking in the corners. Even the front 'D' has 12 degrees of banking. This makes for high speeds on the smooth, wide oval.
Michigan's fast and wide racing surface leads to long green flag runs. This fact often brings fuel mileage and pit strategy into play during the race.
Race Distance:
200 Laps = 400 Miles
The Big Picture:
Just four races remain in the
Race to The Chase. All attention turns to the battle for tenth. Denny Hamlin in eighth and Kasey Kahne in eleventh are separated by just 110 points. So four drivers are battling for three spots in The Chase.
The current top ten in points are:
- Jimmie Johnson -0
- Matt Kenseth -124
- Kevin Harvick -323
- Jeff Burton -362
- Kyle Busch -370
- Mark Martin -426
- Tony Stewart -447
- Denny Hamlin -459
- Jeff Gordon -485
- Dale Earnhardt Jr. -515
Storylines:
The Race to The Chase is winding down. Drivers wanting a chance at winning the 2006 NEXTEL Cup Title need to get into the top ten in points before the series leaves Richmond just four weeks from now.
Kasey Kahne is currently eleventh in points, 56 markers behind tenth place Dale Earnhardt Jr. However Kahne sat on the pole here in June and won the rain-shortened race. This week is a great opportunity for Kahne to make his move.
Media Coverage:
TV: TNT Sunday, Aug. 20, 2:00PM Eastern.
Radio: MRN and XM Satellite
Actual Race: 2:30PM Eastern
Posted Awards:
$5,028,926
Last Year:
In 2005 Jeremy Mayfield gambled on fuel and old tires staying out when the leaders pitted. The gamble paid off and Mayfield picked up the unexpected win.
This win helped solidify Mayfield's place in the 2005 Chase.
Predictions:
Michigan can often come down to a pit strategy game. However having a fast, good handling car will certainly give you a leg up on the competition.
Kasey Kahne sat on the pole here in June and won the rain-shortened race. Add that to the fact that, currently in eleventh, Kahne really needs to have a strong run this weekend and you've got a motivated driver that already knows how to be fast in Michigan.
For my backup I'm going with the guy that would have won here in June if he hadn't lost out to the fuel mileage gamblers. Matt Kenseth was the fastest car that pitted but he just didn't
