2007 Citizens Bank 400 Preview:
NASCAR brings their recent bad luck with the weather to Michigan International Speedway hoping for blue skies. Last year Kasey Kahne won a rain-delayed and rain-shortened race. Kahne hasn't been running well in NEXTEL Cup competition lately but will this be his week to rebound? Will streaking Ryan Newman score his first NEXTEL Cup victory of 2007? The fast, wide Michigan Speedway awaits to provide the answers.
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:
Jeff Gordon extended his lead once again with last week's Pocono win. No new drivers were able to crack the top twelve but Ryan Newman moved up to thirteenth. He is just one spot out of The Chase behind Mark Martin.
The top twelve:
- Jeff Gordon -0
- Matt Kenseth -242
- Denny Hamlin -247
- Jimmie Johnson -305
- Jeff Burton -421
- Tony Stewart -516
- Carl Edwards -539
- Clint Bowyer -590
- Kevin Harvick -601
- Kyle Busch -636
- Martin Truex Jr. -652
- Mark Martin -663
Storylines:
The big news for this weekend is that Dale Earnhardt Jr. finally announced his plans for 2008. Dale Earnhardt Jr. will bring his marketing muscle to Hendrick Motorsports next year where he will replace Kyle Busch as the fourth member of the team. Junior will join Jeff Gordon, Jimmie Johnson and Casey Mears in the Hendrick stable.
The other major theme of the weekend is that the race is on Father's Day. To all Dads out there: Happy Father's Day!
Media Coverage:
TV: TNT Sunday, June 17th, 12:30PM Eastern.
Radio: MRN and SIRIUS Satellite
Actual Race: 2:00PM Eastern
Posted Awards:
$5,137,383
Last Year:
Last year Kasey Kahne started from the pole as rain delayed the start and continued to threaten. It wasn't a matter of if it was going to rain, but when. Just 25 laps past halfway the rains came for good and Kasey Kahne was declared the winner.
Predictions:
My top pick this week is Penske Dodge driver Ryan Newman. He had back-to-back wins in Michigan 2003-2004 and has been running well lately. Newman captured the last three pole positions and finished second each of the last two weeks. This team is ready for a win to get their 2007 season moving.
By backup pick this week goes to Matt Kenseth. Kenseth is the only Ford driver to win so far in 2007 and was the most recent winner at Michigan. Kenseth won the race here last fall. Matt's only victory of 2007 came at California Speedway which is a very similar race track to Michigan. Kenseth is a great pick this weekend.
