2008 3M Performance 400 presented by Bondo at Michigan International Speedway

2008 3M Performance 400 presented by Bondo:

Only four races remain until the top twelve are locked in for the 2008 Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup. This weekend the NASCAR Sprint Cup stars roll into Michigan International Speedway for a key event in the 2008 Race to the Chase.

All eyes are on the battle for twelfth as Matt Kenseth maintains a 22 point lead over Clint Bowyer in the battle for twelfth.

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:

Kyle Busch's eighth win of 2008 extended his current point lead and added to his bonus point total for the Chase.

Matt Kenseth was able to move past Clint Bowyer for the twelfth and final Chase qualifying spot. Bowyer is now 22 points behind Kenseth for twelfth.

The top twelve are now:

1. Kyle Busch
2. Carl Edwards -242
3. Jimmie Johnson -244
4. Dale Earnhardt Jr. -269
5. Jeff Burton -309
6. Jeff Gordon -500
7. Tony Stewart -510
8. Kasey Kahne -541
9. Denny Hamlin -565
10. Greg Biffle -565
11. Kevin Harvick -584
12. Matt Kenseth -626

Storylines:

Matt Kenseth and Jimmie Johnson are the only two drivers to have made the Chase all four years of its existence. While Jimmie is safely in third place more than 400 points ahead of thirteenth place Clint Bowyer Kenseth is currently clinging to the top twelve.

Matt Kenseth currently holds down the twelfth and final Chase qualifying spot. Clint Bowyer in thirteenth is just 22 points behind. This battle looks like it will go all the way to Richmond. Can Matt Kenseth make his fifth consecutive Chase?

Media Coverage:

TV: ESPN Sunday, Aug. 17, 1:00PM Eastern.

Radio: MRN and SIRIUS Satellite

Actual Race: 2:10PM Eastern

Recent Events:

2007 Winner: Kurt Busch

2007 Polesitter: Jeff Gordon

Last Year:

The 3M Performance 400 saw an unprecedented rain delay. The race ran almost 48 hours after its scheduled start time.

NASCAR finally got all 400 miles in on a rare Tuesday race as Kurt Busch won it easily after dominating much of the day.

Predictions:

The fast and wide racing surface in Michigan often causes races to be decided on pit strategy and fuel mileage. Dale Earnhardt Jr. used fuel mileage to win here in June.

The other way to win in Michigan is to simply dominate like Kurt Busch did in this race last year.

In 2008 when you think about dominating a race one name comes immediately to mind. Kyle Busch has eight wins so far in 2008 and is showing no signs of slowing down. Kyle Busch has to be considered the favorite until someone else proves that they can beat him.

For my backup pick I like Carl Edwards. Edwards started 2008 running strong on the intermediate tracks like Michigan. He won in California and backed it up with another win in Vegas. He won again in Texas but then went through a midsummer drought until finding Victory Lane in Pocono two weeks ago.

Michigan is a great track for Carl Edwards and he needs to go for the win to try to close the bonus point gap that points leader Kyle Busch has on him going into the Chase. Carl Edwards makes a great pick this weekend in Michigan.