Qualifying
Toyota swept the front row as Brian Vickers topped qualifying with Kyle Busch second quickest. Jimmie Johnson's Chevrolet and David Reutimann's Toyota made up row number two. Kurt Busch's Dodge rounded out the top five.
Drop Of The Green
Kyle Busch got a jump from the outside and took the lead as the field moved down the backstretch on lap one. The field was single-file fairly quickly as Jimmie Johnson and Brian Vickers gave chase.
Johnson took over the top spot on lap nine and continued to lead while the race stayed green through the first round of green flag pit stops and beyond.
Storylines
Michigan International Speedway often features long green flag runs and fuel mileage finishes. Today's race saw both as there were only three cautions during the 200 lap event.
The long green flag runs set up a great fuel mileage battle. The lead changed hands twice in the final lap as all three of the leaders with two laps to go run out of fuel before the checkered flag waves.
Chasing The Checkers
Greg Biffle won the race off of pit road during the final caution. He was in the lead ahead of Jimmie Johnson and Mark Martin as the race approached 20 laps to go under green.
Fuel mileage was in play as some drivers were saving fuel while others felt they had enough to make it to the end.
Johnson caught Biffle for the lead with ten laps to go. Could he make the pass after dominating most of the race? Would either of them have enough fuel?
Johnson got along side with seven to go but couldn't make his car stick. The very next lap Johnson completed the pass coming off turn two. Biffle tried to get him back but couldn't make the pass stick.
As Jimmie Johnson took the white flag he ran out of gas and Greg Biffle passed him for the lead. Then Biffle ran out of gas on the backstretch and Mark Martin passed him for the lead. Martin ran out of gas coming off turn four but was able to coast across the line for the win.
This was as exciting as a fuel mileage race can get.
Top Ten
- Mark Martin
- Jeff Gordon
- Denny Hamlin
- Carl Edwards
- Greg Biffle
- Juan Montoya
- Tony Stewart
- Kurt Busch
- Brian Vickers
- Clint Bowyer
The Points
Jeff Gordon finished second to close the lead but Tony Stewart maintains the top spot. Mark Martin reclaimed a Chase spot with the win. He vaults up five positions to eight in the overall standings.
The top twelve are now:
- Tony Stewart
- Jeff Gordon -47
- Jimmie Johnson -142
- Kurt Busch -228
- Ryan Newman -255
- Carl Edwards -262
- Greg Biffle -276
- Mark Martin -321
- Kyle Busch -329
- Denny Hamlin -340
- Matt Kenseth -341
- Jeff Burton -379
