When the Nascar Sprint Cup Series comes to race at the Michigan International Speedway, both a victory and manufacturer bragging rights are on the line. It is always a competition to see whether a Chevrolet, a Ford or a Dodge will pull into victory lane. But in the spring race, Denny Hamlin wheeled a Toyota Camry into victory lane, much to the Michigan fans who remain loyal to the "Big Three." On Sunday, it looked as if Greg Biffle's Ford or Jeff Gordon's Chevy would pull into victory lane. But in the end, Kyle Busch made it a Toyota as well as a Joe Gibbs Racing sweep of the Michigan races this season. This was Rowdy's fourth win of the season and his first in the Irish Hills of Michigan.
Greg Biffle led the field to green, flanked by teammate Matt Kenseth. Biffle managed to keep the lead and stretch it to as much as two seconds. That is pretty much how the majority of the race was run. It was typical Michigan, where the field gets stung out and there is very little excitement unless you like watching a four-wide battle for seventeenth. Carl Edwards did experience engine issues early on, which ended his bid for the victory. (Thankfully, he did manage to get back on the track, sparing us his commentary from the ESPN booth). Carl's fellow Chase contender Denny Hamlin also experienced trouble when he blew a right front tire and hit the wall. He too was able to make it back out and gain a what points he could.
Jimmie Johnson grabbed the lead when a caution flew during a pit stop. This allowed him to stay out while the rest of the field pitted. When the yellow flew, an excited Chad Knaus was heard to say "Finally something went right" over the radio. (That's right. Chad Knaus and the No. 48 team; the guys who have won the last five Sprint Cup championships and 54 Cup Series races finally had something go their way).
Johnson would relinquish the lead to Busch with twelve laps to go, but the race was not over. Kyle's brother Kurt blew a tire and destroyed the right side of his car. Under the yellow, the top seven cars (and David Reutimann) stayed on the track to gain track position. On the first green-white-checkered attempt, Kyle grabbed the lead and never looked back.
Busch's victory also clinched a Chase spot when the 26-race "regular season" ends after Richmond in just three weeks. With four victories, he stands an excellent chance of going in as the top seed and just maybe dethroning Jimmie Johnson as the reigning champion come Homestead.
Now we go from the wide open, strung out racing of Michigan, to the close-quarters, beating and banging of the Bristol Motor Speedway. Busch has wont the last five races at Bristol in Nascar's top three series'. Will he win his sixth Cup race in "Thunder Valley" or will an underdog, like a David Reutimann (who led late and finished second to Busch at BMS last August) score a much needed victory? One thing is for sure. The concrete bullring that is Bristol provide great racing and a great battle for the Chase.
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