There are just four races remaining in the NASCAR regular season. Drivers not locked in the post-season will try to make it in at Michigan this weekend.
The Consumers Energy 400 will take place on one of the fastest tracks on the circuit … Michigan International Speedway. Drivers will battle at speeds of 200 MPH. Teams will fight to give those drivers the speed and handling to contend for the win.
There are seven spots in the post-season not filled by drivers with at least one win. With just four races remaining to make the playoffs there will be at least three spots filled based on points. That means there will drivers who have to race for the win to make the playoffs. There will also be drivers who can make the playoffs on points alone. There are still other drivers that are locked in the post-season and want to gain all the Playoff Points they can for an advantage in the playoffs. These various goals could come together on the track at high speeds with dramatic results.
Here are the stats that every driver and team will have to deal with equally.
Michigan International Speedway Data
Track Size: 2-miles
Banking/Turn 1 & 2: 18 degrees
Banking/Turn 3 & 4: 18 degrees
Banking/Frontstretch: 5 degrees
Banking/Backstretch: 2 degrees
Frontstretch Length: 3,600 feet
Backstretch Length: 2,242 feet
Consumers Energy 400 Data
Season Race #: 23 of 36 (08-11-19)
Race Length: 200 laps / 400 miles
Stage 1 and 2 Length: 60 laps (each)
Final Stage Length: 80 laps
These are the active drivers that have performed the best at Michigan during the NASCAR Cup Series careers.
Top 10 Driver Ratings at Michigan
Chase Elliott ………………………….. 101.9
Kevin Harvick ………………………….. 98.7
Joey Logano……………………………. 98.6
Kyle Larson …………………………….. 96.3
Brad Keselowski ……………………… 96.3
Jimmie Johnson. ……………………… 94.3
Ryan Blaney ……………………………. 92.1
Kurt Busch ………………………………. 91.8
Denny Hamlin …………………………. 89.8
Kyle Busch ……………………………… 89.2
Note: Driver Ratings compiled from 2005-2019 races (29 total) among active drivers at Michigan International Speedway.
Of the nine active drivers that have won at Michigan, five have secured their spot in the 16-driver field for the playoffs.
Kurt Busch – 3 Wins
Kyle Larson – 3 Wins
Joey Logano – 3 Wins
Denny Hamlin – 2 Wins
Kevin Harvick – 2 Wins (including this race last year)
Ryan Newman – 2 Wins
Clint Bowyer – 1 Win
Jimmie Johnson – 1 Win
Kyle Busch – 1 Win
Note: Names in red are locked in 2019 playoffs with at least one win this season.
Will one of the four previous winners at Michigan not locked in the playoffs get the win to secure their post-season spot this week?
Will one of the five previous winners at Michigan already locked in the playoffs get additional Playoff Points with a win this weekend?
Will a new Michigan winner get in the playoffs or pad their Playoff Points?
We will find out Sunday, August 11th starting at 2 PM central time (3 PM eastern time) in the Consumers Energy 400 at Michigan International Speedway.
By: Buck Stevens
