LifeLock 400 Qualifying Update

Michigan International Speedway -- 06/14/2009

Author: Becca Gladden

Published: Sunday Jun 14 2009 2:36am

As I reported yesterday, some teams at Michigan apparently qualified Friday in race trim because they were concerned about Saturday’s practice sessions being rained out.

There was a persistent threat of rain Saturday, but both practices were held with only slight adjustments to the schedule in case the rain was to come.
Saturday’s first practice was led by Denny Hamlin in a Toyota, followed by Mark Martin, Kyle Busch, and then four consecutive Roush-Fenway drivers – Carl Edwards, Greg Biffle, Matt Kenseth and Jamie McMurray (the fifth Roush driver, David Ragan, practiced 25th). Jimmie Johnson, Clint Bowyer, and Joey Logano – winner of Saturday’s Nationwide race in Kentucky – rounded out the top 10.

In Happy Hour on Saturday, Mark Martin moved up to the top of the speed chart, followed by last year’s race winner Dale Earnhardt Jr., polesitter Brian Vickers, then Greg Biffle and Clint Bowyer. Carl Edwards practiced sixth and long-shot pick David Ragan was seventh, then Logano, Robby Gordon, and Casey Mears.

Jeff Gordon, who will start at the rear of the field in a backup car after losing an engine in Friday’s practice, ran 22nd and 14th respectively in Saturday’s two practices. Kyle Busch, who finished second in both the truck and Nationwide races Saturday was 28th in Happy Hour. Kurt Busch, meanwhile, had to be pushed out of the garage after having starter trouble.

It’s worth noting that Greg Biffle and Jimmie Johnson both spun in first practice Saturday, though neither sustained obvious damage.

Only one driver ran in the top 10 in all three practices and also qualified in the top 10: Clint Bowyer. Greg Biffle was in the top 10 in all three practices, but qualified 20th.

In 79 Cup races at Michigan, 65% have been won from a top-5 starting spot and 79% from the top 10. The winner has come from the pole 15 times, most recently Kasey Kahne in 2006. Tony Stewart had the deepest starting spot for a race winner in 2000 when he won from 28th place.

Jimmie Johnson led the most laps here last June, but Dale Junior won the race on fuel strategy. Johnson has never won a Cup race at Michigan.

Recent winning trends at Michigan have favored the Ford and Dodge teams, with Chevy taking just one of the last 15 races. Toyota has never been to Victory Lane in the Cup series at MIS.

The first five rows will line up as follows:

Row 1 – Brian Vickers / Kyle Busch

Row 2 – Jimmie Johnson / David Reutimann

Row 3 – Kurt Busch / AJ Allmendinger

Row 4 – Juan Pablo Montoya / Kasey Kahne

Row 5 – Clint Bowyer / John Andretti

Odds-makers' Favorites:

Kyle Busch +565
Jimmie Johnson +625
Carl Edwards +625

Mid-pack Maybes:

Greg Biffle +800
Matt Kenseth +1100
Tony Stewart +1100

Long-shots to Watch:

Clint Bowyer +2000
Ryan Newman +2500
David Ragan +4000

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