Michigan Speedway History and Notes

At Michigan International Speedway:

History

· Michigan International Speedway sits on more than 1,400 acres in the “Irish Hills” of Southeastern Michigan. Ground-breaking took place on Sept. 28, 1967.

· The first NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race at Michigan was held June 15, 1969.

· The track was known as Michigan Speedway during the time Roger Penske was the primary owner (1996-99).

· The 2-mile speedway underwent a repave this season.

Notebook

· There have been 85 NASCAR Sprint Cup races at Michigan International Speedway since the first race there in 1969. Other than 1973, which had just one race, there have been two races each season since 1969.

· The first race was 500 miles in length; the second was scheduled for 600. The track was re-measured to 2.04 miles for the last race in 1970 and both races in 1971 – with the race distance being 402 miles. All other races have been scheduled for 400 miles.

· Donnie Allison won the first pole.

· The first NASCAR Sprint Cup race was won by Cale Yarborough.

· There have been 41 different pole winners, led by David Pearson with 10. Mark Martin has five poles.

· 34 different drivers have won races, led by David Pearson (nine); 19 drivers have more than one victory at Michigan.

· The race winner has started from the pole 16 times, the most productive starting position. Brian Vickers (August, 2009) was the last driver to win from the pole.

· 66 of 85 races have been won from a top-10 starting position, including 46 from the first four spots.

· The deepest in the field a race winner has started was 32nd, by Mark Martin in the June race of 2009.

· The Wood Brothers and Roush Fenway Racing both have 11 wins, more than any other team.

· Carl Edwards and Matt Kenseth are the only drivers to average a top-10 finish. Edwards, who has two Michigan wins, has an average finish of 8.2. Coincidentally, Edwards’ first NASCAR Sprint Cup Series start came at Michigan. Kenseth, who also has two victories, has an average finish of 9.5.

· Youngest NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Michigan International Speedway winner: Kurt Busch (06/15/2003 – 24 years, 10 months, 11 days).

· Oldest NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Michigan International Speedway winner: Harry Gant (08/16/1992 – 52 years, 7 months, 6 days).

Michigan International Speedway Data

Race #: 15 of 36 (06-17-12)

Track Size: 2 miles

Race Length: 200 laps / 400 miles

·     Banking in Corners: 18 degrees

·     Banking Frontstretch: 12 degrees

·     Banking Backstretch: 5 degrees

·     Frontstretch: 3,600 feet

·     Backstretch:  2,242 feet

Top 12 Driver Rating at Michigan

Greg Biffle................................ 106.5

Carl Edwards............................ 106.5

Jimmie Johnson........................ 105.6

Matt Kenseth............................. 104.7

Denny Hamlin............................. 97.1

Tony Stewart............................... 96.8

Jeff Gordon................................ 96.4

Kyle Busch................................. 95.6

Kurt Busch.................................. 95.3

Dale Earnhardt Jr........................ 94.2

Brian Vickers.............................. 91.5

Kasey Kahne.............................. 88.0

Note: Driver Rating compiled from 2005-2011 races (seven total) at Michigan.

- NASCAR Statistics