Bristol Motor Speedway History and Notes

At Bristol Motor Speedway:
History
· Groundbreaking for Bristol International Speedway, as Bristol Motor Speedway was originally known, took place in 1960. The track was an exact half-mile.

· First NASCAR Sprint Cup race was July 30, 1961.

· In the fall of 1969, the track was reshaped and re-measured to .533-miles.

· The name changed to Bristol International Raceway in 1978.

· The first night race was held in the fall of 1978.

· The surface was changed from asphalt to concrete in 1992.

· The name changed to Bristol Motor Speedway in May 1996.

· The track was resurfaced between races in 2007.

· A milling process took place between races in 2012, erasing the progressive banking in the upper groove of the turns.

Notebook

· There have been 103 NASCAR Sprint Cup races since the first race there in 1961, two races each season.

· All races have been scheduled for 500 laps, except for both races in 1976 and the second in 1977, which were 400 laps.

· Fred Lorenzen won the first pole.

· The first NASCAR Sprint Cup race was won by Jack Smith (with relief from Johnny Allen).

· There have been 45 different pole winners, led by Cale Yarborough and Mark Martin (nine). Martin swept both poles at Bristol in 2009.

· 39 different drivers have won, led by Darrell Waltrip (12).

· Kurt Busch, Kyle Busch and Jeff Gordon each have five wins, most among active drivers.

· The race winner has started from the pole 22 times, the most productive starting position. The last driver to win from the pole was Carl Edwards, in the night race of 2008.

· 82 of 103 races have been won from a top-10 starting position, including 52 from the first four spots.

· The deepest in the field that a race winner has started is 38th, by Elliott Sadler in 2001.

· The last seven Bristol races had a margin of victory under one second.

· Youngest NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Bristol Motor Speedway winner: Kyle Busch (03/25/2007 – 21 years, 10 months, 23 days)

· Oldest NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Bristol Motor Speedway winner: Dale Earnhardt (08/28/1999 – 48 years, 3 months, 30 days)

Bristol Motor Speedway Data
Race #: 24 of 36 (08-25-12)
Track Size: 0.533-miles
Banking/Corners: 26 degrees
Banking/Frontstretch: 5 to 9 degrees
Banking/Backstretch: 4 to 8 degrees
Race Length: 500 laps / 266.5 miles

- NASCAR Statistics

NASCAR This Week on ESPN and ABC

NASCAR Sprint Cup, Nationwide Series at Bristol in Prime Time

The NASCAR Sprint Cup and Nationwide Series will race under the lights at the high-banked and high-speed Bristol (Tenn.) Motor Speedway this weekend with events on Friday and Saturday nights, Aug. 24-25. ABC will have a live telecast of Saturday night’s NASCAR Sprint Cup race, with NASCAR Countdown at 7 p.m. ET and the race’s green flag at 7:43 p.m. Friday night’s NASCAR Nationwide Series race airs on ESPN, with NASCAR Countdown at 7 p.m. and the green flag at 7:43 p.m.  Also from Bristol, ESPN2 will air NASCAR Sprint Cup qualifying on Friday at 5 p.m. All NASCAR programming on ESPN and ESPN2 is also available on computers, smartphones and tablets with the WatchESPN app and WatchESPN.com.

Announcers:
Booth: Lap-by-Lap announcer Allen Bestwick (Sprint Cup); Marty Reid (Nationwide Series); analysts Dale Jarrett, Andy Petree.
Pit reporters: Dave Burns, Mike Massaro, Dr. Jerry Punch, Vince Welch.
NASCAR Countdown (Sunday): Nicole Briscoe (host); Rusty Wallace, Brad Daugherty (analysts).

NASCAR Now Schedule
ESPN2’s daily NASCAR news and information program NASCAR Now will preview the NASCAR Sprint Cup race at Bristol Motor Speedway in the one-hour weekend edition that airs Saturday, Aug. 25, at noon ET. Host Shannon Spake will be joined in the studio by ESPN NASCAR analyst Ricky Craven and reporters Marty Smith and Jim Noble will check in from the track.

Date Time                      Show                     Host                 Network
Tue., Aug. 21 3 p.m.      NASCAR Now      Marty Reid           ESPN2
Thu., Aug. 23 1 a.m.      NASCAR Now      Marty Reid          ESPN2
Fri., Aug. 24 6:30 p.m.  NASCAR Now      Shannon Spake   ESPN2
Sat., Aug. 25 Noon        NASCAR Now      Shannon Spake    ESPN2

- ESPN Media Zone Press Release

National Guard extends sponsorship of Hendrick Motorsports through 2013

The Army National Guard will continue as a primary sponsor of the No. 88 Sprint Cup Series team and driver Dale Earnhardt Jr. after extending its relationship with Hendrick Motorsports through the 2013 NASCAR season. The National Guard will receive primary paint schemes in 20 Sprint Cup races, including the 2013 Daytona 500, and prominent brand placement during all non-primary events.

“National Guard Citizen Soldiers represent the more than 3,200 communities across the United States in which they live, work and serve their state and the nation,” said Lt. Col. Michael Wegner, marketing branch chief, Army National Guard. “What NASCAR gives us is a national marketing platform that also can be leveraged at that local level, touching recruiters, potential recruits and influencers. With our all-volunteer military and rigorous enlistment standards, it plays a key role in increasing the awareness of what the Guard does and the many career opportunities and benefits it offers.”

The National Guard’s association with Hendrick Motorsports began with sponsorship of the No. 25 Sprint Cup team for the 2007 season. Its most recent contract, which included 18 primary paint schemes per year with the No. 88 team, was set to expire at the end of 2012.

“It’s an honor to be associated with the National Guard and its Citizen Soldiers,” said Rick Hendrick, owner of Hendrick Motorsports. “Like many of the world’s most innovative marketers and leading brands, the Guard sees the opportunities that our sport presents, and they have built a strong effort around it. As we go into 2013 together, we’ll continue to focus on the performance of the program both on and off the racetrack.”

Currently fourth in the 2012 Sprint Cup standings, Earnhardt has one victory and 15 top-10 finishes through 22 points-paying races this season. The Kannapolis, N.C., native is seventh on Forbes’ list of America’s most influential athletes and the top-ranked NASCAR driver in Bloomberg Businessweek’s “Power 100.” He has been voted by fans as NASCAR’s most popular driver for nine consecutive years.

“Working with the Guard has been incredible,” said Earnhardt, 37, who most recently won June 17 at Brooklyn, Mich., where the Sprint Cup Series returns this weekend. “On a weekly basis, we’re interacting with people considering a life-changing decision (to enlist) or who are already serving our country. Their sacrifices are difficult to comprehend, and we feel a lot of pride representing them and seeing first-hand how passionate they are about NASCAR and our team.”

Additional sponsorship for the No. 88 Chevrolet will be announced at a later date.

- Hendrick Motorsports Press Release

Dale Jr and Rick Hendrick Open Two Auto Dealerships

NASCAR’s nine-time most popular driver and 2004 Daytona 500 champion Dale Earnhardt Jr. has opened two auto dealerships in Tallahassee, Fla. The dealerships are the first for Earnhardt, who owns the stores in partnership with Hendrick Automotive Group Chairman and Hendrick Motorsports Owner Rick Hendrick.

Dale Earnhardt Jr. Chevrolet (3127 W. Tennessee Street) and Dale Earnhardt Jr. Buick GMC Cadillac (1850 Capitol Circle NE) officially opened under the Earnhardt name Monday. The acquisition from longtime owner Larry Strom was finalized over the weekend.

“This is something Rick and I have talked about doing ever since I came to Hendrick Motorsports, but we agreed it had to be the right situation,” said Earnhardt, who drives the No. 88 Diet Mountain Dew/National Guard Chevrolets for Hendrick Motorsports. “I’m honored to work with everyone at Hendrick Automotive Group and have this opportunity in a great market like Tallahassee. I was a mechanic in a Chevy store before I started racing, and I've always loved General Motors products and been interested in the dealership business. So it's exciting for me, and I hope it’s going to be exciting for the people in the Tallahassee area.” 

The dealerships are the first in the Tallahassee market for Hendrick Automotive Group, which will manage the stores. The company operates 84 dealerships across the country, including the Earnhardt locations. Both facilities will undergo renovations to modernize their appearances and amenities.

“We wanted to find something centrally located between Daytona and Talladega, and Tallahassee was the perfect fit,” Hendrick joked, referring to Daytona Beach, Fla., and Talladega, Ala., where Earnhardt has won a combined seven Sprint Cup races and has a strong fan base. “But truly, Tallahassee is a market we’ve been looking at for a long time, and it’s going to be a terrific place to do business. It’s exciting to have Dale Jr. involved, and we feel lucky to be a part of this community.

“Larry and his partners could’ve sold the stores to anyone, so we’re honored they chose us. He’s done business the right way for years and has a stellar reputation throughout Tallahassee. When we started talking, Larry’s biggest concern was that his people be taken care of. That says a lot about who he is and the type of culture he’s built here.”

Market Area Vice President Ryan Regnier, who has been with Hendrick Automotive Group in various roles since 1996, will oversee the two Earnhardt dealerships.


“We’re excited to be part of the strong, community-based market of Tallahassee,” Regnier said. “Dale Earnhardt Jr. has great fans in Florida, and his two new dealerships are valued additions to our company. We’re committed to serving Tallahassee and making these stores among the most successful managed by Hendrick Automotive Group.”

Mike Futrell will serve as General Manager of Dale Earnhardt Jr. Chevrolet and offers 11 years of experience at the Earnhardt locations (formerly Champion Chevrolet and University Cadillac Buick GMC). At nearly 140,000 square feet, Dale Earnhardt Jr. Chevrolet will feature approximately 300 new and pre-owned cars and more than 30 service bays.

Tim Moore has been named General Manager of Dale Earnhardt Jr. Buick GMC Cadillac. Moore was a partner in the two stores in the 15 months prior to their purchase. The 42,000-square-foot Dale Earnhardt Jr. Buick GMC Cadillac will offer more than 250 new and pre-owned cars and house 22 service bays.

Free shuttle service will provide travel between both Earnhardt stores and to locations around the greater Tallahassee area. Manufacturer lifestyle boutiques with apparel and vehicle accessories, children’s play areas and free Wi-Fi also will be available at both dealerships.

Combined, Dale Earnhardt Jr. Chevrolet and Dale Earnhardt Jr. Buick GMC Cadillac will employ more than 175 people.

- Hendrick Automotive Group Press Release

Michigan Chassis Selections

Not all teams announce their weekly race chassis'. Here is a list of those teams that do reveal the chassis in the teams race preview:

#1- Jamie McMurray - Chassis #1208.  Crew Chief Kevin “Bono” Manion and the No. 1 Bass Pro Shops/Mercury team will race Chassis #1208 at Michigan.  Chassis #1208 has raced at Las Vegas, finishing eighth; Kansas, finishing 14th; the Coca-Cola 600, finishing 21st and this season at Michigan, finishing 14th.

#2- Brad Keselowski - The No. 2 Miller Lite Dodge Charger team will race chassis PRS-826 during Sunday’s Pure Michigan 400 at Michigan International Speedway (MIS). Brad Keselowski last raced this chassis to a fifth-place finish at Charlotte Motor Speedway in May. It has been updated to the current Penske Racing specification.

#5- Kasey Kahne - Crew chief Kenny Francis will unload Hendrick Motorsports Chassis No. 5-729 for Sunday’s race at Michigan. Kahne raced this car into the top 10 at Pocono Raceway in June before a cut tire sent him to the garage.

#9- Marcos Ambrose - The No. 9 RPM team has prepared chassis No. 784 for this weekend's NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Race at Michigan International Speedway. This is the same Stanley Ford that Ambrose drove to the pole in the June visit to Michigan. 

#10- David Reutimann - Reutimann will pilot chassis No. 356, purchased from Richard Childress Racing in the off-season. The Florida native last drove this chassis at Pocono Raceway. He also drove the chassis at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, Auto Club Speedway, Texas Motor Speedway, Kansas Speedway, Dover International Speedway, Kentucky Speedway and New Hampshire Motor Speedway this season. He had his best showing in the chassis at Kentucky Speedway where he drove from the 38th starting spot to a 23rd-place finish. His best qualifying effort was at Kansas Speedway where he qualified in the 16th spot.

#14-Tony Stewart - Chassis No. 14-706: This car debuted in spectacular fashion in March at Auto Club Speedway in Fontana, Calif., as Stewart took Chassis No. 14-706 from its ninth-place starting spot to lead twice for 42 laps en route to the win in the rain-shortened race. Prior to Fontana, the car spent numerous hours in the wind tunnel. It is a clone to Chassis No. 14-640, which won round three at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. Chassis No. 14-706’s second start, in April at Kansas Speedway in Kansas City, Kan., was a bit quieter than its debut race. It started 23rd and gained 10 spots to finish 13th . Its third start came in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series’ longest race – the Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte (N.C.) Motor Speedway. There, Stewart qualified 21st and finished 25th as  Chassis No. 14-706 proved to be a handful throughout the 400-lap contest. The car redeemed itself in its fourth and most recent start in June at Michigan International Speedway in Brooklyn, where Stewart qualified eighth, led 18 laps and finished second. Chassis No. 14-706 has sat idle since, 
and it will return to Michigan for its fifth career start via Sunday’s Pure Michigan 400.

#15- Clint Bowyer - Primary chassis No. 727 has raced three times in 2012. It started 11th and finished 13 at Fontana, started 26th and finished 11th at Darlington and started 13th and finished seventh with a lap lead at first Michigan. Backup chassis No. 721 has served backup duty at multiple races, but has not raced. It served as the backup at Las Vegas, Fontana, Texas, Kansas, Darlington, All-Star, Charlotte, both races at Pocono and Michigan. Chassis No. 721 tested Pocono on June 6 and Michigan on June 14.

#16- Greg Biffle -  Biffle's Primary chassis is RK-817. Last ran Indianapolis – finished third. Backup chassis is RK-786. Last ran Homestead – finished 35th.

#17- Matt Kenseth -  Primary car for the No. 17 Fifth Third Bank Ford Fusion this week is  RK-787, it was last run in the All-Star race.

#22- A J Allmendinger - Hornish, and the Penske Racing No. 22 Team will be utilizing their "PRS-825" Shell-Pennzoil Dodge Charger this weekend at Michigan. This is the same car that AJ Allmendinger raced in the May 27 Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway. The car was credited with an 11th-place start and 33rd-place finish after a broken hub spoiled a potentially strong run. The "PRS-819" chassis will serve as the backup Shell-Pennzoil Dodge for this weekend. This was the car that AJ Allmendinger drove to a second-place finish in the April Martinsville race.

#24- Jeff Gordon - Jeff Gordon will drive Hendrick Motor Sports chassis 24-718  at Michigan, this is a brand new chassis.

#27- Paul Menard - Paul Menard will pilot Chassis No. 397 from the Richard Childress Racing NASCAR Sprint Cup Series stable. Built new for 2012 competition, this No. 27 Chevrolet was utilized for the first time at MIS in June, where Menard started from the 18th position and finished 22nd.

#29- Kevin Harvick - This Week's Jimmy John's Chevrolet at Michigan International Speedway. Harvick will pilot Chassis No. 381 from the Richard Childress Racing NASCAR Sprint Cup Series stable in this weekend's Pure Michigan 400. Harvick drove this Chevrolet to an 11th-place finish at Kentucky Speedway in July and a 13th-place finish at Texas Motor Speedway in April of 2011. It was also driven earlier this season by Brendan Gaughan at Las Vegas Motor Speedway in March as a No. 33 RCR Sprint Cup Series entry.      

#31- Jeff Burton - This Weekend’s No. 31 Wheaties Chevrolet at Michigan International Speedway for Jeff Burton is chassis No. 367 from the Richard Childress Racing NASCAR Sprint Cup Series stable this weekend. This No. 31 Chevrolet, built new for the 2012 season, has been utilized twice this year at Kansas Speedway in April (started-12th, finished-22nd) and Pocono Raceway in June (started-20th, finished-15th).

#39- Ryan Newman - Chassis No. 39-733: It’s been two starts and two top-10 finishes for Chassis No. 39-733 since making its debut at Indianapolis Motor Speedway in July. At Indianapolis, Newman and his team overcame an ill-handling racecar and used quick pit work to help engineer a run into the top-10. The crew turned the car around in just a couple of days and took Chassis No. 39-733 to Pocono (Pa.) Raceway the following weekend. There, Newman ran in the top-10 for most of the rain-shortened race and finished sixth. Michigan International Speedway in Brooklyn will mark the third start in four weeks for Chassis No. 39-733.

#42- Juan Pablo Montoya - Crew Chief Chris “Shine” Heroy and the No. 42 Target team will return to Michigan with Chassis #1209 after finishing eighth with this chassis earlier this season.  Chassis #1209 also raced at Fontana, Calif. finishing 17th.

#43- Aric Almirola - The team has prepared chassis No. 783 for the Michigan race.  This Eckrich Ford was last on track at Indianapolis Motor Speedway in July. 

#48- Jimmie Johnson - Chassis No. 720 serves as the primary for Johnson at Michigan. Chassis No. 669 serves as the backup. 720 won the All Star Race in Charlotte this year.

#51- Kurt Busch - Chassis No. 665: This weekend’s Pure Michigan 400 will be the fourth race of the 2012 season for this chassis. This is the same car the No. 51 Phoenix Racing team competed with at Kansas Speedway in Kansas City in late April. Busch qualified 14th and competed in the top-five for the majority of the race before an engine problem in the closing laps relegated the team to a 17th -place finish. The chassis was also used at Las Vegas Motor Speedway in March, when Busch earned a season-best starting position of 12th and competed in the top-10 during the early portion of the race. Pit-road issues and an eventual accident resulted in a 35th -place finish. The car was built in 2011 and was used 
only once last season – the June race at Michigan International Speedway in Brooklyn, where driver Landon Cassill scored a 12th -place finish after starting 12th.

#88- Dale Earnhardt Jr - This weekend, crew chief Steve Letarte and the No. 88 crew will unload Hendrick Motorsports Chassis No. 88-716. Earnhardt most recently raced this chassis to Victory Lane at Michigan in June.

#99- Carl Edwards - The No. 99 team will be unloading chassis 739.  Edwards last raced this car at Las Vegas where he finished fifth. Since then this car has been fitted with a new body.  The Geek Squad paint scheme for this week was designed by Ryan Friedlinghaus, 
CEO & founder of West Coast Customs.

- Reported in Team News/Press Releases

NASCAR Driver Press Conference Schedule - Michigan

Press Conference Schedule, Michigan

NASCAR schedules driver press conferences at every race weekend event. These normally include the Top 12 drivers in championship points in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, along with other drivers of note. The press conferences will last approximately 15 minutes each and may be viewed at NASCAR.com. Times listed are local time.

Friday, August 17:

10:15 a.m. – Parker Kligerman (No. 7 Red Horse Racing Toyota in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series) & Tom DeLoach(team owner) – Media Center

11 a.m. – Kasey Kahne (No. 5 Farmers Insurance Chevrolet), 11^th in points/2 wins – Media center

11:15 a.m. – Matt Kenseth (No. 17 5^th/3^rd Ford), 3^rd in points/1 win – Media Center

11:30 a.m. – Jimmie Johnson (No. 48 Lowe’s Chevrolet), 1^st in points/3 wins – Media Center

11:45 a.m. – Dale Earnhardt Jr. (No. 88 National Guard/Diet Mountain Dew Chevrolet), 4^th in points/1 win – Media Center

2 p.m. – Tony Stewart (No. 14 Mobil 1/Office Depot Chevrolet), 8^th in points/3 wins – #14 hauler

2:10 p.m. – Carl Edwards (No. 99 Geek Squad Ford Fusion), 12^th in points/0 wins – Media Center

2:15 p.m. – Greg Biffle (No. 16 3M Ford), 2^nd in points/1 win - #16 hauler

2:30 p.m. – Martin Truex Jr. (No. 56 NAPA Auto Parts Toyota), 6^th in points/0 wins – Media Center

2:45 p.m. – Jeff Gordon (No. 24 Drive To End Hunger Chevrolet), 15^th in points/1 win – Media Center

3 p.m. – Ryan Newman (No. 39 WIX Chevrolet), 13^th in points/1 win – #39 hauler

Note: Brad Keselowski (No. 2 Miller Lite Dodge), 5^th in points/3 wins will come into the media center following his NSCS qualifying attempt (qualifying starts Friday at 4:10 p.m.)

- NASCAR 

Michigan Driver Statistics

Not all teams announce their weekly race previews'. Here is a list of those teams that do reveal the information in the teams race preview: 

#1- Jamie McMurray - In his 19 starts at Michigan, McMurray boasts one top-five, four top-10 and 12 top-20 finishes.  McMurray has completed 3,591 laps of a possible 3,738 laps, or 96.1 percent, and has led 15 laps.  His best start was second in the spring of 2010, and his best finish was fourth in the summer of 2004.  McMurray has an average start of 24.7 and an average finish of 19.2 at Michigan.

#2- Brad Keselowski - Keselowski has six starts at Michigan with a single top 5 finish, 3rd place last year in August at the track.

#5- Kasey Kahne - In 17 NASCAR Sprint Cup starts at Michigan International Speedway, Kasey Kahne has one win, six top-five finishes, seven top-10s and has led 49 laps. He has two pole positions at the two-mile oval and won from the top starting spot in June 2006. During the track’s most recent event in June, Kahne was running in the top 15 when he was collected in a multi-car incident on Lap 126 and finished 33rd.

#9- Marcos Ambrose - Sunday's Pure Michigan 400 will be Ambrose's ninth start at MIS. He has one top-10 finish - an eighth-place result in the June event he started from the pole. He has completed 1,417 of 1,603 laps attempted at the D-shaped oval, leading 15 of them. Ambrose enters this weekend's 400-mile race in 17th place, gaining a spot in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series point standings after last week's victory at "The Glen."

#10-David Reutimann - Reutimann made his track debut at Michigan International Speedway in the NASCAR Nationwide Series (NNS) in 2003. He made his NSCS debut in 2007. He made 10 NSCS, five NNS and three NASCAR Camping World Truck Series starts at the two-mile track. His best NSCS start of second was the June 2011 event. His best NSCS finish of ninth came in the August 2009 race.

#14-Tony Stewart - Stewart has one win, eight top-threes, 11 top-fives, 19 top-10s and has led a total of 224 laps in his 27 career Sprint Cup starts at Michigan. His average start is 19.6, his average finish is 11.2, and he has a lap-completion rate of 95.4 percent.

#15- Clint Bowyer - Bowyer will make his 14th NSCS start at Michigan International Speedway on Sunday. In his previous 13 starts Bowyer has five top-10 finishes. Bowyer recorded a career-best finish of seventh at Michigan in the spring. Bowyer has led eight laps in his 13 starts, averages a 19th place starting position and finish of 18th. 

#16- Greg Biffle - Biffle has nineteen starts at Michigan as has earned one pole, two wins, eight top 5's, eleven top 10's and has and average finish of 12.368.

#17- Matt Kenseth - Kenseth has an average starting position of 18.8 and an average finishing position of 9.3 at Michigan, and has achieved two wins, 12 top-five and 17 top-10 finishes at Michigan in the Cup series.

#18- Kyle Busch - Busch has 15 starts at Michigan and has scored one win, three top 5's, five top 10's with only one DNF. Busch's average finish at the track is 16.6. 

#22- Sam Hornish Jr - Hornish's Sprint Cup record at MIS boasts the one top-five finish (and top-10) in six races to date. Hornish has a 25.3 average start and 22.7 average finish in Cup competition at MIS. He has led seven laps to date and has an impressive 99.6 percent (1,198 of 1,203) lap completion average.

#24- Jeff Gordon - In 39 Cup starts at the track in the Irish Hills of Michigan, Gordon has two wins (1998 and 2001), five pole positions, 18 top-five finishes and 25 top-10s. 

#27- Paul Menard -  In 12 career Sprint Cup Series starts at the two-mile oval, Menard has finished each of his contested races and completed 98.1 percent of his laps (2,363 of 2,409), leading for seven circuits. He has an average starting position of 26.4 and an average finishing position of 23.2. According to NASCAR’s Loop Data statistics, Menard ranks sixth in the category Green-Flag Passes, gaining 1,078 positions under green-flag conditions since its inception in 2006. The Eau Claire, Wis., native recorded both his best start (ninth) and his best finish (fourth) during last year’s June visit to the Brooklyn, Mich.-based facility. He also owns two top-five and six top-10 finishes coupled with one pole award in seven NASCAR Nationwide Series starts at MIS.

#29- Kevin Harvick - Harvick has completed a total of 4,459 laps of the 4,500 of the total laps contested at the two-mile tri-oval track. Harvick has collected one win (2010), three top-five and eight top-10 finishes and has led 149 laps at the Brooklyn, Mich.-based facility.

#31- Jeff Burton - This weekend’s 400-mile event marks Burton’s 38th start at the two-mile facility and 642nd-career Sprint Cup Series entry. Burton has garnered four top-five and nine top-10 finishes at the track along with two pole awards in 1996 and 2006. He has also led 76 laps at the Brooklyn, Mich.-based race track.

#36- Dave Blaney - Blaney has raced 23 times at Michigan earning three top 10s, with a best finish of sixth, most recently in August of 2007.

#39- Ryan Newman - Newman has 22 starts at Michigan in the cup series and has one pole, two wins, five top 5's, six top 10's and an average finish of 18.09 with only two DNF's,

#42- Juan Pablo Montoya -  In 11 NSCS starts at Michigan, Montoya has earned three top-10 and five top-20 finishes.  He has completed 2,064 laps of a possible 2,209 laps, or 93.4 percent, and has led four laps.  Montoya has an average start of 17.7 and finish of 21.8 at Michigan.  His best start was third in the summer 2009, and his best finish was sixth in the spring of 2009.

#43- Aric Almirola - Almirola comes into Michigan ready to make his second NASCAR Sprint Cup Series start at the track.  He finished 17th earlier this year at the track. He's a former winner in the Truck Series at Michigan.

#48- Jimmie Johnson - Johnson has no wins, no poles at Michigan buts has earned four top-five finishes (19 percent) and nine top-10s (42.9 percent) in 21 starts and has one DNF (August 2004).

#51- Kurt Busch - Busch has two wins, three top-five finishes and eight top-10s and has 359 laps led in 23 career Sprint Cup starts at Michigan. Busch picked up his first win at Michigan during the June race in 2003. He qualified fourth for that race and led 24 laps en route to the win. In August 2007, Busch started 15th and led a total of 92 laps en route to scoring his second Michigan win. Busch’s average Michigan finish is 21.0. Busch enters this weekend’s race at Michigan having earned two pole positions at the 2-mile track.

#55- Mark Martin - In 53 Sprint Cup starts at Michigan, Martin owns five victories (the most of any track), five poles, 18 top-five and 31 top-10 finishes. He’s led 911 laps. 

#88- Dale Earnhardt Jr - In 26 Cup starts at Michigan, Earnhardt has recorded two wins, two pole positions, five top-five finishes and nine top-10s. He has completed 99.2 percent of all laps he's attempted (5,051 laps of 5,094 total) and led 268 laps.

#99- Carl Edwards - In his previous 16 starts at MIS, Edwards has two wins, nine top-five and 12 top-10 finishes.  His average start is 22.2, his average finish is 8.4. He has completed 99 percent of the laps he has attempted at the two-mile track.  Only four 
times in his previous 16 starts has Edwards finished outside the top 10.

- Reported in Team News/Press Releases

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