Fast Forward ~ The Quicken Loans 400 At Michigan Fantasy Race Picks And Preview
“The future is like a corridor into which we can see only by the light coming from behind.”
–Edward Weyer, Jr.
The Track: Michigan International Speedway
Location: Brooklyn, Michigan
Length: 2.0 Mile Tri-oval
Banking: 18 degrees in turns 1-2;
18 degrees in turns 3-4;
12 degrees on the front stretch
5 degrees on the back stretch
Pit Road Speed:45MPH
The Race: The Quicken Loans 400
200 Laps/ 400 Miles
Defending Champion: Greg Biffle, 139.278 MPH
Most recent winner: Joey Logano, 144.593MPH
Track Record: Dale Jarrett, 173.997 MPH, June 1999
Race Record: Dale Jarrett, 173.997 MPH, June 1999
Qualifying record: Joey Logano, 203.949, August 2013
2013 Purse: $5,246,525
TV:TNT, 1:00PM EST 6/15/2014
Radio: Motor Racing Network (MRN) Sirius XM 90; www.MRN.com
The History:
9/28/1967-Construction begins
6/15/1969- First race, won by Cale Yarborough
8/16/1992-Harry Gant becomes the oldest winner at 52 years, 7 months, 6 days.
6/10/2001-Closest finish, Jeff Gordon over Ricky Rudd, margin of victory: .085 seconds.
8/18/2013-Joey Logano becomes the youngest winner at 23 years, 2 months, 24 days
The Contenders:
Driver Ratings At Michigan Based on the Last 18 Races At Michigan
1. Greg Biffle 110.0
2. Matt Kenseth 105.6
3. Carl Edwards 104.7
4. Jimmie Johnson 101.4
5. Dale Earnhardt Jr. 97.0
6. Tony Stewart 95.9
7. Kyle Busch 92.0
9. Jeff Gordon 89.8
10. Denny Hamlin 89.7
The Picks
As always, before we get to this week’s picks, let’s take a look at how everyone fared at Pocono.
Player |
Selection |
Race Pts |
Previous Pts |
Total Pts |
Behind |
Wins |
DNFs |
|
Mr. Pole |
11 |
41 |
564 |
605 |
0 |
3 |
1 |
|
Mr. Winner |
48 |
39 |
561 |
600 |
-5 |
1 |
1 |
|
Mr. Seven |
31 |
37 |
562 |
599 |
-6 |
0 |
0 |
|
Vivian |
4 |
30 |
533 |
563 |
-42 |
2 |
2 |
|
Jim Fitzgerald |
48 |
39 |
502 |
541 |
-64 |
0 |
1 |
|
Nate |
11 |
41 |
489 |
530 |
-75 |
0 |
1 |
|
PattyKay Lilley |
48 |
39 |
490 |
529 |
-76 |
1 |
0 |
|
Darrell |
11 |
41 |
481 |
522 |
-83 |
2 |
2 |
|
Brian Marchetti |
24 |
37 |
464 |
501 |
-104 |
0 |
1 |
|
Barbara |
48 |
39 |
456 |
495 |
-110 |
1 |
2 |
|
Kevin Abraham |
22 |
4 |
465 |
469 |
-136 |
1 |
3 |
|
Alabama Fitz |
20 |
19 |
429 |
448 |
-157 |
1 |
3 |
|
If Playoff Started Today |
|
|||||||
Player |
Selection |
Race Pts |
Previous Pts |
Total Pts |
Behind |
Wins |
DNFs |
Chase Pts |
Mr. Pole |
11 |
41 |
564 |
605 |
0 |
3 |
1 |
2009 |
Vivian |
4 |
30 |
533 |
563 |
-42 |
2 |
2 |
2006 |
Darrell |
11 |
41 |
481 |
522 |
-83 |
2 |
2 |
2006 |
Mr. Winner |
48 |
39 |
561 |
600 |
-5 |
1 |
1 |
2003 |
PattyKay Lilley |
48 |
39 |
490 |
529 |
-76 |
1 |
0 |
2003 |
Barbara |
48 |
39 |
456 |
495 |
-110 |
1 |
2 |
2003 |
Kevin Abraham |
22 |
4 |
465 |
469 |
-136 |
1 |
3 |
2003 |
Alabama Fitz |
20 |
19 |
429 |
448 |
-157 |
1 |
3 |
2003 |
Mr. Seven |
31 |
37 |
562 |
599 |
-6 |
0 |
0 |
2000 |
Jim Fitzgerald |
48 |
39 |
502 |
541 |
-64 |
0 |
1 |
2000 |
Nate |
11 |
41 |
489 |
530 |
-75 |
0 |
1 |
2000 |
Brian Marchetti |
24 |
37 |
464 |
501 |
-104 |
0 |
1 |
2000 |
KEVIN ABRAHAM: Ouch. One week I am in victory lane the next I'm in the garage with a blown motor while in the top 5. This week I am taking Dale Jr. for the win.
JIM FITZGERALD: Wow…not wasting anytime, Kevin gets on the board with Dale Earnhardt, Jr. Anyone else?
ALABAMA FITZ: I know how you feel, Kev. One week you're in the spotlight light soaking up the champagne and rewards. The next week somebody gives you the bill, drains the tub, and turns out the lights
PATTYKAY LILLEY: Dale Jr. does hold a pretty wheel on occasion at Michigan. So pretty that his last two finishes were 36th and 37th. He's got two wins now, so he can sit on his laurels and relax. Um... no thanks. There's a guy right now hungry for a win, and Michigan is his best track. He boasts 4 wins there, has led double-digit laps in the past 6 races (all I check as a rule) and has won 2 of the last 3 Michigan races. Add to that the tiny factoid that he is about to sign a multi-year contract extension with his car owner AND sponsor, and that makes Mama very confident in riding this week with "Da Biff", Greg Biffle. Let's see you pick that one apart, Fitz!
ALABAMA FITZ: Biffleberry pie is all yours so far. I took a chance last week, hoping Matt would at least be in the TOP 10, not expecting him to win. As I told Kevin yesterday, 25th isn't much, but it is better than 35th
JIM FITZGERALD: I had serious blueprints on taking Smooth Biff Beer and Easy Drinkin’ Biff Light as well, Mama, but I won't. I'm taking the guy instead who, what seems like ages ago now, once scaled and walked across Biffle's car to get up in his face after a Busch race at Bristol. I'm taking the guy who has finished in second for the last two races at Michigan. I'm taking Ol' "Never Yield From Bakersfield" to get this victory sealed and his tired peeled. Okay, I made that up. But I'm taking Kevin Harvick to win at Michigan.
PATTYKAY LILLEY: Ah yes, I remember Kevin Havoc's stroll across the Biff's hood. I do believe it was the same year that Rickety Rudd made the comment about his "Little yap-yap mouth." I looked at him, but he's gotta give a strong man nerves this year. As I keep saying, he's either "freaky fast' or in the garage. I'm stickin' with the Biff, thanks.
ALABAMA FITZ: Interesting fact: Jimmie Johnson has never won at Michigan. The last three races here have been won by Fords...back to back by Biffle and Logano last fall. Logano never did well at Michigan, never led a lap, until he switched to Ford. In his last two races at Michigan, he has led over 70 laps, and has a 9th and a win. He is running well this year, as long as his engines hold out. This is supposedly Brad's home track, but only has two Top 5s in nine outings. Matt's record is like a yoyo, and if his history here continues, he could have a good race this time. Biffle does have two of the last three wins here, but hasn't been running well enough this year, so I stayed away from him. But Biffle, Kenseth, and Kesekowski all have at least a 50% chance of winning. I'm picking the double deuce of Joey Logano in his Ford. First On Race Day!
BRIAN MARCHETTI: I'm thinking along the same lines of some others, in that a Win is a big deal with how the new structure for the Chase folds out. With that, we have a past champion who has patiently waited for his turn. Matt Kenseth is due, bottom line. He needs a win, he wants a win, and he's capable of a win at Michigan. I'm not gonna say he's the best bet, but he's my bet this week. Let’s see what the fans are saying!
Darrell: I will be taking Junior for back to back wins this week at Michigan.
Vivian: Ford seems to be coming back to dominance at Michigan so this week I am picking Brad Keselowski to win the Quicken Loans 400.
Nate: I’m going to be taking Dale Earnhardt, Jr. in the No. 88 at Michigan.
Barbara: I’m going with a winner, and I think Greg Biffle will be the man at the end of the race.
Well, friends, there you have it. Some Juniors, no Johnsons, and no Junior Johnsons, but we have a Harvick and some Biffles, a Keselowski, a Logano, and a Kenseth. We’ll see how all of that works out next week when we come back to do our preview for Sonoma! Until then…
Rest In Peace, Junie. You were truly an expediter of careers.
Also, Happy Father’s Day to all of the Dads out there, especially to my own!
So, until next week, keep the shiny side up!
Our Picks For This Week!
Kevin Abraham |
Alabama Fitz |
Jim Fitzgerald |
PattyKay Lilley |
Brian Marchetti |
Darrell |
Nate |
Who is YOUR pick to win this week?
Correctly choose the winner before the green flag drops on Sunday, and you'll be entered into a drawing to win some racing stuff!