michigan international speedway

2007 3M Performance 400: This weekend Michigan International Speedway hosts a key event in the 2007 Race to the Chase. Only four races remain until the top twelve are locked in for the 2007 Chase for the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup.

All eyes are on the battle for twelfth as Kurt Busch holds down the final Chase spot over Ryan Newman and Dale Earnhardt Jr. Making the Chase will make or break a team's entire season. The heat is on.

Tickets: Speedway ticket office (800) 354-1010 or (517) 592-6672

Buy online from TicketsNow (direct link)

The Track: Built in 1968, Michigan is a 2 mile 'D' shaped oval with 18 degrees of banking in the corners. Even the front 'D' has 12 degrees of banking. This makes for high speeds on the smooth, wide oval.

Michigan's fast and wide racing surface leads to long green flag runs. This fact often brings fuel mileage and pit strategy into play during the race.

Race Distance: 200 Laps = 400 Miles

The Big Picture: Just four races remain in the Race to The Chase. Jeff Gordon has already clinched a spot in the Chase. Denny Hamlin, Matt Kenseth and Tony Stewart could also lock in their Chase spots in Michigan this week with good finishes.

The top twelve are now:

Jeff Gordon -0
Denny Hamlin -344
Matt Kenseth -432
Tony Stewart -445
Carl Edwards -560
Jeff Burton -578
Jimmie Johnson -595
Kyle Busch -627
Clint Bowyer -717
Kevin Harvick -729
Martin Truex Jr. -797
Kurt Busch -855

Storylines: The Race to The Chase is winding down. Drivers wanting a chance at winning the 2007 NEXTEL Cup title need to get into the top twelve before the series leaves Richmond just four weeks from now.

Two Penske Racing South teammates find themselves on opposite sides of the Chase. Kurt Busch in twelfth is 96 points ahead of his teammate Ryan Newman. Dale Earnhardt Jr. is just four points behind Newman and 100 behind Busch.

Greg Biffle in fifteenth is over 200 points behind Busch. While not an impossible task, his 2007 Chase dreams are fading fast.

Media Coverage: TV: ESPN Sunday, Aug. 19, 1:00PM Eastern.

Radio: MRN and SIRIUS Satellite

Actual Race: 2:10PM Eastern

Posted Awards: $5,138,579

Last Year: Last year Matt Kenseth was the man to beat all day long. Jeff Gordon was closing the gap late in the race but Kenseth had a healthy lead at the end and coasted home for the win.

Predictions: Michigan can often come down to a pit strategy game. However having a fast, good handling car will certainly give you a leg up on the competition. The Roush Fenway Fords seem to have Michigan International Speedway dialed in.

Matt Kenseth crashed here in June but dominated both Michigan races in 2006. Including his overpowering win in this race last year. Matt Kenseth has to be a favorite for this weekend's race.

When Kenseth had trouble in Michigan earlier this year his teammate Carl Edwards was right there to capitalize. Edwards overcame an early pit road penalty to pick up the win here in June. Clearly Edwards had a fast car here a couple months ago and should be a factor again this weekend.