NASCAR Cup Series

Jimmie Johnson: Fresh off a win at Dover, Johnson finished third in the Axalta 400 at Pocono, his ninth top-five of the year. He is third in the Sprint Cup points standings, 78 out of first.

Jeff Gordon, driver of the No. 24 Panasonic Chevrolet SS, is scheduled to visit the Michigan International Speedway media center at 1:45 p.m. local time Friday.

Ragan’s late grandfather Hugh “Preacher Ragan” owned cars that raced on the beaches of Daytona in NASCAR’s infancy. David’s late Uncle Marvin owned and drove cars for 30 years in the sport often employing David’s father Ken who ran 50 Sprint Cup races. David’s mother Beverly visits the track to support her son when she isn’t watching her granddaughter Julia, born to David and wife Jacquelyn last year.

Bayne will make his ninth career NASCAR Sprint Cup Series (NSCS) start at Michigan International Speedway this weekend.

Stenhouse Jr. has four NASCAR Sprint Cup Series (NSCS) starts at Michigan International Speedway with an average starting position of 19.2 and average finishing position of 19.2.

Biffle has 24 Sprint Cup career starts at Michigan, earning four wins, 10 top-five and 15 top-10 finishes.

Reed has one start in the NASCAR XFINITY Series at Michigan International Speedway (MIS). In June 2014, Reed finished 11th after starting 24th. He overcame a flat tire in qualifying to make his way through the field and earn the top-15 finish.

Roush Fenway Racing’s Chris Buescher will make his third NASCAR XFINITY Series start at Michigan International Speedway on Saturday. In his previous two starts, Buescher has two top-10 finishes. The sophomore in the NASCAR XFINITY Series has not started or finished lower than 10th at the two-mile track.

This Saturday, Bubba Wallace will make his first NASCAR XFINITY Series start at Michigan International Speedway.

The National Motorsports Appeals Panel today heard and considered the appeal of a P1 penalty issued on May 27, 2015 to Hendrick Motorsports relative to NASCAR Sprint Cup Series vehicle #48 at Charlotte Motor Speedway.