NASCAR Cup Series

Driver Ryan Blaney and crew chief Jeremy Bullins expect to get the Motorcraft/Quick Lane Ford Fusion up to speed in short order this weekend for Sunday’s Quicken Loans 400 at Michigan International Speedway, despite the rookie racer’s relative lack of experience at the two-mile oval in the Irish Hills.

Heading into Sunday's Quicken Loans 400, Bliss will be looking to make his 176th career NASCAR Sprint Cup Series (NSCS) start. The Milwaukie, OR native will be making his ninth NSCS start at the fast 2.0 mile D-shaped oval in Brooklyn, MI. Bliss has nine starts in the NASCAR Xfinity Series, obtaining two top-ten finishes. The 2002 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series (NCWTS) champion has three truck starts in Michigan with one top-five and two top-ten finishes. This weekend's battle in the Irish Hills will also mark Bliss's eighth start with Go Green Racing.

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.