Hot news this week is headlined by the near-demise of Michael Waltrip Racing. The team has announced that it will not run full-time entries in 2016 and that Clint Bowyer will indeed be a free agent after this season.
Michael Waltrip Racing and Clint Bowyer have mutually agreed to separate at the conclusion of the 2015 NASCAR Sprint Cup season. Bowyer, currently 16th in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Chase standings, will be free to pursue other career options in 2016 and beyond.
Busch qualified sixth at Michigan, but a wreck in Saturday’s practice relegated him to the back of the field for the start of Sunday’s race. Despite starting in a backup car, he finished with a strong 11th-place finish that helped solidify his Chase chances.
"Kevin underwent surgery today at Des Moines Mercy Hospital to address one of two fractures he suffered in his back following last week's accident at Knoxville Raceway. Both surgeries have been successful and the doctors are heartened by his progress.
With the new high drag package creating some high anxiety, here is what was surprising and not surprising in the Pure Michigan 400 from the speedway nestled in the Irish Hills.
Matt Kenseth, this is your life. Well, at least Michigan was his race, his and his alone. Of the 200 laps run, Kenseth led 143 of them to claim his third of the season, and 34th of his career.
“These guys have just done an awesome job,” Stewart stated. “It’s four weeks in a row now that we have qualified in the top five. I’m really proud of that. I’m really proud of the Mobil 1/Bass Pro Shops team here.”
The NASCAR Sprint Cup Series and Camping World Truck Series will compete this week at Michigan International Speedway while the NASCAR XFINITY Series travels to the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course.
The 23-year-old Mayer from Franklin, Wisconsin, clocked in a pole-winning lap at 173.061 mph in 32.035 seconds for his sixth O'Reilly career pole and second straight of 2026 at EchoPark Speedway.
The 24-year-old Riggs from Bahama, North Carolina, clocked in a pole-winning lap at 99.115 mph in 53.683 seconds for his fifth Truck career pole and first on a road course in Lakeville, Connecticut.
Jacob Denney was entering the two-night affair at the Jefferson County Fairgrounds in Fairbury, Nebraska, with tons of momentum and seeking back-to-back victories.
The 21-year-old Annunziata from Colts Neck, New Jersey, led all but nine of 68 laps en route to his second consecutive ARCA Menards Series career victory in Lakeville, Connecticut.
