Kurt Busch clinched a spot in the season-ending Chase for the Sprint Cup on Monday afternoon with a win in the Axalta 400, a race that was postponed from Sunday due to heavy fog and rain. He now looks to take aim at the Michigan International Raceway, a track that he has three career wins at. 


Weekend Schedule (All times eastern)

Friday, June 10

11:00 a.m. - 12:25 pm.: First Practice

4:15 p.m.: Qualifying

Saturday, June 11

9:00 a.m. - 9:55 a.m.: Second Practice

12:00 p.m. - 12:55 p.m.: Final Practice

Sunday, June 12

1:00 p.m.: Race


Weekend Notebook

- Brad Keselowski, who is a Michigan native, does not yet have a win at his hometown track, although he does have three top-five finishes, including a runner-up finish in August of 2012. If he picks up the win, he will be the eighth active driver to have a win in their home state. 

- Ku. Busch, who won last week's race, is also the defending winner of the spring Michigan race, in addition to his five top-five finishes at the track. His win on Monday leaves him with all of the momentum heading into this weekend. 

Kurt Busch celebrates his win last June.
Kurt Busch celebrates his win last June | Sean Gardner - NASCAR via Getty Images

- In the last six races at Michigan, there has not been a repeat winner. That does not bode well for Matt Kenseth, who won the last Sprint Cup race at the track, although he does have the most top-five finishes at the track of any active driver.

- Last year's race was shortened by rain, but the forecast for Sunday is 81 degrees and sunny, a far contrast from Sunday at Pocono.

- Rookie Chase Elliott is still looking for his first win of his career, but a top-five finish at Pocono put him in some elite company. It was his fourth top-five finish of the season, the last person to do that was the legendary Dale Earnhardt Sr., who did it back in his rookie year of 1979. 

- NASCAR announced on Wednesday that the start time for two Xfinity Series races has been changed. The first is the Kansas Lottery 300, which will be held on October 15 at 3 p.m. ET on NBC. The other race is the fall Phoenix race, which will be November 12 at 6:30 p.m. ET on NBCSN.

The field runs into Turn one during last year's race.
The field runs into Turn one during last year's race
(Brian Lawdermilk/NASCAR via Getty Images)

- This weekend's grand marshal will be UFC Women's Bantamweight champion Miesha Tate, who is represented by driver Kevin Harvick's management group.

- Take a look at the photo gallery from last weekend's race from our own Brandon Stivers here.

VAVEL Logo
About the author
Stevie Larson
NASCAR Editor, Minnesota sports fan. Contact: [email protected]