Pure Michigan 400

Michigan International Speedway’s Pure Michigan 400 is part of a wide-ranging period in NASCAR’s schedule.

Following the three-race, flat track streak from New Hampshire Motor Speedway’s New Hampshire 301 through the Pennsylvania 400 at Pocono Raceway, NASCAR visited a road course, short track, and now a two-mile course. Next up is the incomparable Darlington Raceway, then another short track of Richmond International Raceway, and the Chase’s kickoff at Chicagoland Speedway.

Despite that, Michigan stands alone in the midst of several wild card races.  The road course of Watkins Glen International, Bristol Motor Speedway, and Darlington Raceway were and are unpredictable. Richmond has the added benefit of being both a short track with heavy traffic and a race with something at stake for more than half the field. That makes it incredibly difficult to place-and-hold drivers.

In order to win one’s league, players have to spread the wealth around various teams.

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Firekeepers Casino 400

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Long time readers of this preview will probably remember this quote from a time or two throughout the last 14 seasons: “The best laid schemes o’ mice an’ men | Gang aft a-gley.”

And so with a tip of the hat and a kiss my butt to Robert Burns, we turn our attention from Pocono Raceway to Michigan International Speedway.

There is no reason to dwell on the past.

Well, maybe just one little shanty shack: May your fire suit be eaten by moths Jimmie Johnson for screwing up so many fantasy rosters in a multitude of ways in the Axalta We Paint Winners 400. When the No. 48 broke loose on new tires underneath Casey Mears to bring out the final caution of the afternoon, Johnson not only wrecked the rosters he was on, but turned the Axalta 400 on its head. Most of the field was already committed to stretching their fuel, but the extra laps under yellow gave them increased confidence they could do so.

The final 33 green flag laps were certainly interesting. Drivers jockeyed to see who could go the fastest under the conditions they faced.

Draft from the lead or follow.

Keep cars behind you, but don’t go too fast.

Coast into the corners and take a line that stalls the trailing car.

Honestly, the end of the Axalta 400 might have been one of the more interesting fans have seen in quite some while—but fuel mileage races tend to play havoc with fantasy rosters.

So it’s time to move on.

“Really, this time,” he said, muttering under his breath.

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