Michigan International Speedway
Track data
Race #: 15 of 36 (6-17-06)
Track Size: 2 Miles
Event: 3M Performance 400 presented by Post-It Picture Paper
Number of Laps: 200
Location: Brooklyn, Mich.
Length of Event: 400 Miles
Length of Front Stretch: 3,600 Feet
Length of Back Stretch: 2,242 Feet
Degree of Banking in Corners: 18 degrees
Degree of Banking on Straights: 12 degrees (Front)
5 degrees (Back)
Qualifying data:
Last year's event pole winner: Ryan Newman 194.232 mph 6-18-05 37.069 seconds
Last year's event winner: Greg Biffle 150.596 mph 6-19-05 2 hr, 39 min, 22 sec
Track qualifying record: Ryan Newman 194.232 mph 6-18-05 37.069 seconds
Track race record: Dale Jarrett 173.997 mph 6-13-99 2 hr 17 min, 56 sec
Historical data:
Previous winners at Michigan:
David Pearson (9) Cale Yarborough (8) Bill Elliott (7) Rusty Wallace (5) Richard Petty (4)
Bobby Allison (4) Mark Martin (4) Dale Jarrett (4) Davey Allison (3) Bobby Labonte (3)
Ryan Newman (2) Darrell Waltrip (2) Dale Earnhardt (2) Jeff Gordon (2) Greg Biffle (2)
Charlie Glotzbach (1) Benny Parsons (1) Buddy Baker (1) Harry Gant (1) Ricky Rudd (1)
Geoffrey Bodine (1) Ernie Irvan (1) Tony Stewart (1) Sterling Marlin (1) Matt Kenseth (1)
Kurt Busch (1) Jeremy Mayfield (1)
Races won from the pole: 14 of 73 events (19%)
Races won from in top 10: 59 of 73 events (81%)
Races won from outside top 10: 14 of 73 events (19%)
Track Milestones
Donnie Allison won the first NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Bud Pole at Michigan International Speedway in 1969.
Cale Yarborough won the first NASCAR NEXTEL Cup race at Michigan on June 15, 1969.
The first NASCAR NEXTEL Cup race at Michigan was a 500-mile event; the second was scheduled for 600
miles (only 330 completed). The format since the third race (June 1970) has been 400 miles.
The track was re-measured to 2.04 miles from the August 1970 through the August 1971.
Qualifying has been canceled three times at Michigan: June 1985, June 1990 and August 2004.
A race at Michigan has run less than the scheduled distance due to rain three times: August 2001, June 2000
and August 1969 The 1974 Motor State 400 was shortened to 180 laps/360 miles by the energy crisis.
There have been three caution-free races at Michigan: June 1973, August 1984 and June 1999.
Seven Michigan races have ended under caution: August 1970, June 1974, June 1979, June 1981, June 2000,
August 2001 and June 2004.
Track Update
Michigan is the fourth-fastest track on the current NASCAR NEXTEL Cup schedule behind Talladega,
Daytona and Atlanta based on Ryan Newman's Bud Pole speed of 194.232 mph set in June 2005.
Qualifying Update
There have been seven different Bud Pole winners in the past 10 NASCAR NEXTEL Cup races at
Michigan. Jeff Gordon and Bobby Labonte (two each) are the repeat Bud Pole winners in the 10-race period.
Qualifying was canceled in August 2004.
Manufacturer Update
All three participating manufacturers have posted at least one victory in the last 10 NASCAR NEXTEL
Cup races at Michigan, with Ford winning five, Dodge four and Chevrolet one.
The Money
Purse $5,037,040
NASCAR NEXTEL Leader Bonus $60,000
Tire/Fuel Data
Goodyear Tire Codes: Left-side - D-4020; Right-side - D-4022
Other Nextel Cup Tracks With Same Tire Combinations: Chicago and Dover
Estimated Pit Window: every 48-52 laps, based on fuel mileage
Mr. Michigan
Jack Roush Racing has unlocked the key to success on the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup level at Michigan.
Mark Martin has competed in 40 races at Michigan and leads all active drivers in victories (four), top-fives
(15) and top-10s (26).
Matt Kenseth has posted and average finish of 8.08. He has one victory, five top-fives, nine top-10s and 12
top-15s in 13 races at Michigan. Eight of those top-10s have come in the past nine races.
In his six Michigan races, Greg Biffle has four top-10 finishes, including two victories.
Carl Edwards has finished in the top-10 in all three of his Michigan appearances.
Notebook
The field will consist of 43 cars. The 43rd position is reserved for a past NASCAR NEXTEL Cup champion,
if needed. If unused, it will go to the next eligible owner.
Two qualifying laps will be used to determine starting positions with the adjustments made afterwards as
required.
There have been 73 NASCAR NEXTEL Cup races at Michigan International Speedway since the first race
was held there in 1969. There have been two Michigan races each season except 1973, which had only one.
David Pearson leads all drivers with 10 Bud Poles at Michigan.
Ryan Newman is the defending Bud Pole winner for the 3M Performance 400.
David Pearson leads all drivers with nine NASCAR NEXTEL Cup victories at Michigan.
Bill Elliott had seven Michigan victories - six of which came in an eight-race span. He won the first Michigan
race in 1984 then swept 1985 and 1986 before topping off his dominance with a victory in the second
Michigan race of 1987. His seventh Michigan victory came in the 1989 Miller 400.
Greg Biffle is the defending champion of the 3M Performance 400.
There have been 11 different race winners in the past 13 NASCAR NEXTEL Cup races at Michigan. Greg
Biffle and Ryan Newman are the only repeat race winners since 1998 and both posted back-to-back victories
in the last five races.
Bill Elliott posted four consecutive victories at Michigan, winning both races in 1985 and again in 1986.
David Pearson is the only other driver to post more than two consecutive victories at Michigan, winning
three straight in 1972-73 (There was only one race in 1973).
The Bud Pole has been the most productive starting position at Michigan, providing 14 race winners.
Forty-two of 73 NASCAR NEXTEL Cup races at Michigan have been won from the first four starting
positions.
Only 14 races at Michigan have been won from outside a top-10 starting position - all have occurred in the
past 29 races there.
The farthest back that a Michigan race winner has started is 28th by Tony Stewart in the 2000 Kmart 400.
Bobby Labonte swept both Michigan NASCAR NEXTEL Cup races in 1995, the seventh time that a driver
swept both races in a year at the Michigan track. Bobby Allison (1971), David Pearson (1972 and 1976),
Cale Yarborough (1983) and Bill Elliott (1985 and 1986) have also swept Michigan.
Would You Believe?
There have been 13 back-to-back victories at Michigan; only seven were season sweeps. The last season
sweep was in 1995 (Bobby Labonte). Mark Martin, Ryan Newman and Greg Biffle have all posted crossseason
back-to-back victories since that time.
Starting Up Front is not Important at Michigan International Speedway
The last three races at Michigan have been won from starting positions outside the top-10.
Michigan Pole Winners
There have been seven different Bud Pole winners in the last nine races at Pocono. Only Bobby Labonte
(both 2003) repeated as the Bud Pole winner during the period. Qualifying was rained out in August 2004.
Michigan Streaks
Ryan Newman has posted top-15 starts in all nine of his races at Michigan. Seven were top-10s.
Jeff Gordon has posted four straight top-10 starts at Michigan, the longest current streak.
Matt Kenseth has posted six straight tip-10 finishes at Michigan, the longest current streak.
Roush Dominance at Michigan
Matt Kenseth leads his teammates, scoring top-10 finishes in his last six races at Michigan. Greg Biffle and
Carl Edwards have both scored top 10 finishes in each of the last three races at Michigan.
Tony Stewart is the only non-Roush driver to score top-10 finishes in each of the last three races at Michigan.
Owner Wins at Michigan International Speedway
The Wood Brothers have scored 11 wins at Michigan International Speedway, the most of any car owner.
Their last Michigan victory was scored by Dale Jarrett in August 1991 when Jarrett scored his career-first
NASCAR NEXTEL Cup victory, 29 Michigan races ago. The Wood Brothers were very strong in the early history
of Michigan scoring nine of their 11 victories in the first 15 races held there: David Pearson (seven) and Cale
Yarborough (two).
Recent Domination at Michigan International Speedway
Greg Biffle won two of the last three races at Michigan International Speedway.
Carl Edwards has scored a top-10 finish in all three of his races at Michigan.
Leading The Way at Michigan International Speedway
Cale Yarborough led 1,308 laps in 36 races at Michigan, the most of all drivers. Bill Elliott led 1,004 in 54
races and ranks second in laps led there. Mark Martin ranks third with 882 laps led in 40 races at Michigan, the
most among active drivers.
Would you Believe?
A Chevrolet has won only one of the last 10 races at Michigan. The last nine races there had five Ford
victories and four by Dodge.
Michigan Standouts
Ricky Rudd had 58 career starts at Michigan International Speedway, more than any other driver.
Kyle Petty leads all full-time drivers with 49 starts at Michigan International Speedway.
David Pearson scored 10 Bud Poles at Michigan International Speedway, leading all drivers.
Jeff Gordon and Bobby Labonte lead all active drivers, each with four Bud Poles at Michigan.
David Pearson leads all drivers with nine victories at Michigan International Speedway.
Dale Jarrett and Mark Martin lead all active drivers each with four victories at Michigan International
Speedway.
Cale Yarborough leads all drivers with 21 top-five finishes at Michigan International Speedway.
Mark Martin and Dale Jarrett lead all full time, active drivers each with 15 top-five finishes at Michigan.
Mark Martin has scored 26 top-10 finishes at Michigan, the most among full time, active drivers.
Ryan Newman leads all active drivers with a 6.55 starting average in nine races at Michigan.
Carl Edwards has a 6.33 finishing average in his three races at Michigan, the best of all active drivers.
Who's Hot
Denny Hamlin has posted five straight top-10 starts and five straight top-15 finishes.
Dale Earnhardt Jr. has scored five straight top-15 finishes.
Greg Biffle has scored top-10 finishes in each of his last five races. Five races ago, Biffle was 232 points
behind 10th. After his sixth-place finish at Pocono he is now just 27 points behind 10th, a gain of 205
points on 10th in those five races.
Kasey Kahne and Jimmie Johnson have each won three races in 2006, the most of all drivers.
Matt Kenseth is the only driver to score nine top-five finishes in the 14 races this season, including the last
four races.
Jimmie Johnson is the only driver to score 11 top-10 finishes in the first 14 races of 2006.
Jimmie Johnson has scored top-15 finishes in 13 of the 14 races in 2006.
Greg Biffle is the only driver to lead at least one lap in 12 of the 14 races this season.
Matt Kenseth ranks second in the point standings after Pocono. After 14 races one year ago, he ranked
22nd.
Jeff Burton has climbed from 21st to 7th in the point standings since Martinsville. In those eight races he
score seven top-10 finishes and all eight were top-15s. One year ago he ranked 16th.
Top 10 in Points at This Track
PS Driver Starts Wins Best Top 5s Top 10s
1st Johnson, Jimmie 8 *** 4 (1 Time) 1 3
2nd Kenseth, Matt 13 1 1 (1 Time) 5 9
3rd Martin, Mark 40 4 1 (4 Times) 15 26
4th Stewart, Tony 14 1 1 (1 Time) 6 9
5th Kahne, Kasey 4 *** 2 (1 Time) 2 2
6th Earnhardt Jr., Dale 13 *** 7 (1 Time) *** 2
7th Burton, Jeff 24 *** 3 (1 Time) 4 8
8th Harvick, Kevin 10 *** 2 (1 Time) 2 3
9th Hamlin, Denny # *** *** *** ***
10th Busch, Kyle 2 *** 9 (1 Time) *** 1
First
Jimmie Johnson finished 10th in the Pocono 500 at Pocono Raceway and remained first in the NASCAR
NEXTEL Cup point standings, now only 48 points ahead of second-place Matt Kenseth. Johnson has lost 61
points of his lead in his last two races, despite scoring top-10 finishes in both. Johnson scored his 11th top-10
finish in 14 races this season, the most of all drivers. Johnson's three victories (Daytona, Las Vegas and Talladega)
tie Kasey Kahne (Atlanta, Texas and Lowe's) for the most by a driver this season. In 2006, Johnson has scored 13
top-15s in the first 14 races, the only driver to do so. Johnson ranked first in the point standings after Race No. 14
in 2005 with a 123-point lead over then second-place Greg Biffle. Johnson has ranked among the top-10 for 83
straight races, since Atlanta in March 2004. He has competed in eight races at Michigan International Speedway,
scoring just three top-10 finishes. Johnson has a 17.125 average finish at Michigan. Johnson finished 19th in this
race one year ago and posted a 10th-place finish there last August. He led the most laps there in August 2003, the
only race in which he led the most laps. Johnson has finished on the lead lap in five of his eight of his races at
Michigan, including both races there in 2005. Johnson has won at least one race each season for five consecutive
years (2002-2006).
Second
Matt Kenseth finished fifth in the Pocono 500 at Pocono Raceway scoring his 10th top-10 finish in 2006. Nine
of his 10 top-10 finishes in 2006 are top-fives. He has scored top-five finishes in his last five races. Kenseth scored
his first victory of 2006 at California. He has scored 12 top-15 finishes in 14 races this season. Kenseth remained
second in the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup point standings. One year ago he ranked 24th in the point standings
after 14 races. Kenseth has ranked among the top-five in the point standings since his victory in Race No. 2 at
California. He has competed in 13 races at Michigan International Speedway scoring one victory (June 2002)
and nine top-10 finishes. Kenseth has scored top-15 finishes in his last 11 races at Michigan. He finished fourth in
this race one year ago and third there last August. He has scored top-10 finishes in his last six races at Michigan,
the longest current streak. He has an 8.08 finishing average at Michigan, the best of all drivers with more than
three starts. He has led in five of his 13 Michigan races, but has never led the most laps in a race there. Kenseth
has failed to finish on the lead lap in just two of his 13 races at Michigan. Kenseth has won at least one race each
season for five consecutive years (2002-2006).
Third
Mark Martin finished 17th in the Pocono 500 at Pocono Raceway and remained third in the NASCAR
NEXTEL Cup point standings. At this point one year ago he ranked fifth in the point standings. Martin has scored
17 top-15 finishes in the 18 races since Atlanta last October. He has had only one DNF (Talladega in October 2005
- Accident) in the 38 races since Dover in June 2005. Martin has competed in 40 races at Michigan International
Speedway, scoring four victories, 15 top-five and 26 top-10 finishes there. His last Michigan victory came in June
1998, 16 Michigan races ago. He finished third in this race one year ago and 17th there last August. Martin has an
11.75 average finish at Michigan. Martin has led in 24 of his 40 races at Michigan, leading 882 laps there ranking
third all time. He has led the most laps in just four races at Michigan including two of the four races that he won.
Martin has finished on the lead lap in seven of his last eight races at Michigan.
Fourth
Tony Stewart finished third in the Pocono 500 at Pocono Raceway. He climbed from fifth to fourth in the
NASCAR NEXTEL Cup point standings. Stewart led at least one lap in 10 races in 2006. His 65 lap leader
bonus points are second only to Biffle who has 80. Seven of his eight top-10 finishes in 2006 are top-fives. He
has competed in 14 races at Michigan International Speedway scoring one victory (June 2000) and nine top-10
finishes. Stewart has scored six top-10 finishes in his last seven races at Michigan. Stewart finished second in this
race one year ago and fifth there last August. He has a 12.5 finishing average at Michigan and has led in just four
of his 14 races there. He led the most laps in a race at Michigan just one time when he led 97 laps in this race one
year ago and finished second. He has finished on the lead lap in his last seven races at Michigan. Stewart has won
at least one race each season for eight consecutive years (1999-2006).
Fifth
Kasey Kahne finished seventh in the Pocono 500 at Pocono Raceway scoring his ninth top-10 finish in 2006.
He climbed from sixth to fifth in the point standings. Kahne has scored three victories (Atlanta, Texas and Lowe's)
in 2006, tied with Jimmie Johnson for the most. Kahne has scored nine top-15 finishes in the first 14 races in
2006. One year ago he ranked 19th in the point standings. Kahne has competed in just four races at Michigan
International Speedway, scoring two top-10 finishes there, both top fives and both in his rookie season in 2004.
He finished 18th in this race one year ago and 29th there in August. Kahne has a 13.5 average finish at Michigan.
He has been running at the finish in all four of his races at Michigan. Kahne failed to finish on the lead lap in his
last race at Michigan when he finished 29th last August. Kahne has won at least one race each season for two
consecutive years (2005-2006).
Sixth
Dale Earnhardt Jr., finished 14th in the Pocono 500 at Pocono Raceway and dropped from fourth to sixth in
the point standings. One year ago he ranked 16th in the point standings. Earnhardt Jr. has scored 11 top-15 finishes
in the 14 races in 2006. His only victory in 2006 came at Richmond. He has competed in 13 races at Michigan
International Speedway, scoring just two top-10 finishes. His best Michigan finish of seventh came there in June
2003. He finished 17th in this race one year ago and finished 18th there last August. He has not scored a top-15
finish in his last five races at Michigan. Earnhardt has a 20.538 average finish at Michigan. He has led in five of
his 13 races at Michigan, never leading more than 37 laps in a single race. Earnhardt Jr. has finished on the lead
lap in three of his last four races at Michigan, including both races in 2005. Earnhardt Jr. has won at least one race
2000-2006 seven consecutive years.
Seventh
Jeff Burton finished ninth in the Pocono 500 at Pocono Raceway and remained seventh in the NASCAR
NEXTEL Cup point standings. Burton remained at his highest points ranking in 2006 and is at his highest points
ranking since he ranked fourth after Las Vegas in March 2003, 120 races ago. He has scored nine top-10 finishes
in 14 races this season. One year ago he ranked 17th in the point standings. Burton has competed in 24 races at
Michigan International Speedway and has scored eight top-10 finishes. His last Michigan top 10 came there in
August 2002 when he finished fourth, seven Michigan races ago. He finished 11th in this race one year ago and
26th there last August. He has led in seven races at Michigan, but has never led the most laps in a race and has
never led more than 36 laps in a single race there. Burton has a 14.875 average finish at Michigan. Burton has
finished on the lead lap in his last seven races at Michigan.
Eighth
Kevin Harvick finished 13th in the Pocono 500 at Pocono Raceway and remained eighth in the NASCAR
NEXTEL Cup point standings. Harvick has ranked among the top 10 in the last eight races, since Texas in April.
One year ago he ranked seventh in the point standings. Harvick has scored six top-10 finishes in 2006. He has
competed in 10 races at Michigan International Speedway posting three top-10 finishes. He finished 25th in this
race one year ago and 22nd there last August. He has an 18.1 average finish at Michigan. He has led in just two
races at Michigan has posted one DNF there. Harvick has finished on the lead lap in four of his last five races at
Michigan.
Ninth
Denny Hamlin finished first in the Pocono 500 at Pocono Raceway and climbed from 11th to ninth in the
NASCAR NEXTEL Cup point standings. This marked his first appearance in the top-10 in the point standings in
his short 21-race career. It marked his fifth straight top-15 finish. He is now 463 points behind current point leader
Johnson. Hamlin is the highest ranking NASCAR Raybestos Rookie-of-the–Year. He is the only rookie to score
top-15 finishes in nine races this season. He leads all rookies becoming the highest finishing rookie in eight races
this season. Hamlin has never competed in a NASCAR NEXTEL Cup race at Michigan International Speedway.
10th
Kyle Busch finished 22nd in the Pocono 500 at Pocono Raceway and remained 10th in the NASCAR
NEXTEL Cup point standings. Busch has scored seven top-10 finishes in 14 races this season. One year ago
he ranked 18th in the point standings. Busch has scored nine top-15 finishes in the 14 races in 2006. He has
competed in two races at Michigan International Speedway finishing ninth in this race one year ago and 43rd there
last August. He has a 26.0 average finish at Michigan. He has led in one of his two races at Michigan and posted
his first DNF there last August.
