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3M Performance 400 - Michigan International Speedway
Kurt Busch Masters Michigan
Kurt Busch has done it again. Teamed with veteran crew chief Pat Tryson at Penske Racing, Busch raced to his second win of the season at Michigan International Raceway.
Busch was patient when he needed to be in a Tuesday afternoon NASCAR NEXTEL Cup race that tried everyone's patience for two days.
Rain Sunday and again Monday sent the drivers to their motor coaches for two straight days, where cabin fever set in. It rained and rained, and then rained some more.
The race was the first ever run on a Tuesday since NASCAR instituted its next clear day rainout policy. An unbelievable crowd stayed for the race after the two days of terrible weather and miserable conditions.
Once things dried out some and a fog lifted, Busch became the man of the hour, holding off Martin Truex Jr. for the win. Jimmie Johnson finished third, Matt Kenseth fourth and Denny Hamlin fifth.
Four-time champion Jeff Gordon was trying to hold on to fifth position with 12 laps to when Kenseth accidentally hit him from behind. Gordon spun off the track and needed help from the safety crew after his car stuck in the mud. He wound up 27th.
Something happened to Gordon's car prior to the accident as he was falling back before the incident with Kenseth.
Greg Biffle, battling several cars for 12th position with two laps remaining, bumped Kyle Busch's car and spun setting up a green-white-checkered finish.
On the restart, Kurt drove away from the pack to win. His other win this season in the Miller Lite Dodge came at Pocono two weeks ago.
"We led some laps and put ourselves in position," said Busch. "That’s what it takes when you’re running for the Chase, to get in, its just smooth and steady effort. Pat made excellent pit calls. With all the restarts at the end, it challenged me to be my best and to be on top of my game with restarts and feeling the car out. This Dodge ran magnificent in the corners and the straightaway power was Penske/Jasper Power and it was great. It was a total team effort."
The former champion laid back early in Tuesday's race but led more laps than anyone by the finish.
Rounding out the top 10 behind fifth-place Kenseth were Dave Blaney, Carl Edwards, Brian Vickers, Bobby Labonte and Tony Stewart.
Dale Earnhardt, Jr., wound up 12th after leading and running up front most of the afternoon.
A heavy fog clung to the track when the green and yellow flags fell shortly after 10 o'clock Tuesday morning after a two-day delay. The 43-car field made 10 laps at slow speed before NASCAR displayed the red flag and brought the cars back on pit road.
Race officials, as well as team spotters, could not see the backstretch clearly. NASCAR delayed the start until the fog lifted.
The race finally started under green flag conditions a little after 11 o'clock with outside pole sitter Biffle taking the lead.
Gordon Roars to Michigan Pole Position
Jeff Gordon won the Bud Pole for the 3M Performance 400 with a lap of 38.090 seconds, 189.026 mph.
This is his 62nd Bud Pole in 496 career NASCAR NEXTEL Cup races.
This is his sixth Bud Pole and 15th top-10 start in 2007.
This is Gordon’s fifth Bud Pole and 20th top-10 start in 30 races at Michigan International Speedway.
Greg Biffle posted the second-fastest qualifying time with a lap of 38.159 seconds, 188.684 mph, as the
final two cars to go out took the top two positions. It is his fourth top-10 start in 2007 and his third in 10
races at Michigan.
Kasey Kahne (third) posted his 12th top-10 start in 2007 and his fourth in eight Michigan races.
Michael Waltrip (11th) was the fastest of the drivers required to make the field on time. Waltrip posted his
best qualifying effort since he started third at Indianapolis in August 2005.
David Reutimann (12th) was the fastest qualifying rookie.
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