NASCAR.com delves into drivers to watch and key story lines for the upcoming race weekend at Michigan International Speedway.
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00:00 >> Green flag goes back in the air.
00:02 >> The advantage goes to Harvick.
00:04 >> Still there, still there, still there.
00:06 >> Still there.
00:07 >> Clean air.
00:08 >> Daniel Suarez.
00:09 >> We stay under the green flag.
00:11 >> Kevin Harvick across the line.
00:13 The checkered flag is in the air.
00:15 And he becomes playoff eligible.
00:18 >> P2.
00:19 >> Sorry.
00:20 >> I don't care what you think.
00:22 That's a hell of a weekend.
00:24 >> Great job, man.
00:25 >> Thank you.
00:30 >> Hey, race fans, welcome to the preview show delivered by door dash.
00:38 I'm Kim Kuhn alongside Alan Kavanaugh.
00:40 And are you feeling lucky this weekend?
00:42 You should because the NASCAR cup series is headed to the Irish hills of Michigan.
00:46 >> Love Michigan.
00:47 There's only four more races before the playoffs start.
00:50 That's four chances to lock in your spot to the playoffs.
00:53 Four more chances for say a chase Elliott.
00:55 We'll talk about him in the show.
00:57 But plenty of other drivers trying to get the win this weekend.
01:00 >> Like Kevin Harvick, four more chances for the four car.
01:03 And he is traditionally very strong at Michigan.
01:05 >> Super strong at Michigan.
01:07 Wondering if this will be the spot that he gets his first victory of the year.
01:10 Because last time we were in Michigan, it was the four car in victory lane.
01:13 Five out of the last seven races at Michigan, it's been the four car in victory lane.
01:17 I thought he'd be the dominant Ford at Richmond.
01:19 That didn't work out.
01:20 He could be the dominant Ford this weekend, if not the best car at Michigan.
01:24 It's just that type of Kevin Harvick track, high speeds, go into the corner further than anybody with your foot on the gas.
01:31 That's where Kevin Harvick excels.
01:33 Now, we know he wins on speed.
01:35 Does that four car have the speed it had last year?
01:38 I don't know if we've seen it, but maybe there's some Michigan magic.
01:41 >> Maybe.
01:42 The stats are strong, but the Fords really have not had the speed at intermediate tracks.
01:46 And the Fords really haven't had it when it comes to victory lane.
01:49 >> Yes, Buescher winning last week was only the third time this year we've seen a Ford in victory lane.
01:53 So we're watching Kevin Harvick.
01:55 Another guy you can't ignore is Bubba Wallace because he finished second to Harvick last year at Michigan.
01:59 Not only that, got his first career pole at Michigan.
02:02 That team has the speed there, and they're on a little bit of a hot streak.
02:05 They finished 12th or better in the last three races.
02:07 So, Bubba, for you, what do you think?
02:09 >> I love what Bubba did last year, getting the pole, leading the laps.
02:11 He is a better driver.
02:12 They are a better team this year.
02:14 So you would expect them to be up front contending for the win.
02:17 I've got to say, though, I'm just worried about the pit crew.
02:20 We have to talk accountability here.
02:22 You can't come in, you know, leading the race, being in the top five, and come out 15th.
02:26 It seems like there's an issue every week.
02:27 They've got to stop that.
02:28 >> Yeah, but the thing that it proves to me, last week in Richmond, they had that trouble on the right front
02:32 after Bubba was so strong, led laps.
02:34 But you tuned into the radio, and you didn't hear the angry Bubba.
02:37 He didn't get on the radio and just throw his crew under the bus.
02:40 He was calm, cool, collected.
02:42 >> All good.
02:43 >> He's showing his evolution as a driver, and that's the type of things that get you to victory lane.
02:47 So I'm looking at Bubba.
02:48 I'm looking now that he is 54 points to the good on the playoff grid.
02:52 That puts you a little bit more at ease, gives him a little bit more comfort, so he can just focus on the racing.
02:57 >> It lets you breathe a little easier, which is nice, especially in Michigan this time of year.
03:00 >> But you know who's not breathing easy is Chevrolet at Michigan.
03:03 >> Yeah, I mean, it's been six years since the Chevys have won.
03:07 We talked Ford won last week.
03:08 The Toyota drivers, they're killing it.
03:10 I'm just a little worried about Chevy.
03:12 Remember a few months ago, all we would talk about is the Chevy domination, the Hendrick cars.
03:16 They were winning everything, leading all the laps, track house as well.
03:20 We haven't seen that as much lately, and I'm wondering where that's going, or is it Toyota catching up?
03:25 Is it Ford catching up, or is Chevy a little bit on a downturn?
03:28 I'd only be worried because you don't want to have the downward momentum right before the playoffs start.
03:33 This is not the time to start trending down.
03:36 >> No, not at all.
03:37 The Chevy teams definitely need to pick it up, but they could do it this weekend at Michigan, especially one team.
03:41 Hendrick Motorsports, those Chevrolets traditionally are very good at Michigan.
03:45 Kyle Larson a three-time winner there, and Chase Elliott a three-time runner-up, which leads us to the question, to the chase tracker.
03:51 Can he win at Michigan?
03:53 Does he need to win at Michigan, or is he in a position now to get on points into the playoffs?
03:57 >> Well, let's look at it.
03:58 The chase tracker says he is 40 points out with four races to go, 40 points below the elimination line.
04:04 I can do the math.
04:05 That's 10 points per race.
04:06 He got stage points finally in Richmond.
04:09 That's a sign of life for him.
04:10 >> He qualified pretty well.
04:11 >> Qualified well.
04:12 You got to do all those things.
04:13 At Michigan last year, he was 11th with no stage points, so he has to improve on what they did last year.
04:19 If Michigan is going to be the place to get that victory, to get a really good points day, I still think he needs a win with four races to go.
04:26 >> I do, too, and that doesn't bode well, because I don't think he can win at Michigan, despite the fact that he's only finished outside the top 10 twice there in 12 starts.
04:33 I think it's a solid points day, but I'm still, it needs to be a win for Chase Elliott and his 9th team.
04:39 >> But you talk Hendrick Motorsports at Michigan, and you can't ignore the fact that historically they have been great there, especially Dale Earnhardt Jr.
04:45 >> A lot of memorable wins there.
04:47 We'll go back for our NASCAR 75 flashback to 2008, a big day if you were a fan of Dale Earnhardt Jr.
04:53 He was in the midst of a 76 race winless streak.
04:56 He had yet to win for Hendrick Motorsports in the 88 car.
05:00 This would be the day, plenty of drama included.
05:02 He started the final run of the race two laps short on fuel.
05:06 Everyone was trying to stretch, and it would come down to a green-white checkered attempt, and yes, he had enough fuel, beat Casey Ainslie, and caught through the flames and saved the lease.
05:17 It was big for Dale Earnhardt Jr.'s career, because up until that point, it would be like, hey, when are you going to win?
05:22 This is HMS.
05:23 You've got to do it in the 88 car.
05:24 He did it that day.
05:25 He'd go on to have a pretty decent career.
05:27 >> So he broke a 76 race winless streak there, and then four years later, won again at Michigan to break another winless streak.
05:33 So the question is this weekend, what driver in the Cup Series might break a winless streak?
05:38 Don't forget to tune in to the Firekeepers Casino 400 this Sunday, August 6th, 2.30 p.m. Eastern on USA.
05:45 >> And make sure you join us right back here next week for the preview show delivered by DoorDash.
05:48 She's Kim, I'm Alan.
05:49 We'll see you then.
05:52 [ Music ]