Car 48 Jimmie Johnson Lowe’s/Kobalt Tools Chevrolet won Quicken Loans 400 at Michigan International Speedway for his 69th career victory and 3rd win of 2014. This is his first win and 10th top-10 finish in 25 races at Michigan International Speedway. Johnson now remains winless at only four tracks on the current schedule: Kentucky Speedway, Watkins Glen International, Chicagoland Speedway and Homestead-Miami Speedway.
This is Hendrick Motorsports’ 5th consecutive win, the third time it has accomplished the feat. Hendrick Motorsports twice accomplished the feat in 2007, including a streak of six straight wins.
With smart pitting strategy from Car 48 Lowe’s/Kobalt Tools Chevrolet Crew Chief Chad Knaus by taking 4 tires and fuel on, their last pit stop made it possible to take the lead at lap 191 and hold off until the checkered flag. Chad Knaus said “We knew there was going to be some opportunities to play some strategy today; we were fortunate to have a fast race car and hit the strategy correct.”
2nd Place Car 4 Kevin Harvick Budweiser Chevrolet posted his 11th top-10 finish in 27 races at Michigan International Speedway. Kevin Harvick was not happy as he lead the race for 63 laps & was the Coors Light Pole Award winner and set a new track record to earn the pole. He said “The car was fast, just wound up on the wrong side of the strategy.”
3rd Place Car 2 Brad Keselowski Miller Lite Ford posted his third top-10 finish in ten races at Michigan International Speedway. 4th place was Car 27 Paul Menard Pittsburgh Paints/Menards Chevrolet, 5th place Car 5 Kasey Kahne Farmers Insurance Chevrolet was happy with at least getting a Top 5. 6th Place Car 24 Jeff Gordon Drive to End Hunger Chevrolet leads the point standings by 15 points over Jimmie Johnson. 7th Place was Car 88 Dale Earnhardt Jr. National Guard/Superman Chevrolet, 8th place Car 42 Kyle Larson Target Chevrolet was the highest finishing rookie. 9th Place was Car 22 Joey Logano Shell Pennzoil Ford and lastly in the Top 10 was Car 15 Clint Bowyer 5-Hour Energy Toyota in 10th place.
Strategy won the race as Car 48 Jimmie Johnson Lowe’s/Kobalt Tools Chevrolet pitted on lap 165, and got 4 tires and enough fuel to finish the race. Anyone else close had to pit as the rest of the race was green flag racing.
The race had 8 Cautions for 36 laps & 25 Lead Changes among 13 drivers. 1st Caution on lap 2 for Car 32 Travis Kvapil Keenparts.com/Corvetteparts.net Ford and Car 55 Brian Vickers Aaron’s Dream Machine Toyota crash in turn 4.
2nd Caution on lap 8 Car 5 Kasey Kahne Farmers Insurance Chevrolet, Car 42 Kyle Larson Target Chevrolet and Car 78 Martin Truex Jr. Furniture Row Chevrolet for a crash on the backstretch.
3rd Caution on lap 73 for Debris on the backstretch, 4th Caution on lap 104 for Car 34 David Ragan Taco Bell Ford spin in turn 4.
5th Caution on lap 111 for Car 23 Alex Bowman Dr.Pepper Toyota crash in turn 2.
6th Caution on lap 115 for Car 13 Casey Mears GEICO Chevrolet and Car 66 Brett Moffitt Toyota Let’s Go Places Toyota crash in turn 4.
7th Caution on lap 123 for Car 11 Denny Hamlin FedEx Express Toyota and Car 43 Aric Almirola Smithfield Ford crash in turn 4.
8th Caution on lap 149 for Debris in turn 2.
Lap Leaders: K. Harvick 1-18; J. Gordon 19-42; B. Keselowski 43-44; J. Gordon 45-56; K. Harvick 57-74; J. Johnson 75-77; J. Logano 78-91; J. Johnson 92-104; K. Harvick 105-112; B. Keselowski 113; K. Harvick 114-118; B. Keselowski 119; K. Harvick 120-126; J. Logano 127-141; K. Harvick 142-148; J. McMurray 149-151; J. Johnson 152-164; J. McMurray 165; D. Earnhardt Jr. 166; Kurt Busch 167-182; K. Kahne 183; K. Larson # 184-185; A. Dillon # 186-187; T. Stewart 188; M. Kenseth 189-190; J. Johnson 191-200.
Leaders Summary (Driver, Times Lead, Laps Led): K. Harvick 6 times for 63 laps; J. Johnson 4 times for 39 laps; J. Gordon 2 times for 36 laps; J. Logano 2 times for 29 laps; Kurt Busch 1 time for 16 laps; J. McMurray 2 times for 4 laps; B. Keselowski 3 times for 4 laps; M. Kenseth 1 time for 2 laps; K. Larson # 1 time for 2 laps; A. Dillon # 1 time for 2 laps; T. Stewart 1 time for 1 lap; K. Kahne 1 time for 1 lap; D. Earnhardt Jr. 1 time for 1 lap.
Top 16 in Points: J. Gordon – 537; J. Johnson – 522; D. Earnhardt Jr. – 514; M. Kenseth – 513; B. Keselowski – 490; C. Edwards – 462; J. Logano – 454; K. Larson # – 454; K. Harvick – 447; Kyle Busch – 446; R. Newman – 440; D. Hamlin – 435; P. Menard – 420; C. Bowyer – 417; G. Biffle – 409; T. Stewart – 402.
NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Race Number 15
Unofficial Race Results for the 46Th Annual Quicken Loans 400 – Sunday, June 15, 2014
Michigan International Speedway – Brooklyn, MI – 2 Mile Paved
Total Race Length – 200 Laps – 400 Miles – Average Speed of Race Winner: 143.441 mph. Time of Race: 2 Hrs, 47 Mins, 19 Secs. Margin of Victory: 1.214 Seconds.
Position Car Driver Team Laps Status
1. Car 48 Jimmie Johnson Lowe’s/Kobalt Tools Chevrolet 200 Running
2. Car 4 Kevin Harvick Budweiser Chevrolet 200 Running
3. Car 2 Brad Keselowski Miller Lite Ford 200 Running
4. Car 27 Paul Menard Pittsburgh Paints/Menards Chevrolet 200 Running
5. Car 5 Kasey Kahne Farmers Insurance Chevrolet 200 Running
6. Car 24 Jeff Gordon Drive to End Hunger Chevrolet 200 Running
7. Car 88 Dale Earnhardt Jr. National Guard/Superman Chevrolet 200 Running
8. Car 42 Kyle Larson Target Chevrolet 200 Running
9. Car 22 Joey Logano Shell Pennzoil Ford 200 Running
10. Car 15 Clint Bowyer 5-Hour Energy Toyota 200 Running
11. Car 14 Tony Stewart Bass Pro Shops/Mobil 1 Chevrolet 200 Running
12. Car 1 Jamie McMurray McDonald’s Chevrolet 200 Running
13. Car 41 Kurt Busch Haas Automation Chevrolet 200 Running
14. Car 20 Matt Kenseth Dollar General Toyota 200 Running
15. Car 31 Ryan Newman Quicken Loans Chevrolet 200 Running
16. Car 51 Justin Allgaier CSS USA Airflow Systems Chevrolet 200 Running
17. Car 10 Danica Patrick GoDaddy Chevrolet 200 Running
18. Car 12 Juan Pablo Montoya SKF Ford 200 Running
19. Car 21 Trevor Bayne Motorcraft/Quick Lane Tire & Auto Center Ford 200 Running
20. Car 16 Greg Biffle 3M Military Salute Ford 200 Running
21. Car 7 Michael Annett Pilot Flying J Chevrolet 199 Running
22. Car 47 AJ Allmendinger Charter Chevrolet 199 Running
23. Car 99 Carl Edwards Fastenal Ford 199 Running
24. Car 13 Casey Mears GEICO Chevrolet 199 Running
25. Car 9 Marcos Ambrose DeWalt Ford 199 Running
26. Car 38 David Gilliland Long John Silver’s Ford 198 Running
27. Car 17 Ricky Stenhouse Jr. EcoPower Oil Ford 198 Running
28. Car 26 Cole Whitt Speed Stick Gear Toyota 198 Running
29. Car 11 Denny Hamlin FedEx Express Toyota 198 Running
30. Car 3 Austin Dillon Dow Chevrolet 197 Running
31. Car 43 Aric Almirola Smithfield Ford 197 Running
32. Car 36 Reed Sorenson Theme Park Connection Chevrolet 197 Running
33. Car 98 Josh Wise Phil Parsons Racing Chevrolet 197 Running
34. Car 66 Brett Moffitt Toyota Let’s Go Places Toyota 197 Running
35. Car 40 Landon Cassill CRC Brakleen Chevrolet 197 Running
36. Car 44 JJ Yeley All City Leasing & Warehousing Chevrolet 197 Running
37. Car 78 Martin Truex Jr. Furniture Row Chevrolet 196 Running
38. Car 34 David Ragan Taco Bell Ford 196 Running
39. Car 33 David Stremme Little Joe’s Auto Chevrolet 195 Running
40. Car 23 Alex Bowman Dr.Pepper Toyota 169 Accident
41. Car 18 Kyle Busch M&M’s Toyota 169 Running
42. Car 55 Brian Vickers Aaron’s Dream Machine Toyota 110 Running
43. Car 32 Travis Kvapil Keenparts.com/Corvetteparts.net Ford 23 Accident
Race Comments: Jimmie Johnson won the Quicken Loans 400, his 69th NASCAR Sprint Cup Series victory. Prior to the start of the race, the following cars dropped to the rear of the field for the reasons indicated: #33 (engine change).
3M Lap Leader: Kevin Harvick, #4 63 Laps American Ethanol Green Flag Restart Award : Kevin Harvick, #4 Duralast Brakes “Brake in the Race”: Kevin Harvick, #4 Mahle Clevite Engine Builder of the Race: Hendrick Engines, #4 Mobil 1 Driver of the Race : Kevin Harvick, #4 Moog Chassis Parts Problem Solver of the Race: Kasey Kahne, #5 Kenny Francis, .149 sec Sherwin-Williams Fastest Lap : Jamie McMurray, #1 Sunoco Rookie of the Race: Kyle Larson, #42
Next Race: Jun. 22, 2014 – Sonoma Raceway
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