Kurt Busch Wins Rain Shortened Race at Michigan

Posted by Wayne G. Barber

Date:                           June 14, 2015

Event:                         Michigan 400 (Round 15 of 36)

Series:                         NASCAR Sprint Cup Series

Location:                    Michigan International Speedway in Brooklyn (2-mile oval)

Start/Finish:                24^th/1^st (Running, completed 138 of 138 laps)

Point Standing:           11th with 426 points, 150 out of first

Winner:                       Kurt Busch of Stewart-Haas Racing (Chevrolet)

 

Kurt Busch and the No. 41 Haas Automation Chevrolet SS team of Stewart-Haas Racing (SHR) overcame adversity at Michigan International Speedway in Brooklyn on Sunday afternoon, winning the rain-shortened Michigan 400 after starting 24^th in a backup racecar. Busch led six laps en route to the win, which marks his 27^th NASCAR Sprint Cup Series career victory, second in 2015 and third overall at the 2-mile oval.

 

“It’s a team combination all the way around,” Busch said. “Tony Gibson (crew chief) led these guys through a backup car, and the pit crew was there giving their best. It’s an unbelievable feeling to know what we went through, paced ourselves and found the lead toward the latter part of the race when the rain came in.”

 

Busch’s weekend didn’t start out as well as it ended; on Friday he lost control of his car and made contact with the wall during the first practice session. Not having any seat time in the backup car prior to qualifying, he fought ill handling and only advanced to the second round, earning a 24^th-place starting position.

 

In addition to the team’s fine-tuning during Saturday’s two practice sessions, two adjustments made during Sunday’s race gave Busch the smooth-handling Haas Automation Chevrolet he needed to work his way to the front. A fast racecar combined with spotter Rick Carelli’s expert guidance enabled the Las Vegas native to pull off the win.

“It’s amazing when you have team chemistry at the level we do,” the 36-year-old driver stated. “I grew up watching Rick Carelli and Ron Hornaday – the legends of the Southwest Tour run – and to have Carelli as my spotter, I have so much respect for him. He has so much wisdom to give and he’s a good mentor. He teaches me so many things.”

 

Busch had made seven passes before the first caution emerged on lap 10 for inclement weather. The race was then red-flagged for increased precipitation, which would occur three additional times throughout the afternoon. Busch advanced several positions during each green-flag run and raced his way into eighth by lap 42.

 

Gibson’s call for four tires and fuel on lap 122 worked to Busch’s advantage, as the fresh tires allowed him to catapult to the lead just before the final caution flag waved for rain. As the rain came down harder, officials parked drivers on pit road on lap 138. Shortly thereafter, Busch was declared the Michigan 400 winner.

 

“You have to get down and dirty,” Busch said. “You have to really roll up your sleeves, get your elbows dirty and put the work into it. And Tony Gibson makes these guys work a little extra hard. I always say thanks and I’m always there early with them. Thanks to Haas Automation, State Water Heaters, Chevrolet, Monster Energy, Mobil 1 and Rush Truck Centers. This is a fantastic series to race in and it’s a pleasure to be able to drive into victory lane.”

 

This was the 29^th points-paying Sprint Cup win for SHR since its inception in 2009 and the organization’s fourth this season. Busch won earlier this year at Richmond (Va.) International Raceway, and SHR teammate Kevin Harvick won at Las Vegas Motor Speedway and Phoenix International Raceway.
  #41-Kurt Busch won the Quicken Loans 400 Sprint Cup Series race at Michigan International Speedway for his 2nd win of the season, 3rd win at Michigan and 27th career win. The race was called after 138 laps because of rain.
#88-Earnhardt, Jr finished 2nd, followed by #78-Truex, Jr., #20-Kenseth, #22-Logano, #2-Keselowski, #1-McMurray, #27-Menard, #6-Bayne, and #15-Bowyer.
Rain plagued the race all day. There were 3 red flags that lasted more than 2 hours before the race got to halfway. Another band of heavy rain hit on lap 137 and after another red flag, NASCAR called the race. The race is the first to be shortened because of rain since Daytona in July 2014.
Pole sitter #5-Kahne finished 15th. #18-Kyle Buch hit the wall on lap 54 and finished 43rd. Harvick had a tire go down late and finished 29th, only second finish outside the top 10 this season.
Harvick maintains the drivers points lead with 576, 15 points over #78-Truex, Jr.
There were 17 lead changes among 11 drivers. There were 5 cautions for 38 yellow flag laps.
The average speed was 116.688mph. Source Jessica Brown Stewart/Haas Media Press Release