Is This Dale Junior’s Week at Michigan?

For the second straight week, Sprint Cup drivers will race on a newly repaved track. The two-mile Michigan International Speedway is the next stop on the schedule. Five drivers -- Kyle Busch, Jeff Gordon, Matt Kenseth, Brad Keselowski and Juan Pablo Montoya all did a Goodyear Tire test at Michigan and speeds reached as high as 216 mph.

The top qualifying speed at Michigan is just over 194 mph and that record is expected to fall during tomorrow's qualifying.

Denny Hamlin is the defending champion of the June race at Michigan – the only race he won last year. He also won the June race the year before so this Sunday he’s going for a three-peat. Only Davey Allison in the early 90’s was able to do that before.

Dale Earnhardt, Junior has gone 143 races without a victory since he won the June race at Michigan in 2008. He also has two Nationwide victories at the track.

Michigan has been a good track for Jeff Gordon. Even though he only has two victories there he has 24 top-10 finishes and five poles.

Just the opposite for Jimmie Johnson. In 20 visits to Michigan it’s one of the few tracks where he’s never won. His best finish was third.

Kurt Busch will continue to drive the No. 51 Chevrolet after meeting with the team owner on Tuesday. That after he was suspended from racing last week at Pocono for verbally abusing a member of the media the week before at Dover. So with his suspension now over, Busch will be back on the track this weekend at Michigan.