Fantasy NASCAR Scouting Report – Michigan

[themify_box ]NOTE: This post is a recap of what happened in August 2015 at Michigan[/themify_box]

Michigan Top Ten Starters

1. Matt Kenseth
2. Denny Hamlin
3. Carl Edwards
4. Austin Dillon
5. Tony Stewart
6. Kyle Busch
7. Kevin Harvick
8. Jimmie Johnson
9. Dale Earnhardt Jr.
10. Joey Logano

Michigan Full Starting Lineup

Pre-race Notes

In this race particular race NASCAR used a high-down force rules package which is the complete opposite of what NASCAR will use in the upcoming Michigan race.

Austin Dillon started in the rear of the field because of an engine change.

Kyle Busch started in the rear of the field in a backup car.

David Ragan drove the #55.

Race Notes

Matt Kenseth started on the pole and led the first 22 laps.

Notable Moment: As soon as the race went green David Ragan spun and brought out the first caution.

Running order on lap 10: 20,48,11,22,19,15,4,14,2,88 … 27,78,41,5,1,21,9,31,16,47

During the lap 10 caution for debris, Austin Dillon pitted and not many others followed. This later allowed him to use pit strategy.

Running order on lap 19: 20,22,48,15,78,11,19,4,41,88 … 2,27,14,21,1,31,5,16,42,24 … 9,83,6,51,17,55,35,47,13,43 …. 10,38,18

During the competition caution on lap 22 Austin Dillon didn’t pit. This got him the lead and he led the next 18 laps. While he was out front he pulled away from the field.

Running order on lap 38: 3,20,88,15,22,2,41,19,78,4 … 27,11,42,24,31,48,21,18,1,10 …13,9,14,6,17,40,55,35,16,43 … 5,51

On lap 42 race leader Austin Dillon pitted for fuel under green. He stayed out earlier and got the lead.

After Austin Dillon pitted Matt Kenseth regained the lead and led the next 19 laps.

Notable Moment: On lap 48 Jimmie Johnson slowed on the track because he thought he had a tire going down. He then came down pit road for an unexpected pit stop. This dropped him a lap down.

Big Moment: Around lap 50 Casey Mears was on pit road with his hood up. He had radiator hose issues and it marked the end of his race.

On lap 73 a caution came out for debris. This was a big break for Austin Dillon because it allowed him to get back in sync with the field. He was about to pit that very lap. He was out of sync with the field since his early pit strategy gamble.

Running order on lap 76: 20,15,41,78,11,22,18,24,88,4 … 2,42,27,3,19,31,55,1,9,16 … 6,10,51,14,43,17,5,35,7,21 …. 83,34,26,48,38

Running order on lap 90: 20,78,18,15,4,22,11,41,27,2 … 19,3,42,31,55,1,24,88,9,14 … 48,5,43,6,10,21,47,51,17,35 … 34,7,16,38,83

Running order on lap 111: 4,19,3,2,42,27,88,9,20,78 … 18,15,11,22,41,31,24,55,5,48 … 14,21,43,1,10,47,6,17,51,35

Notable Moment: On lap 114 Kevin Harvick ran out of gas under green and slowed on the back stretch. He was the leader at the time.

Notable Moment: On lap 116 Jimmie Johnson missed his pit box. It was a very costly mistake that probably doubled his pit stop time.