2008 SPRINT CUP RACE 15: LifeLock 400 @ Michigan

NASCAR typically doesn't race on Mother's Day, but they typically do on Father's Day weekend. The Cup Series headed to Michigan for the LifeLock 400 on Father's Day Sunday. Kyle Busch scored the pole beating out Jeff Burton for it. Michigan is a wide D-shaped racetrack with multiple racing grooves. Kyle Busch led the first few laps but Jimmie Johnson came to the forefront to lead the bulk of the laps to claim the most laps led award. Matt Kenseth and Brian Vickers (coming off his second place run at Pocono), also led some laps out front. The drama came as cars made their final pit stops in the last 20 laps. Johnson was leading but had to come in as well as Matt Kenseth and others. Dale Jr., Jamie McMurray, and Kasey Kahne had all pit a bit earlier and could perhaps stretch the fuel to the end. Dale and Jamie had a good fight out front for the lead but Earnhardt had the lead as caution flew to set up the field for a green white checker finish. McMurray was so close on fuel, he came in to pit and gave up his shot at the victory. As the field came to the green flag for the 2 lap shootout, Dale got a good jump on Kahne and Kenseth (the first car that pitted a few laps earlier). Junior appeared to have a strong car to hold them off but fuel mileage was a different story. Junior took the white flag but soon after, Patrick Carpentier spun through the infield grass drawing out the race ending caution. All Junior had to do now to claim victory was to coast around the track crossing the stripe whether leading or not. He did in fact cross as the leader and scored his first points win for Hendrick Motorsports, not counting the exhibitions at Daytona. (And Junior Nation rejoiced) Some believed that Dale Jr. would've run dry before the finish had the caution not been issued because he was out of gas to do burnouts and couldn't drive his car to victory lane. But nonetheless, Junior ended his winless streak winning on Father's Day weekend. Coincidence?? Four Fords, two Chevys, two Dodges, and two Toyotas scored Top 10s.

The Top 10:
1. #88 Dale Earnhardt Jr. (Chevrolet)
2. #9 Kasey Kahne (Dodge)
3. #17 Matt Kenseth (Ford)
4. #83 Brian Vickers (Toyota)
5. #20 Tony Stewart (Toyota)
6. #48 Jimmie Johnson (Chevrolet)
7. #99 Carl Edwards (Ford)
8. #6 David Ragan (Ford)
9. #19 Elliott Sadler (Dodge)
10. #26 Jamie McMurray (Ford)

The Cup Series was now off to Infineon for a little road racing.