2012 Pure Michigan 400 Free Picks
BROOKLYN, MI (ATS Consultants) – The Sprint Cup Series heads to the Michigan International Speedway for the 23rd Cup race this season on Sunday, August 19 at 1:00PM ET for the 2012 Pure Michigan 400.
While Jimmie Johnson is the favorite, Brad Keselowski should be the fan favorite. The Michigan native has won three times this season and is in fifth place overall in the Sprint Cup standings.
View 2012 Pure Michigan 400 Odds
Last week, he finished second to Marcos Ambrose in the Finger Lakers 355 at The Glen. Kyle Busch won this race last year and Johnson placed second. The last time the Sprint Cup Series was at the Michigan International Speedway, Dale Earnhardt Jr. ended his four year, 143-race winless streak when the series ran at this two-mile racetrack for the first time this season the third weekend June.
Smoke had a runner-up performance in June, which gives him five straight top-10s at MIS. Stewart has been remarkably consistent in his 20 career starts at the site with 17 finishes of 12th or better, which dates back to 2002. Despite three wins this season, Smoke is eighth in points due to volatile performances from week to week.
After finishing third last year here, Keselowski qualified 25th back in June but raced his way into the top five by lap 64. He would finish 13th, but also started an active streak of eight finishes inside the top 15, including four top-fives. In fact, no driver has scored more points than Keselowski over the last six races.
Live Longshot
Clint Bowyer 30-1
Boyer has collected six finishes of 13th or better at MIS in seven starts since 2009. He recorded a career-best average running position of seventh in June, spending all but five laps inside the top 15. In the last 14 races of the season, Bowyer has only finished worse than 16th once. Bowyer appears to be a safe pick among the middle-tier options.
2012 Pure Michigan 400 Information
Race Date: Sunday, August 19
Location: Watkins Glen Raceway
Start Time: 1pmET
Green Flag: Approx. 1:16PM ET
TV Coverage: ESPN
Radio Coverage: IMS Racing Network (Sirius XM NASCAR Radio Channel 90)
Track Type: 2 mile 200 laps, 400 miles
Recent Winners
2011 Kyle Busch, Toyota, 150.898 m.p.h.
2010 Kevin Harvick, Chevrolet, 144.029 m.p.h.
2009 Brian Vickers, Toyota, 131.531 m.p.h.
2008 Carl Edwards, Ford, 140.351 m.p.h.
2007 Kurt Busch, Dodge, 117.012 m.p.h.
Last year’s top 5
1. Kyle Busch (Start: 17)
2. Jimmie Johnson (19)
3. Brad Keselowski (6)
4. Mark Martin (5)
5. Ryan Newman (3)
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