Real race action at back of pack

It is hard to believe that there are only a handful of races left before The Chase, and at this point in the season some drivers who are currently on the outside looking in are wondering if they will be able to get into The Chase or not.

This week’s race at Michigan International Speedway will be an interesting one to watch. Not to see who wins, but to watch those drivers who are hovering around 12th spot and to see what happens to them.

He ran a good race last week at Watkins Glen and got himself a top 5 finish, despite having to drive a race car that he was not comfortable with all day.

Last week’s rain-delayed race was a good one with the most impressive performance coming from - not race winner Tony Stewart, but from second place finisher Marcos Ambrose.

The Australian-born Ambrose has been trying to make a name for himself in NASCAR these last few seasons, and has raised many an eyebrow with his driving skills and his fan-friendly personality.

Ambrose is no rookie when it comes to racing. Before coming to NASCAR in 2007 he was a two-time Champion of the Australian V8 Supercar Series.

Another thing that has people talking about last week’s race is the crash involving Sam Hornish Jr., Jeff Gordon, and Jeff Burton.

The crash came at one of the fastest parts of the track and initially started by Hornish getting pushed into the tire barrier by a sideways Kasey Kahne. Hornish then rebounded back across the track, collecting Gordon and Burton in a mess of twisted metal and rubber.

Gordon, who has let it be known this season that he has been suffering from lower back problems, admitted after the wreck that he re-aggravated his back and that he was glad that he wasn’t going to be racing at the short track Bristol this week, as that track is hard on the body.

Drivers to watch out for this week would have to be Tony Stewart, Jimmie Johnson, Kurt Busch and most of the Roush-Fenway Racing stable. Honestly, Michigan has a history of producing races won by good fuel mileage, so I would be looking at anyone who has won before on fuel mileage, too.

In the “Where did he come from?” category, keep an eye on Brian Vickers, Mark Martin, and Juan Montoya (I have a hunch about this one).