MIS Woes For Chevy Continues

Topics:  Chevrolet, Citizens Bank 400

Anthony Fontanelle
June 19, 2007

Going into the fifteenth race of the ongoing season of the Nextel Cup Series, Chevy has to contend with history. It was in 2001 that a Chevrolet car won at the Michigan International Speedway (MIS). While J.J. Yeley took the pole’s position, Chevy drivers are still wary of the track. Since Jeff Gordon won at the MIS on June 10, 2001, either a Ford or a Dodge won at the speedway.

On Sunday, the winless streak for Chevrolet continues as a Ford car crosses the finish line on first. Carl Edwards, driving the number 99 Office Depot Ford Fusion, took the win at the Michigan International Speedway from a host of Chevy cars. His win marked only the second race this season that a Chevy car has not won.

Edward’s victory at the Citizens Bank on Sunday is the fifth win of his career in the Nextel Cup Series. The win is Edward’s first race victory at this year’s installment of the Nextel Cup Series. This also marked the fifth time that he took a top ten finish. Out of the 200 laps in the race, Edwards led 63, the most out of any drivers which means that he is consistent in his performance at Sunday’s race.

“It feels unbelievable,” says Edwards after his victory. “Last night the Sharp Aquos Fusion was real fast in the Busch race and had a little adversity and we didn’t win the thing and we should’ve. It was tough to sleep last night, and then I got up this morning and Bob and I talked a little bit, and he convinced me to put that behind me and to go out and do a job. And then we sped on pit road one time and got put in the back, and our car was good enough that it made it back up to the front. And then at the end there, Martin Truex was just, I mean, he was amazingly fast, and Martin’s been on a roll lately so it was great to be able to beat him in, really, a head-to-head race. That meant a lot – especially for Ford here.”

Chevrolet has not won a race at the Michigan International Speedway since 2001 and it seems that they would have to wait for next year to break the winless streak. The Michigan International Speedway is regarded as a Ford track since of the last six races, Ford won four while Dodge cars won two. The Dodge cars used in the Nextel Cup Series are Dodge Chargers which is as high performing as the Dodge Ram used at the NASCAR Craftsman Trucks Series which does not need a Dodge Ram pickup car cover after or before a race.

Dale Earnhardt Inc.’s Martin Truex Jr. posted the highest finish for a Chevrolet vehicle when he crossed the finish line in second. Another Chevrolet car driver who fought bravely for the win but eventually came up short is Tony Stewart who was driving his Home Depot Chevrolet Impala. Stewart only managed to bet a third place finish but he has to take that spot starting from the back of the grid. Casey Mears, driving for Hendrick Motorsports took the fourth place finish while Dale Earnhardt Jr. completes the top five finishers. His top five finish took the NASCAR superstar to the twelfth spot in the driver’s standings.

Source:  Amazines.com