NASCAR Sprint Cup Series – Michigan International Speedway
Date: August 15, 2010
Event: Carfax 400 (Race 23 of 36)
Series: NASCAR Sprint Cup Series
Location: Michigan International Speedway (2-Mile D-Shaped Oval)
Winner: Kevin Harvick of Richard Childress Racing
JGR Finish: Denny Hamlin, in the No. 11 FedEx Express Toyota (Started 33rd, Finished 2nd / Running, completed 200 of 200 laps)
Joey Logano, No. 20 Home Depot Toyota (Started 27th Finished 10th / Running, completed 200 of 200 laps)
Kyle Busch, No. 18 Interstate Batteries Toyota (Started 18th, Finished 18th / Running, completed 200 of 200 laps)


Denny Hamlin led Joe Gibbs Racing's three-car contingent with an impressive second-place finish at Michigan International Speedway yesterday, while Joey Logano battled to a 10th-place finish and Kyle Busch overcame a late-race incident to come home in 18th in the Carfax 400.

Hamlin was the biggest mover on the day after starting his No. 11 FedEx Express Toyota in the 33rd position. Hamlin would gain position throughout the day thanks to skilled driving and outstanding work by the FedEx crew with each pit stop. Crew chief Mike Ford made the right calls each time down pit road as the team battled through changing track conditions with the sun coming in and out of the clouds. Ford would make the key call late in the race when a caution came out and the decision was made to keep the FedEx Camry on the track. When the race restarted on lap 172 Hamlin would restart in the third position and take his first lead of the day with just over 20 laps to go. Hamlin would battle Kevin Harvick before finally giving way to the current Series points leader with just under 10 laps remaining. He would manage to conserve enough fuel and hold on for an impressive second-place finish despite his poor starting spot. It was Hamlin's ninth top-five finish and 10th top-ten finish of the season.

Logano started the No. 20 Home Depot Toyota in the 27th position and spent much of the day adjusting to the changing track conditions as the sun worked its way in and out of the clouds. Logano would race much of the day around the 15th position until an incident on the track with Ryan Newman on lap 148 would send him back a bit as the Home Depot team made repairs to the right front fender of his No. 20 Camry. Crew chief Greg Zipadelli and The Home Depot team continued to make the right calls on pit road and Logano worked his way back toward the front over the final 40-plus laps for a solid 10th-place finish. It was Logano's ninth top-ten finish of the season.

Busch's would start the No. 18 Interstate Batteries Toyota in 18th position and raced his way into the top ten through the first quarter of the race. The Interstate Batteries crew would make fast work carrying out the adjustments ordered by crew chief Dave Rogers each time down pit road to assist in Busch's ascent to the front of the field. Busch would race as high as second place about a quarter of the way into the race and remain inside the top 10. Busch appeared set to battle for a potential race win late, but the Interstate Batteries Camry would get loose and make contact with the wall causing damage to the right side of the car. Busch was able to keep the car on the track until a caution for debris came out on lap 167 and allowed the Interstate Batteries crew to make the necessary repairs. Busch would restart 27th, but managed to race his way back for an 18th-place finish over the final 22 laps of the day.

Harvick earned the victory, while Hamlin was second, Carl Edwards third, Greg Biffle fourth and Matt Kenseth rounded out the top five. There were five cautions for a total of 25 laps and 17 lead changes among nine different drivers.

Hamlin climbed back into third in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series point standings, while Busch sits in the eighth position with just three more races before the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Championship begins.

The NASCAR Sprint Cup Series heads to Bristol Motor Speedway next Saturday night. The race will begin at 7:30 PM ET with live, high-definition coverage provided by ESPN beginning with its pre-race show at 6:30 PM ET. The race will also be broadcast live on SIRIUS Satellite Radio Channel 128.