Used to when I thought of Michigan, I thought of a dull, boring track. But after attending this race last year, I’m very impressed with the racing. It’s 2 miles long, like Fontana. It’s shaped like a D, like Fontana. And the layout is similar to Fontana. So over all, it’s like Fontana, but instead of being in the beautiful Hollywood area, it’s in the equal beautiful Michigan forests. It’s a very nice place. When it’s not raining.

Michigan, like Fontana, doesn’t usually have one driver in particular that dominates there. Every now and then a driver dominates, but then they fade. Last year Kurt Busch won this race, but it was a rain shortened race. But guess this weekend’s forecast: rain.

Last year’s second Michigan race was dominated and won by Joe Gibbs Racing’s Matt Kenseth. Gibbs Racing has been the dominate force of Nascar this year, but they stumbled last week. Can JGR rebound? Don’t bet against them.

Stewart-Hass is once again a team to watch. Kevin Harvick has finished second in 5 of the last six races at Michigan, and he’s won here once before. Kurt Busch won last year here, he’s won at this track 3 times, and he won last week at Pocono. Tony Stewart has won at Michigan before, and he has 12 top-fives, the second highest total among average drivers. Danica Patrick hasn’t been outstanding here, but she tends to finish in the top-twenty.

Hendrick Motorsports is ok here. Dale Earnhardt Jr. has won here twice, but he’s also had some bad races here. Jimmie Johnson  and Michigan don’t get along. He’s won here once, but he’s lost many races in various ways. Kasey Kahne has a win here, but he’s had a rough past year. Chase Elliot has never made a Cup start here, but in the Xfinity Series his average finish was 4.0 in two races. Not bad.

Roush-Fenway has been fighting to regain it’s footing after a dismal 2015, and they’ve made progress. Michigan is the track the team almost always runs well at, and it seems the best chance RFR has at getting a racer in the Chase. Believe it or not, I think Trevor Bayne may be the team’s best chance at a win. He’s had a decent year, and a win seems more realistic now.

Martin Truex Jr. has taken Furniture Row Racing a long way from the tiny team that was struggling for top-20s. Now with a win and a Chase spot all but guaranteed, Truex and co. are in a good position to take some chances and get a win. Last year he ran well here at the track’s second race, so a win is possible.

I don’t think I’d put money on Penske Racing. Mistakes, lack of speed, and inconsistency have plagued the team in 2016, and I just don’t see Joey Logano or Brad Keslowski winning here.

Now for the ultimate question: who shall win? I think I’m going to take experience over young talent. Dale Earnhardt Jr., Tony Stewart, and Matt Kenseth are all good candidates. Stewart and Dale are both hungry for a win, and Kenseth knows this track well. So I’m going with the veterans this time.