NASCAR

Fast forward: Sprint Cup story lines to watch at Michigan

Mike Hembree
Special for USA TODAY Sports
Joey Logano does a burnout after winning the Sprint Cup Series race at Michigan International Speedway on June 12.

Three races to go, four spots to fill.

That’s the scenario as Sprint Cup teams prepare for Sunday’s Pure Michigan 400 at Michigan International Speedway.

Here are four story lines for the weekend as NASCAR targets the Irish Hills for the season’s 24th race:

Chasing the Chase

Sunday’s race on the fast and wide Michigan International Speedway surface could be the last realistic shot for several Chase wannabees to make the championship grid.

Twelve of the 16 spots in the Chase have been claimed — that is, as long as all 12 race winners stay in the top 30 in points. Of particular note in that category is rookie Chris Buescher, who moved into the top 30 with a fifth-place run Sunday at Bristol Motor Speedway. Buescher needs to protect that spot over the next three races to earn an unlikely run at the title.

Gluck: Chase berths narrow with Chris Buescher's Bristol finish

If there is no new race winner over the final three races of the regular season — Darlington Raceway and Richmond International Raceway follow Michigan — the final four Chase spots will be filled by points. Entering Michigan, those spots belong to Austin Dillon, Chase Elliott, Jamie McMurray and Ryan Newman.

Among drivers at least 35 points behind that quartet are Trevor Bayne, Kyle Larson, A.J. Allmendinger, Ricky Stenhouse Jr. and Ryan Blaney. Those drivers almost certainly need a win in the next three races to make the Chase, and that makes Sunday’s event very important.

Of the three remaining race venues, Michigan is the most welcoming for upset winners. Long known for its fuel-mileage races, MIS often rewards smart strategy over pure power.

The pit-row calculators are likely to be running hot Sunday.

Whither the 88?

Jeff Gordon’s replacement run in the Hendrick Motorsports No. 88 Chevrolet is over — at least for a while.

Gordon came out of retirement to fill in for Dale Earnhardt Jr. for four races. He said last week he couldn’t drive at Michigan this weekend because of a prior commitment, although he didn’t rule out returning to the car later, if requested.

It is expected that Alex Bowman, who drove for Earnhardt Jr. at New Hampshire Motor Speedway, will drive the 88 at Michigan if Earnhardt does not return this week. The team is expected to reveal its plans Wednesday or Thursday.

A Kyle Busch rebound?

Although two days of rain last week at Bristol left plenty of people disappointed by the race weekend, Kyle Busch perhaps was the most irritated — and not because of the damp conditions.

Busch was the man of the hour at Bristol, leading 256 laps and riding toward a runaway victory when an apparent rear-end issue sent his car into a spin — and to the garage. He finished 39th.

Busch likely will be on a mission Sunday at MIS, where his recent performances have been less than stellar. In the past nine races at the track — since his lone Michigan victory in 2011 — he has six finishes of 30th or worse.

Gluck: Confidence grows for 'Closer' Kevin Harvick

Ford vs. Chevy vs. Toyota

Michigan races usually attract some of the big brass of the automobile industry, making wins there particularly important because of car-builder bragging rights.

In the series’ past 10 visits to the two-mile track, Ford and Chevrolet have won four each, while Toyota has prevailed twice.

Kevin Harvick’s Sunday win at Bristol ended a six-race victory drought for Chevrolet this year and challenged the seasonal strength of Toyota and Joe Gibbs Racing, which has won 10 of 23 races (Furniture Row driver Martin Truex Jr. won earlier this year to give Toyota a series-leading 11 overall). Team Penske's Joey Logano put Ford in victory lane at Michigan in June.

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