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Kurt Busch returns to Michigan track

 
Published Aug. 14, 2015

BROOKLYN, Mich. — With some help from incessant rain, Kurt Busch was named the winner of Sprint Cup's last race at Michigan International Speedway on June 14.

Busch earned his second win of the year when the Quicken Loans 400 was called after 138 of 200 laps. Now Busch returns, looking for his first win since that rainy day eight races ago. Busch is coming off his eighth top five of the year at Watkins Glen International.

But in the return visit, circumstances have changed. There's a slim chance of rain for Sunday's Michigan 400 and teams will be using the high-drag rules package that debuted to disappointing driver reviews in the Brickyard 400 at Indianapolis.

Busch, who has three career wins at Michigan, believes the package will have better results at the 2-mile track.

"The aero package I think that (NASCAR chairman) Brian France is trying to gear up toward would be better suited for Michigan with the high-drag and high-drafting probability at a track that is wider and can produce side-by-side-type racing," Busch said.

Busch said success as Michigan is dependent on how teams approach using tires.

"Michigan is a tough place because of the way the cars have that grip level on fresh tires versus old tires," Busch said. "What I mean by that is when you put on fresh tires, your tires are cold and they don't grab the asphalt as well. A lot of guys try to stay out at Michigan with the hot tires on and they get better restarts."

In the past three races at Michigan there have been an average of seven cautions.

Busch is in seventh place in Sprint Cup's standings with 659 points.

NHRA: Top Fuel racer Clay Millican said his 22-year-old son, Dalton Millican, died in a motorcycle accident Wednesday night near Drummond, Tenn. Dalton was the owner/driver of Blue Thunder in the Monster Jam series.