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With a time of 37.985 seconds, Josh Berry wins the Xfinity Series Pole Award for Michigan International Speedway.  Josh Berry wins the Xfinity Series Pole Award at MIS 2023. Image: Tom Luttermoser Michigan marks Berry's 3rd Career Pole Award in the Xfinity Series and he got that by beating teammate Justin Allgaier by .25 seconds at the 2-mile speedway in the Irish Hills of Michigan. Berry's time nets him the first pit stall in a time in the season where the 8 team is in deep need to score major Playoff and Stage Points to better position themselves for the playoffs. With JR Motorsports seeming to be missing the beat as a whole, teammate Mayer's win last weekend, Allgaier's front row starting spot and Berry's Pole are coming at a great time to roll with the momentum. Your Top-10 starting positions are;
BY: Tom Luttermoser
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Junior Motorsports driver Justin Allgaier is fastest in Xfinity Practice.  Allgaier preparing to Practice his No. 7 Brandt Chevrolet. Image: JRM Justin Allgaier was fastest in Xfinity Series Practice with a 38.875 second lap just a bit faster than Sammy Smith's JGR Toyota with his 39.056. Allgaier will be rolling off 34th during qualifying. Staff Report
Jordan Anderson has not been behind the wheel of a race car since his scary fiery crash at Talladega last season. I got to talk to Jordan this afternoon and he is in great spirits and ready to get his rookie driver Parker Retzlaff into the 2023 Xfinity Series Playoffs. As for himself, he says that you will see him behind the wheel of a race car again before the season is over. By: Tom Luttermoser
NASCAR adds 2 Modern Era names as well as a single Pioneer name each year.  Jimmie Johnson with crew chief Chad Knaus and team owner Rick Hendrick after winning his 7th Cup Series Title in Homestead-Miami. Image: JJ FB Your 2024 Hall of Fame Class was full of some very special people to the sport we all love. From Drivers to Crew Chiefs and Owners. The Modern Era Class saw Neil Bonnett, Tim Brewer, Jeff Burton, Carl Edwards, Harry Gant, Harry Hyde, Jimmie Johnson, Chad Knaus, Larry Phillips, and Ricky Rudd. The Pioneer Class saw Donnie Allison, Sam Ard, AJ Foyt, Banjo Matthews, and Ralph Moody. NASCAR also announced five nominees to the Landmark Award, which honors those who made significant contributions to the growth and esteem of NASCAR. This list included Janet Guthrie, Alvin Hawkins, Lesa France Kennedy, Dr. Joseph Mattioli, and Les Richter. Your 2024 NASCAR Hall of Fame InducteesJimmie Johnson Modern Era
Chad Knaus Modern Era
Donnie Allison Pioneer
Janet Guthrie Landmark Award Winner
In 2022 Bubba Wallace scored his first career Busch Light Pole Award at Michigan International Speedway and ended up finishing P. 2 behind race winner Kevin Harvick.  Credit: BROOKLYN, MICHIGAN - AUGUST 07: Bubba Wallace, driver of the #23 McDonald's Toyota, leads the field to the green flag to start the NASCAR Cup Series FireKeepers Casino 400 at Michigan International Speedway on August 07, 2022 in Brooklyn, Michigan. (Photo by Mike Mulholland/Getty Images) Wallace has been on a roll over the summer weeks here in 2023 scoring stage points and solid finishes to put himself into Playoff contention on points. But points may not do it for the 3rd year 23XI driver as 2 new winners bump him from contention. His 2 best chances at a win are Michigan this upcoming weekend and Daytona 3 weeks later, but between those 2 events, road courses... His Achilles heel. That makes Michigan and Daytona that much more important for Wallace.
In 2022, Wallace took his Pole and led 22 laps only to finish P. 2 behind Kevin Harvick. If not for a late race restart, Wallace had the speed and the car control to make a run at Harvick for the win. That late race restart saw Wallace fall back some spots to make them back up for second, a better restart and he could have dueled Harvick. Since Michigan last season, Wallace has made massive strides in terms of performance and finishes in the Cup Series including 10 Top-10 finishes and a win at Kansas. That also includes 3 Top-5 finishes in a row at Kansas, Darlington and Charlotte earlier this summer. So with that said, Wallace now has the confidence on top of having the car, I think Michigan could easily become one of his best races of the year. If not, he has an average finish of 10.2 at Daytona since joining 23XI. By: Tom Luttermoser |