Three races to go before Chase, all eyes on Michigan's second aero test

Ray Slover

Three races to go before Chase, all eyes on Michigan's second aero test image

En route to Michigan, NASCAR drivers took a few detours this week. But all roads will lead to Friday's qualifying and Sunday's Sprint Cup race.

As has become the norm, 40 cars are entered for the Pure Michigan 400 at Michigan International Speedway. A noon ET Friday practice will be followed by qualifying that begins about 5:15 p.m. ET. Sunday's race begins after 2 p.m. ET.

MORE: Five things to know | Junior remains out

By the way, weather forecasts say there won't be a rain problem this weekend.

There was a flurry of activities as drivers made promotional visits. Those included stops at manufacturer's facilities in Detroit, Kurt Busch throwing a ceremonial pitch at a Marlins game in Miami and Kasey Kahne putting the hammer down at a Habitat for Humanity site in Virginia.

Meanwhile, Dale Earnhardt Jr. went back to work toward recovery from concussion-like symptoms. Junior fans were disappointed at Wednesday's news that Earnhardt will not drive this week or next at Darlington. This week's driver in Junior's No. 88 car will be Alex Bowman.

The Truck Series also runs this week at Michigan, while the Xfinity Series runs Saturday at Road America in Wisconsin.

Michigan will provide the third and final test of proposed aerodynamics changes for 2017. The package was used in June's Michigan race and at Kentucky a month later. June's impact included higher speeds on straightaways and more challenges in the corners of Michigan's D-shaped track.

MORE: Blue air at Bristol | Winners, losers

Joey Logano won the June race. Matt Kenseth won the 2015 Pure Michigan 400.

Here are the entries for Sunday's Sprint Cup race.

No. Driver Hometown Brand Sponsor Owner
1 Jamie
McMurray
Joplin,
Mo.
Chevy Cessna
Chevrolet
Chip Ganassi
Racing
2 Brad
Keselowski
Rochester Hills,
Mich.
Ford Miller
Lite
Team
Penske
3 Austin
Dillon
Welcome,
N.C.
Chevy Cheerios Richard Childress
Racing
4 Kevin
Harvick
Bakersfield,
Calif.
Chevy Jimmy John's
Chevrolet SS
Stewart-Haas
Racing
5 Kasey
Kahne
Enumclaw,
Wash.
Chevy Farmers
Insurance
Hendrick
Motorsports
6 Trevor
Bayne
Knoxville,
Tenn.
Ford Advocare
Ford Fusion
Roush Fenway
Racing
7 Regan
Smith
Cato,
N.Y.
Chevy APC
Chevrolet
Tommy Baldwin
Racing
10 Danica
Patrick
Roscoe,
Ill.
Chevy Aspen Dental
Chevrolet SS
Stewart-Haas
Racing
11 Denny
Hamlin
Chesterfield,
Va.
Toyota FedEx
Office
Joe Gibbs
Racing
13 Casey
Mears
Bakersfield,
Calif.
Chevy GEICO Germain
Racing
14 Tony
Stewart
Columbus,
Ind.
Chevy Mobil 1
Chevrolet SS
Stewart-Haas
Racing
15 Clint
Bowyer
Emporia,
Kans.
Chevy 5-Hour
Energy
HScott
Motorsports
16 Greg
Biffle
Vancouver,
Wash.
Ford Roush Performance
Ford Fusion
Roush Fenway
Racing
17 Ricky
Stenhouse Jr.
Olive Branch,
Miss.
Ford Zest
Ford Fusion
Roush Fenway
Racing
18 Kyle
Busch
Las Vegas,
Nev.
Toyota  Interstate
Batteries
Joe Gibbs
Racing
19 Carl
Edwards
Columbia,
Mo.
Toyota ARRIS
Surfboard
Joe Gibbs
Racing
20 Matt
Kenseth
Cambridge,
Wisconsin
Toyota Dollar
General
Joe Gibbs
Racing
21 Ryan
Blaney
High Point,
N.C.
Ford Motorcraft/
Quick Lane Tire
+ Auto Center
Wood Brothers
Racing
22 Joey
Logano
Middletown,
Conn.
Ford Shell
Pennzoil
Team
Penske
23 David
Ragan
Unadilla,
Ga.
Toyota Dr Pepper BK
Racing
24 Chase
Elliott
Dawsonville,
Ga.
Chevy NAPA
Auto Parts
Hendrick
Motorsports
27 Paul
Menard
Eau Claire,
Wisc.
Chevy Sylvania/
Menards
Richard Childress
Racing
30 Josh
Wise
Riverside,
Calif.
Chevy Curtis Key
Plumbing
The Motorsports
Group
31 Ryan
Newman
South Bend,
Ind.
Chevy Freightliner Richard Childress
Racing
32 Jeffrey
Earnhardt
Mooresville,
N.C.
Ford CorvetteParts.net GO FAS
Racing
34 Chris
Buescher
Prosper,
Texas
Ford Dockside
Logistics
Front Row
Motorsports
38 Landon
Cassill
Fairfax,
Iowa
Ford MDS
Transport
Front Row
Motorsports
41 Kurt
Busch
Las Vegas,
Nev.
Chevy Monster Energy/
Haas Automation
Chevrolet SS
Stewart-Haas
Racing
42 Kyle
Larson
Elk Grove,
Calif.
Chevy Target Chip Ganassi
Racing
43 Aric
Almirola
Tampa,
Fla.
Ford Smithfield Richard Petty
Motorsports
44 Brian
Scott
Boise,
Idaho
Ford Medallion
Financial
Richard Petty
Motorsports
46 Michael
Annett
Des Moines,
Iowa
Chevy Pilot
Flying J
HScott
Motorsports
47 AJ
Allmendinger
Los Gatos,
Calif.
Chevy Kroger/
Scott Products
JTG Daugherty
Racing
48 Jimmie
Johnson
El Cajon,
Calif.
Chevy Lowe's Hendrick
Motorsports
55 Reed
Sorenson
Peachtree City,
Ga.
Chevy VYDOX
Plus
Premium
Motorsports
78 Martin
Truex Jr.
Mayetta,
N.J.
Toyota Furniture Row/
Denver Mattress
Furniture Row
Racing
83 Matt
DiBenedetto
Grass Valley,
Calif.
Toyota Vector
Security
BK
Racing
88 Alex
Bowman
Tucson,
Arizona
Chevy Axalta/University
of Michigan
Hendrick
Motorsports
95 Michael
McDowell
Glendale,
Ariz.
Chevy Thrivent
Financial
Circle Sport-
Leavine Family
98 Cole
Whitt
Alpine,
Calif.
Chevy TBD Premium
Motorsports

After Michigan, two races remain before the Chase for the Sprint Cup. The 16-driver championship field will be set after Sept. 10's race at Richmond.

Ray Slover