NASCAR Sprint Cup Series team wrapped up their second day of testing at the 2-mile Michigan International Speedway on Wednesday and the most noticeable thing from the session is the speeds that drivers posted.
Drivers went upward of 215 mph in the straightaways of the track which, since a repave, has claimed the title a fastest on the circuit.
“That’s white-of-your-eyes-fast,” said Clint Bowyer of his car. Bowyer said he hit 217 mph on Wednesday.
Fan favorite Dale Earnahrdt Jr. was also testing at the track which he has multiple wins at.
“This is one of our better tracks, and our fans will probably say the same,” Earnhardt Jr. said. “Having the success here over the last four or five years has given us a lot of confidence when we come here, and I think that’s why Goodyear brings us to test.
“I enjoy racing here. It’s a fun track. The asphalt is really aging well and it’s just going to keep getting better and better over the next couple of years.”
Track president Roger Curtis noted that while fast speeds are nice, fans simply want to see a good race.
“The drivers are posting 200 mph. That’s awesome. The fans get very, very excited about that. But at the end of the day, on Sunday when the green flag drops, the numbers ‘two zero zero’ they’re not anywhere in the fans’ minds. It’s lead changes, it’s the competition.”
Michigan will host the Quicken Loans 400 on June 15 and the Pure Michigan 400 on Aug. 17.
