NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Pure Michigan 400 from Michigan Pre Race Report

Track: Michigan International Speedway

Track Specifications: 2-mile D-shaped oval

Laps: 200

Miles: 400

Scheduled Green Flag: 1:16 PM EDT

Weather: Mostly Cloudy 74 degrees

Defending Winner: Kyle Busch

Television: ESPN

Radio: MRN

Command to start Engines: Kid Rock

National Anthem: Steve Azar

For the second and final time of the 2012 season the Sprint Cup boys hit the pavement in the irish hills of Michigan at the Michigan International Speedway Sunday afternoon.

In June, Jr nation was able to let out a big sigh of relief as Dale Earnhardt Jr. was able to dominant the closing laps of the 200-mile race to win his first race in a really long time, If Jr. would want to duplicate matters this time around he is going to have to do it from the rear come Sunday. In the final moments of final practice on Saturday Dale Jr. lost control of his No. 88 Chevy and slammed it into the wall. They were forced to go to a backup car.

Jr. will be joining his Hendrick stable mate Jimmie Johnson in the rear along with Sam Hornish Jr., Johnson changed an engine and Hornish did not qualify his Cup car so they will both go to the rear on the pace laps.

 Mark Martin notched his fourth pole of the year on Friday and will lead the 43-car field to the green flag.

Today's race will be televised on ESPN, the pre-race show comes on- air at 12:00 p.m. EDT with the green flag scheduled for 1:16 p.m. EDT. Allen Bestwick, Dale Jarrett, Andy Petree will be in the booth, Dave Burns, Mike Massaro, Dr. Jerry Punch, Vince Welch will be on pit road. MRN will have the call on radio.

Starting Lineup:

1. #55 Mark Martin

2. #99 Carl Edwards

3. #48 Jimmie Johnson

4. #17 Matt Kenseth

5. #5 Kasey Kahne

6. #21 Trevor Bayne

7. #56 Martin Truex Jr.

8. #9 Marcos Ambrose

9. #83 Landon Cassil

10. #27 Paul Menard

11. #24 Jeff Gordon

12. #15 Clint Bowyer

13. #16 Greg Biffle

14. #14 Tony Stewart

15. #39 Ryan Newman

16. #20 Joey Logano

17. #22 Parker Kligerman

18. #78 Regan Smith

19. #2 Brad Keselowski

20. #29 Kevin Harvick

21. #11 Denny Hamlin

22. #88 Dale Earnhardt Jr.

23. #18 Kyle Busch

24. #1 Jamie McMurray

25. #42 Juan Pablo Montoya

26. #51 Kurt Busch

27. #91 Reed Sorenson

28. #47 Bobby Labonte

29. #13 Casey Mears

30. #93 Travis Kvapil

31. #30 David Stremme

32. #31 Jeff Burton

33. #19 Jason Leffler

34. #26 Josh Wise

35. #87 Joe Nemechek

36. #38 David Gilliland

37. #34 David Ragan

38. #23 Scott Riggs

39. #10 David Reutimann

40. #32 T.J. Bell

41. #43 Aric Almirola

42. #36 Dave Blaney

43. #98 Mike Skinner