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StockCarFans.com – Rumblings – Michigan:

June 20, 2004 at 12:00 AM
  • #12-Ryan Newman used the free pass to perfection today, coming back from an early overheating pit stop to win the DHL 400 at Michigan International Speedway…..once again, under caution. Newman’s win was his second consecutive at MIS (ending a streak of nine different winners in a row at this track), his first of 2004 (his last win was at Kansas last October), and the 10th of his Cup career (he’s tied for 46th on the all-time win list with Donnie Allison & Sterling Marlin). He becomes the 9th different driver to score a victory this season. This was win #55 for Roger Penske (if you add in the three that then partner Michael Kranefuss had with Jeremy Mayfield), and was worth $176,367 from the almost $5M in posted awards for Newman. What we’ll never know is if Kasey Kahne could have caught him….though I agree with him and think he would have come up just a little short. For Kahne, this runner-up finish (his 4th of the season) ties his career- best. The last time he was the bridesmaid was at Texas in April.
    #88-Dale Jarrett (3rd) had his best finish since he won at Rockingham in February of 2003. This is his first Top-5 since that event, and brings us to 22 drivers who have scored a Top-5 this season….last year’s number was 30.
    #40-Sterling Marlin (6th) had his best finish since he was 4th at Bristol inMarch.
    #30-Dave Blaney (15th) had his best finish since he was 11th at Texas in March.
    #45-Kyle Petty (18th) had his best finish since he was 18th at Martinsville in April.
    STREAKIN….Jimmie Johnson has 8 Top-10’s in the last 9 races.
    Michael Waltrip has 4 Top-10’s in the last 5 races.
    This Week’s Elevator….UP: Operator of the week is Dale Jarrett (+34), followed by Kasey Kahne (+32), and Dave Blaney (+24). DOWN: The Big Dropper was Jeff Gordon (-37), followed by Robby Gordon (-28), and Casey Mears (-22). Jeff Gordon in now leading the down side of this category….this was BD #3.
    We have a change at the top of the point standings after this weekend as Jimmie Johnson takes the lead from Dale Earnhardt Jr by 7 markers. Jr had held the top spot since we left Martinsville in April….seven races. Kasey Kahne has moved back above the “Stayin’ Alive” line, but only by a single point. Teammate Jeremy Mayfield is on the outside lookin’ in by 43 points. Brian Vickers (22nd to 19th) made the best move forward today, while Ward Burton (21st to 25th) fell the most spots. We’ve got a three-way tie for 6th….any other year that might mean sumptin’.(for more and some opinions on the yellow finish, see StockCarFans.Com Nextelcup Newsletter/Site)(6-20-2004)