Michigan Auto Racing

John Force, Tony Schumacher are ones to watch at NHRA's season finale

Steve Kaminski | The Grand Rapids Press — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 22:21:21 PST

Force will celebrate a championship Sunday night. The question is, will Schumacher?

Berlin Raceway honors track historian Dick Lee

Steve Kaminski | The Grand Rapids Press — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 00:49:53 PST

Lee was inducted into the Berlin Raceway Hall of Fame, and a plaque honoring him will be displayed at the track, along with the rest of the Class of 2009, which includes drivers Gordy, Eddie and Bruce VanderLaan.

Jimmie Johnson's disastrous day at Texas won't derail his Sprint Cup run

Steve Kaminski | The Grand Rapids Press — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 23:33:21 PST

While Mark Martin's fourth-place finish Sunday trimmed Jimmie Johnson's lead to 73 points and pumped some much-needed suspense into the Chase, Johnson still will hoist the trophy at the end.

Kurt Busch wins at Texas; Jimmie Johnson's Sprint Cup Chase lead takes a hit

The Associated Press — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 23:21:09 PST

Busch took over the lead with 2 1/2 laps left when his younger brother's car suddenly slowed on the backstretch. Johnson wrecked on the third lap and had to have his No. 48 Chevrolet basically rebuilt before returning for a 38th-place finish.

NASCAR Trading Paint: Dickies 500 picks

The Grand Rapids Press — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 11:55:44 PST

Jeff Bleiler, Steve Kaminski, Mike Pryson and Troy Ruel make their picks for Sunday's NASCAR Sprint Cup race at Texas Motor Speedway.

IndyCar's IZOD deal something to celebrate

Steve Kaminski | The Grand Rapids Press — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 17:42:08 PST

Reigning champion Dario Franchitti says the six-year, multimillion-dollar contract with Phillips-Van Heusen Corporation is "a really good sign for the IndyCar Series."

Car owner Tim Steele brings together big names for running at Snowball Derby

Steve Kaminski | The Grand Rapids Press — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 23:32:35 PST

Joining Steele's team for the Late Model race are Tom Thomas, Johnny Benson Jr. and Chip Caputo.

Weekend preview: Sprint Cup Chase kicks it up in Texas

Steve Kaminski | The Grand Rapids Press — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 11:55:05 PST

Jimmie Johnson heads into Sunday's Dickies 500 with a 184-point lead over Mark Martin.

World of Outlaws returning to I-96 Speedway

Steve Kaminski | The Grand Rapids Press — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 21:27:10 PST

I-96 Speedway had the only Outlaws date in the state in each of the past three seasons and the series will be back on May 22, 2010.

NHRA fan poll misses unforgettable moments

Steve Kaminski | The Grand Rapids Press — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 00:00:28 PST

It's a mystery how Robert Hight's "win" against John Force in September's MAC Tools U.S. Nationals could be left off a list of this season's best moments.

Talladega goes from exciting to unwatchable thanks to NASCAR's bump drafting rule

Steve Kaminski | The Grand Rapids Press — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 08:47:46 PST

Talladega is the biggest track on the circuit, but it has resulted in some of the most horrific crashes each year, and that’s what NASCAR wanted to avoid.

Jamie McMurray snaps 86-race winless streak with victory at Talladega

The Associated Press — Sun, 01 Nov 2009 22:57:03 PST

Jimmie Johnson, meanwhile, ended up sixth, likely wrapping up his NASCAR-record fourth-consecutive championship because of all the late action.

NASCAR Trading Paint: AMP Energy 500 picks

The Grand Rapids Press — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 02:14:32 PDT

Jeff Bleiler, Steve Kaminski, Mike Pryson and Troy Ruel make their picks for Sunday's NASCAR Sprint Cup race at Talladega Speedway.

Weekend preview: All eyes on Talladega in Sprint Cup Chase

Steve Kaminski | The Grand Rapids Press — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 20:39:37 PDT

Tony Stewart may be the defending winner at Talladega, but Brad Keselowski was the story in the spring.

Joe Gibbs Racing makes wrong move in changing Kyle Busch's crew chief

Steve Kaminski | The Grand Rapids Press — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 19:10:44 PDT

Gibbs ruined a good thing by replacing crew chief Steve Addington with Dave Rogers.

Portland's Dustin Daggett voted MLive.com Driver of the Year

Steve Kaminski | The Grand Rapids Press — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 07:36:11 PDT

Daggett received 25 percent of the votes in the first poll and 42 percent in the second.

To slow Jimmie Johnson, other owners need to lure crew chief Chad Knaus away

Steve Kaminski | The Grand Rapids Press — Sun, 25 Oct 2009 19:24:19 PDT

Jeff Gordon won three championships in four years in the 1990s with Ray Evernham, but has only one title since Evernham left to form his own team.

Denny Hamlin dominates at end to win at Martinsville; Jimmie Johnson finishes second

The Associated Press — Sun, 25 Oct 2009 19:11:05 PDT

Seeking his record fourth consecutive series title, Johnson extended his lead over Hendrick Motorsports teammate Mark Martin from 90 to 118 with four races remaining.

NASCAR Trading Paint: Tums QuikPak 500 picks

The Grand Rapids Press — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 22:56:34 PDT

Jeff Bleiler, Steve Kaminski, Mike Pryson and Troy Ruel make their picks for Sunday's NASCAR Sprint Cup race at Martinsville Speedway.

Weekend preview: Martinsville's on tap in Sprint Cup Chase

Steve Kaminski | The Grand Rapids Press — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 13:10:13 PDT

Jimmie Johnson is the river to beat at Martinsville: