Qualifying speeds in excess of 200 mph

[Lee Roy]

Looks like we could have qualifying speeds in excess of 200 mph at Michigan this weekend.

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Track records shattered in NASCAR practice at MIS UPDATES: The Sprint Cup Series qualifying record at Michigan International Speedway has been broken unofficially by several cars already this morning, at a special NASCAR test to acclimatize drivers to the newly repaved oval. Toyota driver #56-Martin Truex Jr. became the first NASCAR driver in MIS history to turn a 200-mph lap when he hit 200.261 this morning. Chevy's #88-Dale Earnhardt Jr. was right behind him, at 200.206. Chevy drivers #42-Juan Pablo Montoya (199.440 mph) and #29-Kevin Harvick (199.236 mph) also flirted with the 200-mph threshold. #18-Kyle Busch went 194.789 in his Toyota and #24-Jeff Gordon 194.610 in another Chevrolet. The old track record was 194.232, set by Ryan Newman in a Dodge in 2005.(Detroit Free Press)

UPDATES as I see or hear them on the speeds: #55-Martin fastest at Michigan with lap of 201.089 mph in testing. Then Harvick (200.999), Truex (200.306) & Dale Jr. (200.206).(Dustin Long Twitter)
Practice can be followed live on NASCAR.com's Leaderboard
The top five as of 11:00am/et:
#55-Martin 201.089 #29-Harvick 200.999 #56-Truex Jr. 200.306
#88-Earnhardt Jr. 200.206
#14-Stewart 199.856
(6-14-2012)

[Alexamateo]

All I can say is WOW! I didn't think a Nascar Stock car would reach the 200 barrier at Michigan, but here we are!

[GravettFan99]

Wow, that is awesome! I had never thought that this would occur, but it has! :O :D

[call_me_andrew]

This will be awesome as long as NASCAR's balls don't fall off and they break out restrictor plates.

[Lee Roy]

This will be awesome as long as NASCAR's balls don't fall off and they break out restrictor plates.

I certainly hope not, then my NASCAR season would drop from 32 races to 30 with Michigan joining Daytona and Talladega on my "Do Not Watch" list. But then I guess whether or not they use the plates will depend on whether there is a chance that the cars might fly up into the stands. The speeds will probably drop somewhat after this race once the new pavement wears some. No one has topped Geoff Bodine's 194 mph 1997 qualifying lap at Atlanta.

[tstran17_88]

I'd guess they'll be pushing over 210 on the backstretch heading into 3. They've been going over 200 on the backstretch for quite a few years now.

[Lee Roy]

Congratulations to Marcos Ambrose. He set a mark that will probably stand for years to come.

[00steven]

Good to see the speeds up so high! Hope for a safe race with LOTS of passing.

[muggle not]

nascar is making them use different left side tires to bring down the speed. the race will still be very, very fast. should be intersting.

[call_me_andrew]

I don't think the tires brought down speeds so much as the change from qualifying to race trim.

Wow, that is awesome! I had never considered that this would occur, but it has!

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