Dale Earnhardt Jr., Clint Bowyer and Greg Biffle were among those who posted some blazing fast speeds during a tire test at Michigan.
Speeds were flirting with 220 mph during testing Wednesday at Michigan International Speedway.
The two-day test conducted by Goodyear and involving Dale Earnhardt Jr., Clint Bowyer, Greg Biffle, Ryan Newman and Trevor Bayne is to determine a tire compound for Michigan's June and August Sprint Cup races.
Biffle hit 220 mph down the front straightaway and into Turn 1, the fastest point of the 2-mile D-shaped oval, according to ESPN reporter Shannon Spake. Bowyer and Earnhardt's top speeds were 217 mph and 215 mph, respectively, according to their posts on Twitter.
Back to testing today @MISpeedway. Here's top speed this morning. pic.twitter.com/JlUg9dKWl4
— Dale Earnhardt Jr. (@DaleJr) April 9, 2014Since undergoing a repave in 2012, Michigan has been one of NASCAR's fastest tracks. A year ago Joey Logano set the track qualifying record at 203.949 mph, the fastest time at track other than Daytona International Speedway or Talladega Superspeedway.
That speeds have increased at Michigan is not a surprise. Over the offseason NASCAR implemented numerous aerodynamic changes to the Generation-6 car, which was introduced in 2013. Track records have fallen in six of seven races this season, largely because of the new rules.
217mph top speed so far at @MISpeedway. 😳
— Clint Bowyer (@ClintBowyer) April 9, 2014