Live! NASCAR Chat on SPEEDtv.com - The Online Motorsports Authority (Image: SPEED)

2. RYAN NEWMAN I think I’m going to include the No. 39 U.S. Army-sponsored Chevrolet Impala SS out of the Stewart-Haas Racing stable every single week until he finally wins a race. And why not?

In his last six races, Newman finished fifth at Pocono Raceway; eighth at Dover International Speedway; second at Lowe’s Motor Speedway; fourth at both Darlington Raceway and Richmond International Raceway; and third at Talladega Superspeedway. And oh, by the way, he’s won twice at Michigan in his career. Cha-ching!

3. JEFF GORDON The four-time NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Champion has been uncharacteristically quiet lately, but don’t expect that to last for too long. Over his long and storied career, Gordon has posted two victories and 15 top-five finishes in 32 career starts at Michigan. He’s about due to put the Dupont-sponsored No. 24 Hendrick Motorsports Chevy back in victory lane.

4. BRIAN VICKERS With a new deal apparently in the offing to remain the driver of the No. 83 Red Bull Racing Toyota Camry, Vickers will come into MIS with a great deal of confidence and optimism. Of course, his recent performances here don’t hurt, either. In his last three MIS starts, Vickers has finished seventh, fourth and eighth, and he’s led laps in each of those events. He is this week’s dark horse.

5. JIMMIE JOHNSON OK, Johnson has never visited victory lane at MIS. But he has led laps in each of the last four races here, and he has been running well of late. Look for him to make another late-race charge this week.

All in all, it should be an entertaining event, and someone else — maybe Tony Stewart? — could well end up in victory lane on Sunday. But if I were a betting man, I’d place my money on one of Jack Roush’s minions to win it all in the LifeLock 400.

Tom Jensen is the Editor in Chief for SPEEDtv.com, the former Executive Editor of NASCAR Scene and a contributing Editor for TruckSeries.com. He is the author of “Cheating: The Bad Things Good NASCAR Nextel Cup Racers Do In Pursuit of SPEED,” and has appeared on television and radio shows to discuss NASCAR racing. Jensen is the past President of the National Motorsports Press Association. Jensen is the 1997 National Motorsports Press Association Writer of the Year and has won numerous national and state awards for news reporting, columns and feature writing. The Answer Man is back at SPEEDtv.com. Tom Jensen answers your questions during every race week and looks forward to hearing from you - please e-mail it to

Play Super 7 Sweep Fantasy Racing powered by Wind Tunnel!