Childress-Earnhardt Engines Flexed Their Muscles During First Michigan Practice

By Micah Roberts

Richard Childress Racing took two of the top-three slots in Friday’s practice session in preparation for qualifying for Sunday’s CARFAX 400 at Michigan Speedway. Jeff Burton led the way with a fast lap of 187.115 with Kevin Harvick having the third best time at 186.417 mph.

The horsepower exhibited from the Childress-Earnhardt engine program isn’t a surprise, but showing a good practice session at Michigan is for the Childress drivers. None of the current Childress drivers have ever won at Michigan and even the late, great Dale Earnhardt won only twice over his career on the spacious 2-mile D-shaped oval.

Harvick hasn’t a top-five finish at Michigan since 2003 while Burton has never had a top-five finish at Michigan over his career at RCR. Burton’s last top-five came in 2002 while driving a Ford for Jack Roush.

The Childress-Earnhardt engine program also propelled Juan Montoya to the second fastest lap with Jamie McMurray finishing seventh quickest.

All the top times were run with qualifying trim on, but the fastest while in race trim was Greg Biffle. Carl Edwards and Biffle finished fourth and fifth respectively with qualifying trim on. Edwards and Biffle are both two-time winners at Michigan with Edwards having the best all-time career average on the track at 6.6 per race.

The Roush program looks to be getting more horsepower than ever over the last four races and there couldn’t be a better place to give Roush a welcome home present with a win than at Michigan in front of all the Ford executives.

Michigan Practice 1 Results