2014 Pure Michigan 400

Michigan International Speedway's front stretch and infield.

The track, Michigan International Speedway, is a four-turn superspeedway that is 2 miles (3.2 km) long.[13] Opened in 1960, the track's turns are banked at eighteen degrees, while the 3,600-foot-long front stretch, the location of the finish line, is banked at twelve degrees.[13] The back stretch, has a five degree banking and is 2,242 feet long.[13] Michigan International Speedway has a grandstand seating capacity of 84,000 people.[13] Joey Logano was the defending race winner from the 2013 race.

Following the events at Canandaigua Motorsports Park, Tony Stewart sat out the previous week's race at Watkins Glen and on August 14, Stewart-Haas Racing announced that Stewart would sit out Michigan and that Jeff Burton would drive in his place.[14]

On the Friday before the race, NASCAR vice president of competition and racing development Robin Pemberton announced an amendment to the rules in response to Kevin Ward, Jr.'s death at Canandaigua Motorsports Park. Pemberton stated that NASCAR were "formalizing rules that have been there", and that the new rule would be referred to, in section 9-16 (On-Track Incident Procedures) of the NASCAR Rulebook:

Per the rules, if a racecar is involved in an on-track incident and/or is stopped on or near the racing surface and unable to return to pit road, unless extenuating emergency conditions exist with the racecar (i.e. fire, smoke in cockpit, etc.) the driver should take the following steps:

• Shut off the electrical power and drop the window net to signal to safety crews that they are OK
• Do not loosen, disconnect or remove any driver personal safety equipment until directed to do so by safety personnel or a track worker
• After being directed to exit the racecar, the driver should proceed to either the ambulance, other vehicle, or as otherwise directed by safety personnel or a NASCAR/Track Official
• At no time should a driver or crew member(s) approach any portion of the racing surface or apron
• At no time should a driver or crew member(s) approach another moving vehicle

Pemberton also stated that "through time you have to recognize when you get a reminder or tap on the shoulder, something that may need to be addressed", and that "it's not just about NASCAR, but it's all of sports and motorsports that we take note in". Pemberton also noted that the penalties that would be handed down would be taken on a case-by-case basis and not a fixed one-size-fits-all penalty.[15]

The entry list for the Pure Michigan 400 was released on Tuesday, August 12, 2014 at 11:03 a.m. Eastern time. Forty-three drivers were entered for the race.

Joey Logano was the fastest in the first practice session with a time of 35.200 and a speed of 204.545 mph (329.183 km/h).

Kevin Harvick was the fastest in the second practice session with a time of 35.436 and a speed of 203.183 mph (326.991 km/h). Ryan Truex was involved in a hard wreck seven minutes into the second practice session; he lost control of his car, overcorrected and hit the wall head on in turn two.[19]

Jeff Gordon was the fastest in the final practice session with a time of 35.972 and a speed of 200.156 mph (322.120 km/h).

Following his heavy practice crash, BK Racing driver Ryan Truex was taken to hospital, complaining about a headache and shoulder pain.[20] He was later diagnosed with a concussion, and was replaced by J. J. Yeley for the race. Matt Crafton was originally slated to drive in Truex's place but he was unable to fit in the seat that was fitted for Truex. He later stated that he was "not going to take a chance", in light of his high positioning in the Camping World Truck Series points.[21] With the driver change and a backup car – following the practice crash – Yeley started from the rear of the field.[22] The race was scheduled to begin at 1:16 p.m. Eastern time but was delayed a few minutes to allow the Air Titans extra time to dry the race track.

Jeff Gordon won the race from the pole position.

Jeff Gordon led the field to the green flag, but was unable to hold the lead immediately, as Joey Logano took the lead on the opening lap. The caution flag flew for the first time on lap four after Kyle Busch hit the wall in turn one, following previous contact at turn four.[23] The race restarted on lap eight, and was able to run cleanly until a competition caution, which had been necessitated following overnight rain showers. Ryan Newman stayed out when the leaders pitted so he assumed the lead. The race restarted on lap 25, but the caution flag flew almost immediately, after Danica Patrick started spinning in turn 1. Justin Allgaier, Michael Annett, Trevor Bayne, Matt Kenseth, Martin Truex, Jr. and Yeley were all involved in the crash. Jimmie Johnson, who had stayed out along with Newman during the second caution, managed to move ahead of him prior to the yellow flag coming out, and thus assumed the lead.[24]

The race restarted on lap 31, before debris in turn 2 brought out the fourth caution of the race on lap 37. Johnson elected to come onto pit road during the caution and Logano retook the lead for the restart, on lap 41. Logano held the lead for the next portion of the race, before Gordon took the lead on lap 56, with the help of the lapped car of Yeley. Gordon and Logano swapped the lead over the next couple of laps, before Gordon maintained the lead until his next pit stop, on lap 64. He handed the lead over to teammate Dale Earnhardt, Jr. who kept the lead until lap 68, when he pitted and handed the lead to teammate Johnson. Johnson pitted on lap 76 and handed the lead back to Newman; Johnson rejoined the circuit a lap down in 25th place. Newman pitted on lap 79 and handed the lead back to Gordon. During this stint at the front – at the end of the 92nd lap – Gordon recorded his 1,000th lap led at Michigan races.

The caution flew for the fifth time on lap 97 after Kyle Larson blew a right-front tire and hit the wall in turn 4. Larson was disappointed at the end result stating it was "a shame" but stated that it fired up his impetus for a bid to make the Chase for the Sprint Cup.[25] Newman stayed out when the leaders pitted so he retook the lead for the restart on lap 109. Logano retook the lead at the restart, and maintained the lead throughout a lengthy green-flag period of the race. Logano pitted on lap 140 and handed the lead to Kurt Busch, who himself held the lead for a few laps before his own pit stop. Gordon cycled through to the lead, holding it until his final stop, on lap 165. Busch led a lap before pitting, passing the lead to Brad Keselowski.

Just after he assumed the lead of the race, Keselowski hit the wall in turn 1 and brought out the sixth caution on lap 168, which resulted in Kasey Kahne taking the lead. Kahne pitted under the caution and Logano retook the lead for the restart, with 27 laps to go. Before the completion of a full lap of racing, the caution flags flew once again, when Brian Vickers got loose and spun in turn four. The race restarted with 23 laps to go. Kurt Busch got loose exiting turn two while battling Logano for the lead; his car started coming apart on the front stretch, hit the wall again in turn one and brought out the eighth caution of the race, as debris was scattered all over the track. The race restarted with 17 laps to go; Gordon took the lead from Logano and went on to win for the 91st time in his career. Gordon stated that he had "got a really good restart, and I got to his quarter panel in Turn 1 and I was able to drag him back and it allowed me to get the momentum and get by him". Logano felt he had Gordon cleared and lamented that he "should have pulled down in front of him".[26]

• 20 lead changes among different drivers
• 8 cautions for 37 laps
• Time of race: 2:49:16
• Jeff Gordon won his third race in 2014