The NASCAR Sprint Cup Series ventures to Michigan International Speedway for the second time in 2016, contesting the Pure Michigan 400, the 24th race of the season, on Aug. 28.
As of Tuesday, Aug. 23, 40 cars are entered, meaning all teams will make the race, barring any entry list changes.
One team is currently listed without a driver: the No. 88 of Hendrick Motorsports, which is normally piloted by Dale Earnhardt, Jr. Jeff Gordon has driven the car in Earnhardt’s absence due to a concussion but could not compete due to a prior engagement. Either Earnhardt, should he be cleared, or Alex Bowman will likely drive the No. 88.
Michael Annett is listed in HScott Motorsports’ No. 46 after relinquishing his ride last weekend at Bristol Motor Speedway to Justin Allgaier due to illness.
| 1 | 1 | Jamie McMurray | Chevy | Cessna | Chip Ganassi Racing |
| 2 | 2 | Brad Keselowski | Ford | Miller Lite | Team Penske |
| 3 | 3 | Austin Dillon | Chevy | Cheerios | Richard Childress Racing |
| 4 | 4 | Kevin Harvick | Chevy | Jimmy Johns | Stewart-Haas Racing |
| 5 | 5 | Kasey Kahne | Chevy | Farmers Insurance | Hendrick Motorsports |
| 6 | 6 | Trevor Bayne | Ford | AdvoCare | Roush Fenway Racing |
| 7 | 7 | Regan Smith | Chevy | APC | Tommy Baldwin Racing |
| 8 | 10 | Danica Patrick | Chevy | Aspen Dental | Stewart-Haas Racing |
| 9 | 11 | Denny Hamlin | Toyota | FedEx Office | Joe Gibbs Racing |
| 10 | 13 | Casey Mears | Chevy | GEICO | Germain Racing |
| 11 | 14 | Tony Stewart | Chevy | Mobil1 | Stewart-Haas Racing |
| 12 | 15 | Clint Bowyer | Chevy | 5-Hour Energy | HScott Motorsports |
| 13 | 16 | Greg Biffle | Ford | Roush Performance | Roush Fenway Racing |
| 14 | 17 | Ricky Stenhouse Jr. | Ford | Zest | Roush Fenway Racing |
| 15 | 18 | Kyle Busch | Toyota | Interstate Batteries | Joe Gibbs Racing |
| 16 | 19 | Carl Edwards | Toyota | ARRIS Surfboard | Joe Gibbs Racing |
| 17 | 20 | Matt Kenseth | Toyota | Dollar General | Joe Gibbs Racing |
| 18 | 21* | Ryan Blaney # | Ford | Motorcraft / Quick Lane Tire & Auto Center | Wood Brothers Racing |
| 19 | 22 | Joey Logano | Ford | Shell Pennzoil | Team Penske |
| 20 | 23 | David Ragan | Toyota | Dr. Pepper | BK Racing |
| 21 | 24 | Chase Elliott # | Chevy | NAPA Auto Parts | Hendrick Motorsports |
| 22 | 27 | Paul Menard | Chevy | Sylvania / Menards | Richard Childress Racing |
| 23 | 30* | Josh Wise | Chevy | Curtis Key Plumbing | The Motorsports Group |
| 24 | 31 | Ryan Newman | Chevy | Freightliner | Richard Childress Racing |
| 25 | 32 | Jeffrey Earnhardt # | Ford | Corvetteparts.net | GO FAS Racing |
| 26 | 34 | Chris Buescher # | Ford | Dockside Logistics | Front Row Motorsports |
| 27 | 38 | Landon Cassill | Ford | MDS Transport | Front Row Motorsports |
| 28 | 41 | Kurt Busch | Chevy | Monster Energy / Haas Automation | Stewart-Haas Racing |
| 29 | 42 | Kyle Larson | Chevy | Target | Chip Ganassi Racing |
| 30 | 43 | Aric Almirola | Ford | Smithfield | Richard Petty Motorsports |
| 31 | 44 | Brian Scott # | Ford | Medallion Financial | Richard Petty Motorsports |
| 32 | 46 | Michael Annett | Chevy | Pilot Flying J | HScott Motorsports |
| 33 | 47 | A.J. Allmendinger | Chevy | Kroger / Scott Products | JTG Daugherty Racing |
| 34 | 48 | Jimmie Johnson | Chevy | Lowe's | Hendrick Motorsports |
| 35 | 55* | Reed Sorenson | Chevy | Vydox Plus | Premium Motorsports |
| 36 | 78 | Martin Truex Jr. | Toyota | Furniture Row | Furniture Row Racing |
| 37 | 83 | Matt Dibenedetto | Toyota | Vector Security | BK Racing |
| 38 | 88 | TBA | Chevy | Axalta / University of Michigan | Hendrick Motorsports |
| 39 | 95 | Michael McDowell | Chevy | Thrivent Financial | Circle Sport-Leavine Family Racing |
| 40 | 98* | Cole Whitt | Chevy | TBA | Premium Motorsports |
| 41 | 99 | Stanton Barrett | TBD | Ford | Jessica Smith |
Rutherford is the managing editor of Frontstretch, a position he gained in 2015 after serving on the editing staff for two years. At his day job, he's a journalist covering music and rock charts at Billboard. He lives in New York City, but his heart is in Ohio -- you know, like that Hawthorne Heights song.
Thankfully Michael Annett is back so the race won’t be marred by the biggest moron out there. Well, maybe the biggest moron spotter will be there.
The biggest moron is in the race. He’s in the 18.
I think that award goes to the #10
She’s not a moron. She just isn’t good enough as a driver who’d rather do a photo shoot than drive the car. One of the many Affluenza disease drivers.