Rain — always a factor — played havoc on Friday’s race track activities, this time at Michigan International Speedway in Brooklyn, Mich.

Sprint Cup qualifying was canceled moments after the rain came down. Ten cars had qualified with Greg Biffle’s No. 16 sitting on top. However, it would be Kyle Busch’s No. 18 Toyota who would “claim” the pole position, thanks to the current owner’s points standings.

The rain didn’t seem to be a problem Saturday. The Cup drivers were able to have their final two practice sessions. Greg Biffle’s No. 16 (still very fast) and Jimmie Johnson’s No. 48 Chevrolet were the fastest. (Other track activities were able to resume as well, including an ARCA Remax race and a Craftsman Truck race.)

The LifeLock 400 started Sunday despite the possibility of rain with Busch pulling away from the pack until the first caution flag flew three laps in. It would be his one and only lead.

Johnson took the lead and maintained it for 27 laps until Brian Vickers, in his No. 83 Toyota, took it for one lap. Vickers lost the lead back to Johnson after discovering there was a hot dog wrapper on his grill. Vickers had to get right behind Johnson in order to allow the air from Johnson’s car to suck the hot dog wrapper off of his grill.

I kid you not!

With the hot dog wrapper gone and his car’s temperature dropping, Vickers again took the lead from Johnson, but it was only for a short time.

The lead switched between various driver, all looking as if they’d be the one to win. Vickers and Johnson returned to the lead various times among others, like Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Matt Kenseth.

However, it was when Sam Hornish Jr. put his No. 77 Dodge in position to win while battling Jimmie Johnson for the lead, that the race got interesting. He led one lap, but it seemed to be a “must-see” moment. His good day turned sour after he spun out in turn 4 and brought the sixth caution of the race on lap 197. He finished 22nd and on the lead lap.

With this sixth caution, there were only three official laps left in the race. NASCAR had to extend the race an additional three laps — and make a green-white-checkered restart — because lap 197 to 200 would be spent under caution.

Earnhardt Jr. in his No. 88 Chevrolet had taken the lead away from David Ragan at lap 194. He and Kasey Kahne, in the No. 9 Dodge, were running on fumes. Both drivers short-pitted, taking only gas, earlier in the race, but at different caution or green flag pit stops. Both were advised by their crew chiefs to save gas — to coast during the caution laps.

The green flag flew for the last time. Earnhardt Jr., with Kahne right behind him, tried to hold off the rest of the field with hopes of not running out of gas.

Mark Martin, who was third, ran out of gas and entered pit road. Vickers and Kenseth were not quick enough to catch Kahne or Earnhardt Jr, as the two, though running low on gas, pulled away.

With the white flag freshly flying, Kahne’s teammate, Patrick Carpentier in the No. 10 Dodge, spun out causing the yellow and final caution flag to fly.

There was no more passing allowed and that was too bad for Kahne, who looked as if he could have gotten around Earnhardt Jr. if not for the the caution. The only problem seemed to be whether or not Earnhardt Jr. could make it all the way back around the take the yellow (caution) complimented checkered flag.

He was able to do so — and won — a feat he hadn’t been able to accomplish, in a points event since Richmond in the spring of 2006 — 76 races previously.

With the magic of the television speakers and TNT’s surround sound coverage, it was evident the crowd was going wild as Earnhardt Jr.’s team helped push his car down pit road to victory lane. His car was completely out of gas and Earnhardt Jr. was unable to do any sort of burnout.

He was able to end his long drought, and although I am not the biggest Earnhardt Jr. fan, I was somewhat relieved. I have said before that I had no doubt, particularly after his Budweiser Shootout and Gatorade Duel No. 1 wins, that he would win a Cup race; I wasn’t sure when it would be and I, like his fans, was hoping it would be sooner rather than later.

I, also, (as previously written) said Jeff Gordon and Tony Stewart will win this season — I’m thinking soon.
During an interview in victory lane, Earnhardt said, “They can write what they want, but we won one.”

Despite the way he won, he was the victor, and his fans are just as happy about this win as they would be if he had dominated the race.

My driver, Kahne — for those who didn’t read last week’s column — finished second and looked as if he was the only car that could have taken Earnhardt Jr. at the end. I am very glad he finished where he did because he was able to move up in the point standings — he’s seventh now. Most importantly, he’s been able to keep his momentum and consistency.

I have mixed hopes for this weekend’s race at Infineon Raceway in Sonoma, Calif. It is the first road course of the season for the Cup drivers, and Kahne isn’t known to be the best road racer.

He is, in fact, not all that good. He is appearing to get better at them (road courses), but I don’t have my hopes set too high. I am just hoping for a good, solid finish in order to keep him nestled in the Top 12 points standings.

Don’t miss:
From Milwaukee and Sonoma

• Sprint Cup qualifying, Friday night at 7 on SPEED
• Camping World RV Rental 250 (Nationwide race), Saturday night at 8 on ESPN2
• Toyota/Save Mart 350 (Sprint Cup race), Sunday at 3:30 p.m. on TNT