BROOKLYN, Mich. — Dale Earnhardt Jr. is coming off his best two-year stretch — winning three times last year and four times in 2014 — since winning a combined eight races in 2003 and 2004.
This year, though, Earnhardt hasn’t won any of his 14 races and is among three drivers ranked in the top 12 without a win.
Earnhardt will start 27th Sunday in NASCAR’s FireKeepers Casino 400 at Michigan International Speedway, a 2-mile oval he has become very familiar with over the years.
Joey Logano has the pole and will be in the front row with Martin Truex Jr. and just ahead of Tony Stewart and Denny Hamlin.
Earnhardt, a 26-time winner, has two victories at MIS. He will make his 34th start on the track, tying Richmond for the venue in which he has competed on the most since making his NASCAR debut in 1999.
He picked up a desperately needed win at the wide, high-banking track on June 17, 2012, and ended a four-year, 143-race slump without a victory.
Earnhardt was second last week at Pocono, his fourth runner-up finish this year.
‘‘Pocono was a good step in the right direction,’’ Earnhardt said Saturday. ‘‘I felt like we could go there and run good. I think we learned a lot that we could use to understand how to get better. I’m looking forward to Michigan.’’
NASCAR is tweaking its aerodynamic package this week, and next month at Kentucky, in the hopes of creating more competitive racing.
‘‘Each and every week, there are 12 to 15 guys with a shot to win,’’ said Kyle Busch, who leads the series with three wins. ‘‘And, there are about five more guys who can surprise you by winning.’’
Among the changes are reducing sideforce by setting the rear toe to zero and shortening the spoiler by an inch.
‘‘We’re working on getting these cars to be less aero dependent,’’ Busch said. ‘‘We want them to be more drivable so we can outrace guys and make moves with a better handling car instead of getting stuck in a line. I think that’ll help the product. I haven’t been comfortable by myself out here so far, so that doesn’t bode well for being in traffic. Maybe everybody will be uncomfortable and we’ll just have to outdrive them.’’
. . .
Daniel Suarez became the first Mexican-born driver to win a NASCAR national race, passing Busch and holding off one of the sport’s big stars at the Xfinity Series race at Michigan.
‘‘To be able to be an example to bring more people is great,’’ said Suarez, who moved to the United States five years ago.
Busch led 88 of the 125 laps in the Menards 250, but couldn’t stay ahead of Suarez for the final two laps.
‘‘I didn’t know Suarez was coming like that,’’ Busch said. ‘‘He had some speed.’’
The 24-year-old Suarez is the first non-American to lead any of NASCAR’s three national series in points. He became the first Mexican to win the Xfinity Series rookie of the year award last year.
Busch, Paul Menard, Erik Jones, and Elliott Sadler finished in the top five.
Jones raced with ‘‘Dave,’’ instead of his name painted above the driver-side window. His father, Dave Jones, died this week at 53 after a short bout with cancer.
‘‘Erik made a point to be in that race car,’’ Wilson said. ‘‘He did it to honor his father.’’
Gordie Howe was mentioned during the invocation before the race about 70 miles west of Detroit, where he played much of his career for the Red Wings. Howe died Friday at 88.
Suarez won for the first time in 48 starts in NASCAR’s national series, getting rewarded for a climb through the sport’s development programs. He became a part of NASCAR in 2011 and was involved in its Drive for Diversity and Next programs.
‘‘Without all the support, maybe I wouldn’t be here right now,’’ he acknowledged.
Suarez also credited Busch, whom he drives for in the Truck Series.
''Kyle has been super helpful,’’ he said. ‘‘He has supported me a lot and given me advice. He’s been a good friend.’’
