Summer brings out the wanderlust in all of us. It’s the perfect time to get away from your routine, and see parts of the country or the world you may not be familiar with.

Some fly, some take a train, and then there’s the great American tradition of the road trip. That’s the route I took this summer, venturing over 800 miles each way from Southeast Michigan to Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, for a week in the sun.

Doing my best Clark Griswold impression, I gathered my family and all the essentials for the long road ahead, packed the car tight and ventured on to the highway -- not sure what would lie ahead. The beach was great of course, but getting there and back was an equally exciting adventure.

BROOKLYN, Mich. -- If any team is a part of the fabric of NASCAR, it's the Wood Brothers Racing team.

Running continuously since 1950 (that's 65 years if you're not good at math), most of the great drivers in NASCAR's have spent some time behind the wheel of a Wood Brothers #21 Ford. Outside of Richard Petty's #43 and Dale Earnhardt's #3, the #21 of the Wood Brothers is arguably the most recognizable car in the sport's history. The teammade has made many contributions that all of auto racing should be thankful for, including inventing the modern pit stop.

Pure Michigan announced the results of the Pure Michigan 400 Honorary Starter Contest, naming Kyle Brow of Vassar, Mich. as the 2015 Pure Michigan 400 Honorary Starter. Michael Harris, Executive Director of Paralyzed Veterans of America Michigan Chapter, has been named 2015 Pure Michigan 400 Grand Marshal.

Brow, a 20-year-old with autism, developed a passion for NASCAR and racing at a young age. Over the years, Brow’s enthusiasm for the sport has only grown; he keeps meticulous records of each race and aspires to be a NASCAR announcer one day. His mother, Laura Oliver, nominated him to have this once-in-a-lifetime experience, saying “you cannot have a conversation with Kyle that does not turn into a conversation about NASCAR.”

A mere 11 races after returning from a broken leg and foot suffered in February, Kyle Busch has cracked the top 30 in the points standings and is now eligible for the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup. Busch will qualify for NASCAR’s playoffs if he can remain in the top 30 at the end of next month’s Richmond race. 

Busch currently mans the 30th spot in the driver standings, six points ahead of 31st-place Cole Whitt and one point behind 29th-place Justin Allgaier.

Rolling hills with lush green grass, expansive lakes and small, quaint villages are in full view on the drive along U.S. Highway 12 in southern Michigan. Golf courses and vast, farmed land also are part of the otherwise tranquil scene. It’s a serene setting and one conducive to the quiet country life many enjoy in the area. Any thundering noises that may disturb this quiet setting are typically the tell-tale signs of an impending storm. It’s all part of an area referred to as the Irish Hills of Michigan.

Named in homage to the Irish immigrants who settled in the area in the early to mid-1800s, today the area is known for its resorts that attract numerous tourists with its state parks and its multitude of lakes. It is a laid-back atmosphere conducive to families seeking to get away from the hustle and bustle of everyday life.

TriStar Motorsports announced today that Blake Koch will be back with TriStar Motorsports in 2016 to compete full time in the NASCAR XFINITY Series.

"This is a big day for TriStar Motorsports," said Mark Smith, owner of TriStar Motorsports. "We are excited to announce our continued partnership with Blake Koch and LeafFilter Gutter Protection for 2016. Blake has been a driver at TriStar since 2014 and we are looking forward to finishing out 2015 strong. LeafFilter came on board this season and they have been great partners of our racing program, so having the opportunity to continue working together in 2016 is exciting"

Having a Chase berth safely tucked away, Martin Truex Jr. says it will be full throttle as usual in the remaining four regular season Sprint Cup Series races. The driver of the No. 78 Furniture Row/Denver Mattress Chevrolet clinched a playoff spot following Sunday’s road-race at Watkins Glen International.

“We’re not going to settle for anything less than being a contender in the next four races,” said Truex. “Producing strong performances is contagious and we want to enter the Chase with a winning momentum.”
Truex’s pre-Chase charge will commence this weekend in the Pure Michigan 400 at the 2-mile Michigan International Speedway where he finished third in the June rain-shortened race.