#17 Champion 400
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Champion 400 – Michigan International Speedway – 8/17/86
Just 41 days later NASCAR returned to Michigan International Speedway, and again for the 4th time in a row Bill Elliott and the Coors – Melling Ford Thunderbird team won the race. Elliott, along with the win set a record for 4 consecutive wins on a superspeedway. Elliott had won 5 out of the last 6 races at MIS. This was special for Harry Melling too since he lived a short distance away, and considered MIS his home track. Never has there been such dominance at a single track for wins that has been shown by Elliott at MIS. The newly surfaced track is still making exciting racing with 23 lead changes among 10 drivers. Elliott qualified 3rd for the race and dominated leading 125 of the 200 total laps run. Elliott took the lead for the final time on lap 175 to lead the final 26 laps for the win. Finishing out the top 5 were Tim Richmond, Geoff Bodine, Darrell Waltrip, and Dale Earnhardt. Elliott won with an average speed of 135.376mph. Slowing the race pace were 5 cautions for 38 laps. Owner Harry Melling won $56,950 dollars for the win with Elliott picking up another 185 Championship points where he was in 6th place at the time. The win was Elliott’s 17 win, and the 2nd in the 1986 season to date.