The NASCAR Cup Series will be heading to Michigan International Speedway for the first time this season, with some exciting racing planned on the fast, two-mile oval course.
Michigan marks the 24th race of the season, and after Sunday’s race, there are only two races left to decide which 16-driver playoff spots will be decided. There are still four playoff spots remaining, and an unwinning driver can automatically qualify by winning three weekends, including today. With 12 playoff spots already secured, even if three new winners emerge in the remaining three regular-season races, at least one driver will still qualify for the playoffs through points.
USA TODAY Sports will have complete coverage of today’s FireKeepers Casino 400. Follow all the Michigan updates, highlights and results.
NASCAR red flags Michigan race as rain returns
NASCAR red flagged all cars back onto pit road before the start of Stage 2 as rain began to fall again at Michigan International Speedway. The red flag was shown at the end of lap 51 after several cars made pit stops following the conclusion of the opening stage. Drivers exited their cars, but their cars were covered on pit road.
The start of the race was delayed by nearly two and a half hours due to rain.
Ryan Blaney wins first stage of NASCAR race at Michigan
Ryan Blaney took the lead on the restart and held it through a three-lap shootout to conclude the opening stage of the Firekeepers Casino 400. Blaney was one of the few drivers to stay on the track during the caution caused by Denny Hamlin’s spin. Chase Elliott was first off pit road during the caution and restarted at the back of the top 10, but he made multiple passes over those three laps to finish second.
Blaney, William Byron, Chris Buescher, Brad Keselowski, Daniel Suarez, Ty Gibbs, Harrison Burton, Zane Smith, Carson Hocevar, Justin Haley, Austin Dillon, Erik Jones and Josh Berry will pit and stay on the track, along with the other drivers.
Top 10 Finishers in Stage 1
Ryan Blaney, No. 12 FordChase Elliott, No. 9 ChevroletWilliam Byron, No. 24 ChevroletBubba Wallace, No. 23 ToyotaChris Buescher, No. 17 FordKyle Busch, No. 8 ChevroletBrad Keselowski, No. 6 FordMartin Truex Jr., No. 19 ToyotaAlex Bowman, No. 48 ChevroletRoss Chastain, No. 1 Chevrolet
Denny Hamlin spins, causing first caution at Michigan
Denny Hamlin lost control of his car in Turn 4 while trying to pass race leader Bubba Wallace and spun on the infield grass, causing a caution on lap 39 of the Firekeepers Casino 400. However, Hamlin was able to keep his car away from the wall.
As many of the leaders came to pit road for fuel and tires, Chase Elliott got ahead of everyone coming off pit road to take the lead. Ryan Blaney, William Byron, Chris Buescher, Daniel Suarez, Brad Keselowski, Ty Gibbs and Harrison Burton stayed on the track and took the lead at the restart with just a few laps remaining before the end of Stage 1.
Bubba Wallace takes the lead on lap 35 at Michigan
In the Firekeepers 400 race at Michigan International Speedway, Kyle Larson led the first 34 laps while Denny Hamlin, who was in second place, kept the pressure on Larson, but as the two drivers battled for the lead, Bubba Wallace passed them both to take the lead on lap 35.
Hamlin remained in second place, Larson dropped to third, Tyler Reddick was fourth and Christopher Bell was fifth. The first stage of the race was 45 laps long.
The green flag waves for the NASCAR Cup Series race at Michigan
After a lengthy rain delay, the green flag finally waved for the Firekeepers 400 race at Michigan International Speedway, with Denny Hamlin in the No. 11 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota and Tyler Reddick in the No. 45 23XI Racing Toyota leading the way.
Kyle Larson, who started from fourth place, made an aggressive move on lap one, passing Hamlin and Reddick to lead the opening lap.
The NASCAR Cup race at Michigan could be starting soon.
As jet dryers and Air Titans continued to dry the track at Michigan International Speedway, NASCAR officials told crews they could remove the covers from their cars and asked drivers to return to their cars by 4:45 p.m. ET.
NASCAR is scheduled to begin racing at approximately 5:00 pm ET with the goal of finishing the race before sundown in Brooklyn, Mich. USA Network will broadcast today’s FireKeeper’s Casino 400.
Weather continues to delay start of NASCAR race in Michigan
The start of the NASCAR Cup Series race at Michigan continues to be delayed as rain has returned. Speedway reporters say the track dryers were temporarily shut off but have now been brought back on the track. Michigan International Speedway does not have lighting, so races cannot be held at night.
USA Network, which is broadcasting today’s race, also aired last week’s Cup Series race at Richmond Raceway.
NASCAR crews work to dry the track at Michigan International Speedway.
Rain has eased at Michigan International Speedway as jet dryers and Air Titans continue to dry out the race track, but weather forecasts and radar indicate another flurry of snow could fall on the track in the afternoon, further delaying the start of today’s Firekeepers Casino 400.
NASCAR drivers get out of their cars as rain continues to fall in Michigan
Intensifying rain at Michigan International Speedway continues to delay the start of today’s Firekeepers Casino 400 NASCAR Cup Series race. Jet dryers and Air Titans are being used on the oval to dry out the track and drivers are exiting their covered cars on pit road.
Start of NASCAR Cup race at Michigan delayed due to rain
After completing several pace laps at Michigan International Speedway in preparation for taking the green flag for the Firekeepers Casino 400, NASCAR officials instructed the cars to return to pit road as light rain began to fall in the area, delaying the start of the race.
What TV channel will broadcast the NASCAR Cup race at Michigan?
USA Network will broadcast the FireKeepers Casino 400 with pre-race programming beginning at 2pm ET.
Will there be a live stream of the NASCAR Cup race at Michigan?
The FireKeepers Casino 400 can be streamed live on the NBCSports website and the NBC Sports app. The race can also be streamed on Fubo.
What’s the weather forecast for the NASCAR race in Michigan?
There’s a good chance of rain at Michigan International Speedway on Sunday.
AccuWeather forecasts the afternoon will be cloudy and humid with a 55 percent chance of rain and a chance of thunderstorms.
Winds will be out of the north-northwest at 9 mph, with maximum gusts reaching 18 mph.
How many laps is the NASCAR Cup race at Michigan?
The FireKeepers Casino 400 is a race that involves 200 laps around a two-mile track for a total distance of 400 miles. The race is made up of three segments (number of laps per stage): Stage 1: 45 laps, Stage 2: 75 laps, and Stage 3: 80 laps.
Who will start from the pole position in the NASCAR race at Michigan?
Denny Hamlin in the No. 11 Toyota recorded the fastest time in qualifying on Saturday and will start from the pole position for Sunday’s Firekeepers Casino 400. Tyler Reddick in the No. 45 Toyota will also start from the front row, with Toyota drivers taking four of the top five qualifying positions.
What’s the lineup for Sunday’s NASCAR race at Michigan?
(The vehicle number is in parentheses.)
1. (11) Denny Hamlin, Toyota 2. (45) Tyler Reddick, Toyota 3. (20) Christopher Bell, Toyota 4. (5) Kyle Larson, Chevrolet 5. (23) Bubba Wallace, Toyota 6. (9) Chase Elliott, Chevrolet 7. (1) Ross Chastain, Chevrolet 8. (12) Ryan Blaney, Ford 9. (24) William Byron, Chevrolet 10. (3) Austin Dillon, Chevrolet 11. (77) Carson Hocevar, Chevrolet 12. (99) Daniel Suarez, Chevrolet 13. (8) Kyle Busch, Chevrolet 14. (22) Joey Logano, Ford 15. (6) Brad Keselowski, Ford 16. (4) Josh Berry, Ford 17. (34) Michael McDowell, Ford 18. (17) Chris Buescher, Ford 19. (54) Ty Gibbs, Toyota 20. (38) Todd Gilliland, Ford 21. (14) Chase Briscoe, Ford 22. (48) Alex Bowman, Chevrolet 23. (2) Austin Cindric, Ford 24. (19) Martin Truex, Toyota 25. (10) Noah Gragson, Ford 26. (41) Ryan Preece, Ford 27. (71) Zane Smith, Chevrolet 28. (43) Erik Jones, Toyota 29. (51) Justin Haley, Ford 30. (47) Ricky Stenhouse, Chevrolet 31. (7) Corey LaJoie, Chevrolet 32. (31) Daniel Hemric, Chevrolet 33. (42) John Hunter Nemechek, Toyota 34. (21) Harrison Burton, Ford 35. (16) A.J. Allmendinger, Chevrolet 36. (15) Cody Ware, Ford
Who won the most recent NASCAR Cup race at Michigan?
Chris Buescher led 52 laps, including the final 12, and held off Martin Truex Jr. by just 0.152 seconds on Aug. 7, 2023, for his second of three wins from last season. Winless in 2024, Buescher currently sits 13th in the drivers’ standings and could make the playoffs.
How many drivers have won a NASCAR Cup race in the 2024 season?
Thirteen different drivers have won races this season, but just 12 have qualified for the playoffs after NASCAR assessed a penalty to Austin Dillon that stripped him of a playoff spot after he crashed Joey Logano and Denny Hamlin on the final lap after winning last week’s race at Richmond Raceway.
With three races remaining in the regular season, including Sunday’s race at Michigan, there are still four playoff spots open. A win would guarantee a spot, but several drivers could still qualify through points.
2024 winners (points in parentheses): Kyle Larson 4 (779); Denny Hamlin 3 (758); Christopher Bell 3 (701); William Byron 3 (678); Ryan Blaney 2 (702); Tyler Reddick 1 (774); Chase Elliott 1 (773); Brad Keselowski 1 (636); Alex Bowman 1 (615); Joey Logano 1 (557); Daniel Suarez 1 (497); Austin Cindric 1 (451); Austin Dillon (319) – Dillon lost his automatic playoff berth.
Which winless drivers could qualify for the 2024 NASCAR Cup Series playoffs?
If no winless drivers reach victory lane in the next three races, these are the drivers who will advance to the playoffs in points before Sunday’s race at Michigan:
13. Martin Truex Jr.: 662 points, +78 points above the cut line 14. Ty Gibbs: 602 points, +18 points above the cut line 15. Bubba Wallace: 587 points, +3 points above the cut line 16. (tie): Chris Buescher: 584 points 16. (tie): Ross Chastain: 584 points
What races remain in the NASCAR Cup Series regular season?
Saturday, August 24: Daytona International Speedway, 7:30pm ET (NBC) Sunday, September 1: Darlington Raceway, 6pm ET (USA Network)
When do the NASCAR Cup Series playoffs start?
The 10-race, 16-driver NASCAR playoffs begin with the Quaker State 400 at Atlanta Motor Speedway on Sept. 8.
What time does the NASCAR Cup race at Michigan start?
The Firekeepers Casino 400 will begin at 2:30pm ET on Sunday at Michigan International Speedway in Brooklyn, Michigan.
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