NASCAR Michigan Updates: Rain Suspends Race After Stage 1, to Continue on Monday
This season’s NASCAR Cup Series takes on the Michigan International Speedway for the first time on its thrilling 2-mile course.
Today’s event is the 24th race of the season, with only two more races left before the field of 16 playoff drivers is finalized. There are still four spots available for drivers without wins, meaning they have three opportunities, including this race, to secure a spot with a victory. With 12 playoff spots already claimed, at least one more driver will qualify through points, even if three new winners appear in the remaining races.
YSL News Sports will provide comprehensive coverage of the FireKeepers Casino 400 today. Stay tuned for the latest updates, highlights, and results from Michigan.
Race Stopped by Rain as NASCAR Calls Red Flag
NASCAR has paused the race before Stage 2 could commence due to rain returning to Michigan International Speedway. The red flag was issued at the end of Lap 51 after some cars had completed pit stops following the opening stage. Drivers have exited their vehicles, which are now covered on pit road.
The race’s start was already delayed for nearly 2.5 hours due to rain.
Ryan Blaney Wins Stage 1 at Michigan
Ryan Blaney gained the lead during a restart and maintained it through a final three-lap dash to conclude Stage 1 of the FireKeepers Casino 400. Blaney was among a few drivers who opted not to pit during a caution signaled by Denny Hamlin’s spin. Chase Elliott, who came off pit road first during the caution, restarted further behind in the top 10 but successfully passed several cars to end up in second place.
Blaney was among those who stayed out, alongside 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, while others pitted.
Here are the top 10 finishers of Stage 1:
- Ryan Blaney, No. 12 Ford
- Chase Elliott, No. 9 Chevrolet
- William Byron, No. 24 Chevrolet
- Bubba Wallace, No. 23 Toyota
- Chris Buescher, No. 17 Ford
- Kyle Busch, No. 8 Chevrolet
- Brad Keselowski, No. 6 Ford
- Martin Truex Jr., No. 19 Toyota
- Alex Bowman, No. 48 Chevrolet
- Ross Chastain, No. 1 Chevrolet
Denny Hamlin Spins, Causes First Caution at Michigan
Denny Hamlin lost control of his vehicle in Turn 4 while attempting to draft behind race leader Bubba Wallace, spinning through the infield grass and triggering the caution on Lap 39 of the race. Fortunately, Hamlin managed to avoid hitting the wall.
Several leaders opted to pit for fuel and tires. Chase Elliott successfully emerged from pit road first. Meanwhile, Ryan Blaney, William Byron, Chris Buescher, Daniel Suarez, Brad Keselowski, Ty Gibbs, and Harrison Burton remained on track and will lead the field for the restart shortly before the first stage ended.
Bubba Wallace Takes the Lead on Lap 35
After Kyle Larson led for the first 34 laps of the race, with Denny Hamlin close behind in second, Bubba Wallace made a bold move to overtake both drivers and take the lead on Lap 35.
Hamlin remained in second, Larson dropped to third, Tyler Reddick placed fourth, and Christopher Bell rounded out the top five. The first stage consists of 45 laps.
NASCAR Race at Michigan Finally Underway
After a lengthy rain delay, the green flag has been waved for the FireKeepers 400 at Michigan International Speedway. Denny Hamlin in the No. 11 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota and Tyler Reddick in the No. 45 23XI Racing Toyota lead the initial laps.
Kyle Larson, starting from fourth position, executed a daring move on the first lap to surpass both Hamlin and Reddick and claimed the lead.
NASCAR Cup Race at Michigan Might Start Soon
As jet dryers work to remove moisture from the track at Michigan International Speedway, NASCAR officials have informed teams they can take the covers off their cars and have instructed drivers to get ready by 4:45 p.m. ET.
NASCAR aims to start the race around 5 p.m. ET, hoping to finish it before it gets dark in Brooklyn, Michigan. USA Network is broadcasting the FireKeeper’s Casino 400 today.
Weather Issues Continue to Postpone NASCAR Race Start
The NASCAR Cup Series race at Michigan is still facing delays due to recurring rain. Officials reported that track dryers were temporarily stopped but have begun drying operations again. As there are no lights at the Michigan International Speedway, the race cannot occur after sunset.
Meanwhile, USA Network has switched to airing last week’s Cup Series race from Richmond Raceway.
NASCAR Teams Work to Dry Michigan International Speedway
As the rain starts to ease, jet dryers and Air Titans are actively working to dry the racetrack at Michigan International Speedway. However, forecasts and radar indicate that another rain band may arrive this afternoon, potentially pushing back the start of today’s FireKeepers Casino 400.
NASCAR Drivers Out of Their Cars as Rain Persists in Michigan
The rain has intensified at Michigan International Speedway, causing further delays in starting today’s FireKeepers Casino 400 NASCAR Cup Series race. Jet dryers and Air Titans are being utilized to clear the track, and drivers have exited their vehicles while they are parked on pit road.
NASCAR Cup Race Start Delayed Due to Rain
After the cars completed a few pace laps at Michigan International Speedway in preparation for the green flag of the FireKeepers Casino 400, NASCAR officials directed the cars back to pit road as light rain started to fall, prompting a delay in the race’s start.
Which Channel is Broadcasting the NASCAR Cup Race from Michigan?
The FireKeepers Casino 400 is being aired on USA Network, with a pre-race show set to start at 2 p.m. ET.
Is There a Live Stream Available for the NASCAR Cup Race at Michigan?
You can live stream the FireKeepers Casino 400 on the NBCSports website and via the NBC Sports app. The race is also available for streaming on Fubo.
What’s the Weather Forecast for the NASCAR Race in Michigan?
There’s a significant possibility of rain impacting the race at Michigan International Speedway today.
Expect mostly cloudy and humid conditions throughout the afternoon, with a 55% chance of rain and possible thunderstorms, according to AccuWeather. Winds will be coming from the north-northwest at 9 mph, with gusts up to 18 mph.
How Many Laps is the NASCAR Cup Race at Michigan?
The FireKeepers Casino 400 consists of 200 laps around the 2-mile track, totaling 400 miles. The race will be divided into three stages: Stage 1 will have 45 laps, Stage 2 will have 75 laps, and Stage 3 will have 80 laps.
Who Will Start on the Pole for the NASCAR Race at Michigan?
Denny Hamlin, driving the No. 11 Toyota, qualified with the fastest time on Saturday, earning the pole position for Sunday’s FireKeepers Casino 400. Tyler Reddick, in his No. 45 Toyota, will also start on the front row, as four Toyota drivers secured spots in the top five during qualifying.
What is the Lineup for Today’s NASCAR Race at Michigan?
(Car numbers 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) AJ Allmendinger, Chevrolet
- 36. (15) Cody Ware, Ford
Who Was the Recent Winner of the NASCAR Cup Race at Michigan?
Chris Buescher led 52 laps, including the final 12, to narrowly beat Martin Truex Jr. by just 0.152 seconds on August 7, 2023. This marked Buescher’s second victory out of three last season. Currently, Buescher is winless in 2024 and sits 13th in the drivers’ standings, close to the playoff cutoff.
How Many Drivers Have Claimed Victory in the 2024 NASCAR Cup Season?
A total of thirteen drivers have won races this season; however, only twelve have secured playoff spots after Austin Dillon was penalized for wrecking Joey Logano and Denny Hamlin on the final lap of last week’s Richmond Raceway race, leading to the loss of his playoff berth.
With three races remaining in the regular season, including today’s race in Michigan, there are four playoff spots still up for grabs. Winners will automatically secure playoff positions, though some drivers may qualify based on 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 playoff berth.
Which Winless Drivers Could Still Make the 2024 NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs?
If no other drivers without wins claim victory in the next three races, the following drivers are positioned to qualify for the playoffs based on points before today’s race in Michigan:
- 13. Martin Truex Jr.: 662 points, +78 above the cutoff
- 14. Ty Gibbs: 602 points, +18 above the cutoff
- 15. Bubba Wallace: 587 points, +3 above the cutoff
- 16. (tie) Chris Buescher: 584 points
- 16. (tie) Ross Chastain: 584 points
What Races Remain in the NASCAR Cup Series Regular Season?
- Saturday, Aug. 24: At Daytona International Speedway, 7:30 p.m. ET (NBC)
- Sunday, Sept. 1: At Darlington Raceway, 6 p.m. ET (USA Network)
When Do the NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs Begin?
The 10-race, 16-driver NASCAR playoffs kick off on Sept. 8 with the Quaker State 400 in Atlanta Motor Speedway.
