NASCAR Cup race at Michigan paused by rain after Stage 1, set to resume Monday
Due to rainfall causing several interruptions on Sunday at Michigan International Speedway, NASCAR has decided to suspend the FireKeepers Casino 400 race. It will continue on Monday at 11 a.m. ET.
The Cup Series race’s start was pushed back by over two hours on Sunday afternoon because of weather conditions in Brooklyn, Michigan. Originally, the 200-lap race was slated to begin around 2:40 p.m. ET but finally took off at 4:55 p.m. ET when the green flag was waved.
All drivers managed to finish the first stage, which was clinched by Ryan Blaney. A yellow flag was waved when Denny Hamlin spun out on Lap 39 of the 45-lap initial stage. Most racers dove into the pit for fuel and tires during the caution period, but Blaney was one of the few who chose to remain on the track. He took the lead when the race resumed and maintained it during a three-lap sprint to the stage’s conclusion.
The remaining part of the race will be aired live on USA Network on Monday. Viewers can also watch via live streaming on the NBCSports website and the NBC Sports app, or on Fubo.
NASCAR halts Michigan race with a red flag as rain returns
NASCAR has issued a red flag prior to the start of Stage 2, pulling all cars back to the pit road as rain reappeared over Michigan International Speedway. The red flag was waved after Lap 51, following some pit stops that occurred after the opening stage. Drivers exited their vehicles, which have been covered on the pit road.
The race’s commencement faced a delay of nearly two and a half hours because of rain.
Ryan Blaney wins Stage 1 of the NASCAR race at Michigan
Ryan Blaney regained the lead during a restart and maintained it in a three-lap showdown to finish the first stage of the FireKeepers Casino 400. He was among the few drivers who decided to stay on the track during a caution caused by Denny Hamlin’s spin. Chase Elliott restarted from the back of the top 10 after coming out of the pits first during the caution, swiftly moving up to finish second.
Drivers such as 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 pitted, while the rest stayed out.
Here are the top 10 finishers in 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 to trigger the first caution at Michigan
Denny Hamlin lost control of his car in Turn 4 while trying to draft off the race leader, Bubba Wallace, leading to a spin through the infield grass and causing the caution on Lap 39 of the FireKeepers Casino 400. Fortunately, Hamlin managed to avoid hitting the wall.
Most of the frontrunners entered the pit to refuel and change tires, while Chase Elliott was the fastest to leave the pit road. Ryan Blaney, William Byron, Chris Buescher, Daniel Suarez, Brad Keselowski, Ty Gibbs, and Harrison Burton chose to stay out and will lead the pack on the restart with only a few laps to go in the first stage.
Bubba Wallace charges ahead on Lap 35 at Michigan
Kyle Larson led the first 34 laps of the FireKeepers 400 at Michigan International Speedway, with Denny Hamlin closely trailing him in second place. However, amid a battle for the lead, Bubba Wallace made a bold move to pass both competitors and take the lead on Lap 35.
Hamlin remained in second place, Larson dropped to third, while Tyler Reddick and Christopher Bell occupied fourth and fifth respectively. The initial stage of the race consists of 45 laps.
Green flag finally waves for NASCAR Cup Series race at Michigan
The green flag has finally appeared for the FireKeepers 400 at Michigan International Speedway after an extensive rain delay. Denny Hamlin, behind the wheel of the No. 11 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota, and Tyler Reddick in the No. 45 23XI Racing Toyota, led the starting grid.
Kyle Larson, starting from fourth, made an aggressive move in the opening lap, quickly surpassing Hamlin and Reddick to lead.
NASCAR Cup race at Michigan facing potential delay
As jet dryers and Air Titans worked diligently to dry the track at Michigan International Speedway, NASCAR officials informed crews that they could remove the covers from the cars, and drivers were requested to return to their vehicles by 4:45 p.m. ET.
NASCAR anticipated the race would commence around 5 p.m. ET in hopes of finishing the entire race before sunset in Brooklyn, Michigan. The FireKeeper’s Casino 400 is being broadcasted live on USA Network today.
Weather delays continue to affect the NASCAR race at Michigan
The start of the NASCAR Cup Series race at Michigan remains on hold due to ongoing rain in the area. Reporters present at the speedway indicated that track-drying equipment had briefly paused operations but has now resumed preparations for the race. There are Because Michigan International Speedway does not have any lights, the race cannot take place at night.
USA Network, which is airing today’s race, is currently showing last week’s Cup Series event from Richmond Raceway.
NASCAR crews are busy drying the track at Michigan International Speedway
As the rain starts to ease, jet dryers and Air Titans are working to dry the track at Michigan International Speedway. However, weather predictions indicate that another rain band could arrive this afternoon, potentially delaying the start of today’s FireKeepers Casino 400 even longer.
NASCAR drivers leave their cars as rain continues at Michigan
Rain has intensified at Michigan International Speedway, causing further delays to the start of today’s FireKeepers Casino 400 NASCAR Cup Series race. Jet dryers and Air Titans are actively drying the track while drivers exit their vehicles, which are now covered in pit road.
Rain delays the start of the NASCAR Cup race in Michigan
After completing a few pace laps to prepare for the green flag of the FireKeepers Casino 400 at Michigan International Speedway, NASCAR officials instructed the cars to return to pit road as light rain began to fall, delaying the race’s start.
What channel is broadcasting the NASCAR Cup race at Michigan?
The FireKeepers Casino 400 is being broadcast live on USA Network, with a pre-race show kicking off 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 is the weather forecast for the NASCAR race at Michigan?
There’s a reasonable chance that rain will affect the race at Michigan International Speedway today.
The weather is expected to be mostly cloudy and humid in the afternoon, with a 55% likelihood of rain and potential thunderstorms, as per AccuWeather’s forecast.
Winds will blow from the north-northwest at 9 mph, with gusts rising to 18 mph.
How many laps are in the NASCAR Cup race at Michigan?
The FireKeepers Casino 400 consists of 200 laps on the 2-mile track, totaling 400 miles. The race is divided into three segments: Stage 1 has 45 laps; Stage 2 consists of 75 laps; and Stage 3 is 80 laps.
Who is on pole position for the NASCAR race at Michigan?
Denny Hamlin, driving his No. 11 Toyota, secured the fastest qualifying time on Saturday and will start on pole for the FireKeepers Casino 400. Tyler Reddick, in his No. 45 Toyota, will join him on the front row, as Toyota drivers dominated the top five positions in qualifying.
What is the starting lineup for Sunday’s NASCAR race at Michigan?
(Car number 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 won the last NASCAR Cup race at Michigan?
Chris Buescher led 52 laps, including the final 12, and narrowly defeated Martin Truex Jr. by just 0.152 seconds on August 7, 2023, marking his second victory out of three last season. Although winless in 2024, Buescher ranks 13th in the driver standings and is close to the playoff cut-off.
How many drivers have secured wins in the 2024 NASCAR Cup season?
A total of thirteen drivers have claimed victory this season, but only twelve have qualified for the playoffs, following the penalty imposed on Austin Dillon, who lost his playoff berth last week after colliding with Joey Logano and Denny Hamlin on the final lap.
With only three races left in the regular season, including today’s event at Michigan, there are still four playoff spots up for grabs. Winning guarantees a playoff position, although several drivers could still 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 automatic playoff berth.
Which winless drivers are at risk of missing the 2024 NASCAR Cup Series playoffs?
If no additional winless drivers secure victories in the next three races, these are the competitors currently in contention for playoff spots based on points before today’s race at Michigan:
- 13. Martin Truex Jr.: 662 points, +78 above the cutline
- 14. Ty Gibbs: 602 points, +18 above the cutline
- 15. Bubba Wallace: 587 points, +3 above the cutline
- 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 NASCAR playoffs, featuring 16 drivers competing over 10 races, will kick off on September 8 with the Quaker State 400 held at Atlanta Motor Speedway.
What time does the NASCAR Cup race at Michigan start?
The FireKeepers Casino 400 is scheduled to start at 2:30 p.m. Eastern Time on Sunday at the Michigan International Speedway located in Brooklyn, Michigan.
