The Cup Series travels to the Irish Hill of Michigan and Michigan International Speedway for the FireKeepers 400.
Richard Childress has announced that they were about to announce that Kyle Busch would be returning to RCR when he died.
Childress added that Austin Hill will be driving the number 33 car (formerly the eight) for the remainder of the season.
The RFK Racing number 17 driven by Chris Buescher and the number 44 car driven by JJ Yeley bot failed the pre-race inspection process twice, but passed it on the third. As a result, both teams have lost their car chief for the remainder of the weekend and will also lose their pit stall selections – NASCAR will assign them their pit stalls.
With long wide straightaways and drafting, the drivers will reach speeds of 200mph.
The drivers have been divided into two groups for a 25 minute practice session before making a qualifying run.
Austin Cindric brings out the red flag with a flat tire.
NASCAR has extended group one practice five minutes after the Austin Cindric tire issue.
Chris Buescher topped the leaderboard in single lap practice with a time of 37.624 seconds with William Byron topping the leaderboard in multiple lap times.
NASCAR brings out the red flag for Denny Hamlin with a flat tire.
NASCAR has added two minutes to group two practice.
Christopher Bell is slowed on the track with a flat tire.
Erik Jones is having tire issues.
Michael McDowell is slow moving down pit road.
Tyler Reddick quickly topped the leaderboard in single and multiple lap times in group two practice.
The first car on the track to make a qualifying run is JJ Yeley who posted a time of 38.570 seconds.
Josh Berry got loose and spins out during his qualifying run. He keeps the car off the wall. Berry backs the car down pit road.
Kyle Larson is the first driver to break the 37 second mark with a time of 36.967 seconds.
With a time of 36.901 seconds Denny Hamlin put his number eleven car on the pole with Carson Hocevar starting alongside on the front row.
The starting lineup for the FireKeepers Casino 400:
Denny Hamlin
Carson Hocevar
Tyler Reddick
Ty Gibbs
Chase Briscoe
Chase Elliott
Kyle Larson
Christopher Bell
William Byron
Erik Jones
Daniel Suarez
Riley Herbst
Bubba Wallace
Chris Buescher
Cole Custer
Zane Smith
John Hunter Nemechek
Joey Logano
Ryan Blaney
Michael McDowell
Austin Dillon
Noah Gragson
Ricky Stenhouse Jr
Ty Dillon
AJ Allmendinger
Brad Keselowski
Ryan Preece
Austin Hill
Alex Bowman
Shane van Gisbergen
Austin Cindric
Ross Chastain
Cody Ware
Connor Zilisch
Todd Gilliland
JJ Yeley
Josh Berry
After earning his 50th career pole, Denny Hamlin will be starting the race from the back of the field after the crew made repairs to the under carriage of Hamlin’s number eleven car after a flat tire during practice.
William Byron’s number 24 car had a charging system issue and will have to start the race at the back of the field after the crew made unapproved adjustments to the car.
Christopher Bell, Erik Jones, Austin Cindric, and Josh Berry will also have to move to the back of the field after crews made unapproved adjustments to the cars.
Stage one is 45 laps, stage two is 75 laps, and stage three is 80 laps for a total of 200 laps around the two mile track. The drivers can run 45 to 50 laps on a single load of fuel.
With Denny Hamlin starting from the back of the field, the front row is Tyler Reddick and Carson Hocevar.
It’s a hot day at MIS with air temperatures in the mid 80’s with track temps around 120.
Carson Hocevar brings the field down for the green flag start of the race with Tyler Reddick alongside before a sold out crowd. Michigan native Carson Hocevar edges out front for the lead.
There are three drivers who call Michigan home in the race; but there has never been a Michigan native win the race at MIS.
Lap two, Carson Hocevar leads the race with Tyler Reddick in second; Ty Gibbs, Kyle Larson, and Chase Elliott round out the top five.
Connor Zilisch brings out the first caution flag on lap three when he gets loose and spins out.
Lap three, Denny Hamlin has moved up to 27th place.
Carson Hocevar brings the field down for the green flag restart with Tyler Reddick alongside on lap seven. Hocevar edges out for the lead as drivers get three and four wide across the track.
Ty Gibbs, Carson Hocevar, and Tyler Reddick go three wide in a battle for the lead with Hocevar taking the lead.
Lap eight, the top five are Carson Hocevar, Tyler Reddick, Ty Gibbs, Chase Elliott, and Kyle Larson.
Connor Zilisch brings out the second caution flag on lap nine when he spins out and this time gets into the wall hard.
In 26th place, Denny Hamlin reports a loose condition.
Carson Hocevar brings the field down for the green flag restart on lap 15 with Tyler Reddick alongside. Kyle Larson give Tyler Reddick a push to put the 45 car in the lead with Carson Hocevar in second.
Kyle Larson and Ty Gibbs battle for third.
Lap 16, the top five are Tyler Reddick, Carson Hocevar, Ty Gibbs, Chase Elliott, and Kyle Larson.
Saying that he was really loose, Connor Zilisch is out of the race.
Lap 19, Tyler Reddick has a near half second lead on Carson Hocevar; Ty Gibbs, Chase Elliott, and Kyle Larson round out the top five. Denny Hamlin has fallen to 30th place.
Lap 22, Tyler Reddick has increased his lead to a second on Carson Hocevar; Ty Gibbs, Chase Elliott, and Kyle Larson round out the top five.
Lap 26, Ty Gibbs passes Carson Hocevar for second.
Lap 28, Tyler Reddick has a near second and a half lead on Ty Gibbs; Carson Hocevar, Chase Elliott, and Kyle Larson round ut the top five.
Bubba Wallace has passed Kyle Larson for fifth.
Lap 32, Tyler Reddick’s lead on Ty Gibbs is less than one second; Carson Hocevar, Chase Elliott, and Bubba Wallace round out the top five.
Denny Hamlin has made it up to 28th place.
With six laps remaining in stage one, Tyler Reddick has a near half second lead on Ty Gibbs; Carson Hocevar, Chase Elliott, and Bubba Wallace round out the top five.
Ty Dillon had a flat time and lost the carcass and had to make an unscheduled trip down pit road.
Zane Smith passes Kyle Larson for sixth.
Tyler Reddick wins stage one. This is Reddick’s first stage win of the season.
The top 10 at the end of stage one:
Tyler Reddick
Ty Gibbs
Carson Hocevar
Chase Elliott
Bubba Wallace
Zane Smith
Kyle Larson
Chris Buescher
Riley Herbst
Daniel Suarez
Drivers come down pit road for service with Ty Gibbs winning the race off of pit road with Bubba Wallace in second.
Chris Buescher had to make a second trip down pit road for a loose hood pin.
Ty Gibbs brings the field down for the green flag start of stage two with Bubba Wallace alongside on lap 52. Getting a push from Carson Hocevar, Ty Gibbs gets out in front but bubba Wallace comes up on the inside to take the lead.
Carson Hocevar passes Ty Gibbs for second.
The top five are Bubba Wallace, Carson Hocevar, Ty Gibbs, Zane Smith, and Chase Elliott.
Drivers are getting three wide in a battle for position.
Lap 55, after starting in the back of the field, Christopher Bell is in the top 20, but Denny Hamlin has been unable to work his way through the field and is mired back in 29th.
Lap 58, Carson Hocevar passes Bubba Wallace for the lead and begins to pull away.
Lap 62, Ty Gibbs battles with Bubba Wallace for second.
The top five are Carson Hocevar, Ty Gibbs, Bubba Wallace, Chase Elliott, and Zane Smith.
Ty Gibbs passes Carson Hocevar for the lead.
The caution flag comes out on lap 65 when Brad Keselowski is slowed on the track with a flat tire.
Drivers come down pit road for service with Chase Elliott winning the race off of pit road after taking just two tires.
Ty Gibbs and Ryan Preece make contact on pit road as Gibbs was coming out of his pit stall; and nearly hit Bubba Wallace.
Chase Elliott brings the field down for the green flag restart with Kyle Larson alongside on lap 71. Larson gets out in front for the lead as drivers get three wide.
The top five are Kyle Larson, Chase Elliott, Bubba Wallace, Tyler Reddick, and Riley Herbst.
Lap 72, Chase Elliott passes Kyle Larson for the lead.
Christopher Bell is in the top 10.
Carson Hocevar took four tires on the pit stop and is back in ninth place.
John Hunter Nemechek and AJ Allmendinger battle for twelfth. Denny Hamlin is just outside the top 10 in eleventh.
Lap 76, Chase Elliott leads the race with Kyle Larson in second; Bubba Wallace, Tyler Reddick, and Ty Gibbs round out the top five.
Lap 77, Connor Zilisch is the only driver out of the race with Brad Keselowski the only car not on the lead lap.
Lap 78, Tyler Reddick passes teammate Bubba Wallace forthird.
AJ Allmendinger brings out the caution flag when he gets loose and spins out spewing smoke.
Brad Keselowski is the “lucky dog”. All drivers on the track are now on the lead lap.
Some of the drivers back in the field come down pit road for service.
Chase Elliott brings the field down for the green flag restart with Kyle Larson alongside on lap 83. There are 38 laps remaining in stage two.
Big crash on the restart involving some top runners including Tyler Reddick, Denny Hamlin, Ty Gibbs, Austin Dillon, John Hunter Nemechek, Kyle Larson, Joey Logano, Bubba Wallace, and Carson Hocevar. Hocevar bumped Nemechek and a change reaction incurred.
Tyler Reddick takes his car to the garage. This is the first time this season he has not run every lap.
Chase Elliott brings the field down for the green flag restart with Kyle Larson alongside on lap 90. Elliott noses out for the lead but Kyle Larson takes the lead with Bubba Wallace taking second.
The seventh caution flag of the race comes out for Brad Keselowskiwhen he gets loose and into the wall with a flat tire.
Kyle Larson brings the field down for the green flag restart with Chase Elliott alongside on lap 94Drivers spread out three and four wide. Elliott takes the lead with Bubba Wallace in second.
The top five are Chase Elliott, Bubba Wallace, Kyle Larson, Carson Hocevar, and Daniel Suarez.
Austin Dillon, Brad Keselowski, and Tyler Reddick are out of the race.
Lap 96, Bubba Wallace passes Chase Elliott for the lead.
The top five are Bubba Wallace, Chase Elliott, Kyle Larson, Carson Hocevar, and Daniel Suarez.
Lap 98, Chase Elliott and Bubba Wallace battle for the lead with Elliott getting back out in front.
Lap 100, Chase Elliott has a half second lead on Bubba Wallace; Kyle Larson, Carson Hocevar, and Daniel Suarez round out the top five.
Kyle Larson passes Bubba Wallace for second; Carson Hocevar comes up to follow Larson but gets loose and saves the car! He drops to ninth place.
Daniel Suarez moves up to third with Bubba Wallace in fourth and Riley Herbst in fifth.
Lap 104, Chase Elliott has a near two second lead on teammate Kyle Larson; Daniel Suarez, Erik Jones, and Bubba Wallace round out the top five.
Lap 108, Chase Elliott has a near two second lead on Kyle Larson; Daniel Suarez, Erik Jones, and Christopher Bell round out the top five.
Daniel Suarez passes Kyle Larson for second.
With 10 laps remaining in stage two, Daniel Suarez is slowly closing the gap on leader Chase Elliott.
Of the cars on the track, Ty Gibbs is the only driver not on the lead lap.
Six laps remain in stage two, Daniel Suarez’ lead is now under a second and a half on Chase Elliott.
Denny Hamlin has entered the top 10.
Dealing with a loose car, Bubba Wallace has fallen out of the top 10.
Erik Jones passes Daniel Suarez for second; just over a second behind leader Chase Elliott.
Chase Elliott wins stage two.
The top 10 at the end of stage two:
Chase Elliott
Erik Jones
Daniel Suarez
Kyle Larson
William Byron
Christopher Bell
Carson Hocevar
Denny Hamlin
Joey Logano
Zane Smith
Drivers come down pit road for service with Chase Elliott winning the race off of pit road.
Daniel Suarez has been dealing with radio issues most of the race and his crew cannot hear him.
Shane van Gisbergen was charged with speeding on pit road and will restart the race from the back of the longest line. John Hunter Nemechek was charged with pitting before pit road was open.
Chase Elliott brings the field down for the green flag start of stage three with William Byron alongside on lap 127. Elliott edges out for the lead with Christopher Bell in second.
The top five are Chase Elliott, Christopher Bell, William Byron, Kyle Larson, Daniel Suarez.
Denny Hamlin passes Kyle Larson for fourth.
Bubba Wallace makes it a three wide battle but lost it. Carson Hocevar takes eighth place.
William Byron and Christopher Bell battle for second.
The drivers cannot finish the race without making a pit stop.
Lap 132, Chase Elliott has a half second lead on Chrisotpher Bell; William Byron, Denny Hamlin, and Kyle Larson round out the top five.
Lap 135, Christopher Bell has closed the gap on leader Chase Elliott to a quarter of a second.
Just 60 laps remain in the race; Chase Elliott has a third of a second on Christopher Bell; William Byron, Denny Hamlin, and Kyle Larson round out the top five.
Erik Jones passes Kyle Larson for fifth.
Zane Smith brings out caution flag number nine on lap 143 who gets loose with a flat tire.
The fuel cans hold 14 gallons of fuel and weight around 110 pounds each.
Zane Smith’s car is being towed to the garage.
Taking only two tires, William Byron wins the race off of pit road. Christopher Bell and Ross Chastain also took only two tires.
Josh Berry was caught speeding on pit road.
William Byron brings the field down for the green flag restart with Christopher Bell alongside on lap 148. Chase Elliott pushes William Byron for the lead with Chase Elliott in a battle for second.
Chase Elliott gets into Christopher Bell to bring out the tenth caution flag of the day to tie the previous record. Both drivers got hard into the wall. Bell’s car was on fire. Christopher Bell and Chase Elliott were in a battle for second at the time of the crash.
The race has been red flagged in order for crews to repair the wall and the safer barrier.
Dale Earnhardt Jr spoke on the upgrades in safety over the years; adding that they would take the wreck into the wall to learn how to make things safer. He added that he is so thankful for all the efforts.
Chase Elliott is out of the care center; saying that he is fine and took blame for the crash.
After getting out of their cars, Chase apologized to Christopher.
The side window from Christopher Bell’s car flew out and hit Kyle Larson’s car and bent the antennae.
After a 20 minute red flag, the yellow flag is displayed and the cars are moving again.
Several of the drivers may have fuel issues and are not sure if they can make it to the end of the race.
Pit road is open but the leaders are staying out with a few drivers from the rear coming down to top off the fuel. Byron and Suarez go side by side; Denny Hamlin moves up on the outside to take third. Daniel Suarez takes the lead.
William Byron brings the field down for the green flag restart with Daniel Suarez alongside with 47 laps remaining in the race.
The caution flag comes out for a crash in turn four with a a few cars in the grass. Ricky Stenhouse Jr, Michael McDowell, Ryan Preece, Noah Gragson, Austin Hill, and Josh Berry were all involved in the crash.
Daniel Suarez bring the field down for the green flag restart with Denny Hamlin behind him and William Byron alongside. There are 39 laps remaining in the race. Suarez edges out for the lead; Carson Hocevar, William Byron, and Denny Hamlin are three wide. Carson Hocevar comes up on the inside to battle for the lead. Denny Hamlin comes down on the inside to pass for the lead. Teammates Daniel Suarez and Carson Hocevar battle for second.
The top five are Denny Hamlin, Daniel Suarez, Carson Hocevar, Bubba Wallace, and William Byron..
With 37 laps to go, Denny Hamlin has pulled out to a lead of over half a second.
Bubba Wallace battles with Carson Hoevar for third.
Carson Hocevar bounces off the wall but the track stays green.
With 34 laps to go, Denny Hamlin has pulled out to a one second lead on Daniel Suarez; Bubba Wallace, William Byron, and Carson Hocevar round out the top five.
Thirty to go, Denny Hamlin has a half second lead on Daniel Suarez; Bubba Wallace, William Byron, and Carson Hocevar round out the top five.
With 27 laps to go, Denny Hamlin has a one second lead on Daniel Suarez; Bubba Wallace, Carson Hocevar, and Joey Logano round out the top five.
With 24 laps to go, Denny Hamlin has increased his lead to over a second and a half on Daniel Suarez; bubba Wallace, Carson Hocevar, and Erik Jones round out the top five.
Twenty to go! Denny Hamlin continues to increase his lead and is now two and a half seconds out in front of Daniel Suarez; Bubba Wallace, Carson Hocevar, and Erik Jones round out the top five.
Nineteen laps to go and Denny Hamlin now has a four second lead on Daniel Suarez.
With 17 laps to go, Bubba Wallace passes Daniel Suarez for second.
Teammates Daniel Suarez and Carson Hocevar battle for third.
Entering “driving it like he stole it” territory, Denny Hamlin has a seven and a half second lead on Bubba Wallace.
Fifteen to go, Denny Hamlin continues to increase his lead and is six seconds in front of Bubba Wallace.
Bubba Wallace and Carson Hocevar battle for second. Daniel Suarez and Erik Jones battle for fourth.
Eight to go, Denny Hamlin is dominating the race; Carson Hocevar, Bubba Wallace, Erik Jones, and Daniel Suarez round out the top five.
Kyle Larson passes Daniel Suarez for fifth.
Erik Jones passes Bubba Wallace for third.
Five to go, Erik Jones passes Carson Hocevar for second.
Bubba Wallace passes Carson Hocevar for third.
Denny Hamlin takes the white flag.
Denny Hamlin wins for the second week in a row after starting the race from the back of the field.
He ties Kyle Busch for ninth in the career wins list.
Hamlin makes a victory lap holding a Kyle Busch flag.
The unofficial results of the FireKeepers Casino 400:
Denny Hamlin
Erik Jones
Bubba Wallace
Kyle Larson
Carson Hocevar
Daniel Suarez
Joey Logano
Ryan Blaney
Chris Bueschedr
Chase Briscoe
Austin Cindric
Cole Custer
Riley Herbst
John Hunter Nemechek
Josh Berry
Ross Chastain
AJ Allmendinger
William Byron
Alex Bowman
Austin Hill
JJ Yeley
Todd Gilliland
Cody Ware
Ty Dillon
Ty Gibbs
Michael McDowell
Noah Gragson
Ryan Preece
Ricky Stenhouse Jr
Shane van Gisbergen
Christopher Bell
Chase Elliott
Zane Smith
Brad Keselowski
Tyler Reddick
Austin Dillon
Connor Zilisch