THE RACE: FireKeepers Casino 400
TRACK: Michigan International Speedway
Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Race #15 of 36
Date: Sunday, June 10, 2018 in Brooklyn, MI
Scheduled Green Flag (approx): 2:16 pm/et
Sections on this page:
Television | Radio/Streaming | Schedule | Track/Race Info | Race Rundown
Qualifying / Practice / Entry Info | Weather Links | Tire Notes | Odds
NASCAR Sunday Pre-Race Show: 1:30pm/et on FOX
Television Race Coverage: FOX, 2:00pm/et
Practices:
Friday, June 8, 11:30am-12:20pm/et, TV-FS2;
Saturday, June 9, 9:05-9:55am/et, TV-FS1;
Saturday, June 9, 12:00-12:50pm/et, TV-FS1
Qualifying for positions 1-40, Friday, June 8 at 4:10 pm/et, TV-FS1;
re-air scheduled: Saturday, June 9, 8:00am/et.
In the Booth: Mike Joy, Darrell Waltrip, Jeff Gordon
Pit Reporters: Jamie Little, Regan Smith, Vince Welch, Matt Yocum
In-Race Analyst: Larry McReynolds
Race / Hollywood Hotel Host: Chris Myers
Analysts / Hollywood Hotel: Jeff Gordon, Darrell and Michael Waltrip
Scheduled Race Re-Air Dates/Times:
Monday, June 11 at 12:00 am/et on FS1
TV Listings, Links and Info:
see the TV Listings and Links page
Motor Racing Network (MRN)
SiriusXM Satellite NASCAR Channel 90
ONLINE STREAMING
FOX Sports GO (available with participating TV provider login)
Radio: MRN Live Streaming
SiriusXM Internet Radio (available via internet connected device, with subscription)
EVENT SCHEDULE
Event Schedule times are local to the track
Thursday, June 7
6:00 PM-8:00 PM MENCS HAULERS ENTER (EQUIPMENT UNLOAD)
Friday, June 8
8:30 AM-6:00 PM MENCS GARAGE OPEN
10:30 AM MENCS ROOKIE MEETING, SPOTTER MEETING, & RANDOM DRAWING
11:30 AM-12:20 PM MENCS 1ST PRACTICE
4:10 PM MENCS QUALIFYING (MULTI-VEHICLE / THREE ROUNDS)
Saturday, June 9
7:30 AM-3:30 PM MENCS GARAGE OPEN
9:05 AM-9:55 AM MENCS 2ND PRACTICE
12:00 PM-12:50 PM MENCS FINAL PRACTICE
Sunday, June 10
8:30 AM MENCS GARAGE OPENS
12:00 PM MENCS DRIVER / CREW CHIEF MEETING
1:20 PM MENCS DRIVER INTRODUCTIONS
2:00 PM MENCS RACE (200 LAPS, 400 MILES)
MENCS = Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series
SCHEDULE SUBJECT TO CHANGE
Michigan International Speedway Track News, Stats & Links page
June 2017: see the Michigan Race Info page
August 2017: see the Michigan Race Info page
Race Festivities/Officials:
Grand Marshal: Trace Adkins
Command to start engines: Trace Adkins
Honorary Starter/Wave Green Flag: Alan Mackety, NHBP Tribal Member
Honorary Pace Car Driver: U.S. Olympian Megan Keller
Color Guard: Michigan State Police
Invocation: St. Francis de Sales High Schook, Father Geoff Rose
National Anthem: Lisa Bascom
Flyover: C-130H Hercules, 910th Airlift Wing, Youngstown, Ohio Air Reserve Station
Sunday Michigan Notebook: Ford horsepower is the dominant force at Michigan; Kyle Larson's bid for four straight Michigan wins comes undone in Turn 4; Kurt Busch still waiting for his turn in Victory Lane.[More](6-10-2018)
Saturday Michigan Notebook: Erik Jones thinks victory is a distinct possibility this season; Kyle Busch still looking for speed at Michigan; Short strokes.[More](6-9-2018)
Friday Michigan Notebook: Kyle Larson reveals one of the secrets to his consistent speed; Martin Truex Jr. hopes Michigan track will widen out by Sunday; For second straight week, NASCAR Xfinity Series will run restrictor-plate package.[More](6-8-2018)
What to Watch for: Michigan International Speedway Larson Goes for a Michigan 4-Peat; Time for Elliott to Get #1; Truex Jr. Making it a 3-Man Race?; Who's Hot and Who's Not.[More](6-8-2018)
NASCAR Weekend Preview: The Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series and XFINITY Series are in Michigan while the Camping World Truck Series competes at Texas.[More](6-7-2018)
A look at many news, notes and story lines for the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series race at Michigan International Speedway, see the stats on the NASCAR National Series News & Notes -- Michigan International Speedway
A look at some of the top statistical performers and top-10 driver ratings at Michigan International Speedway, see the stats on the Statistical Advance - Analyzing Michigan International Speedway page
Gamble pays off in Clint Bowyer's victory at Michigan: Bowyer got the lead under caution at the end of Stage 2 of Sunday's Firekeepers Casino 400 when crew chief Mike Bugarewicz opted for two tires on the No. 14 Stewart-Haas Racing Ford. [More](6-10-2018)
Clint Bowyer won the rain-shortened FireKeepers Casino 400 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series race at Michigan International Speedway. The win is his 2nd win of 2018, 1st win at Michigan and 10th career win.
After starting nearly two and a half hours late because of rain, the race was called with 133 laps complete when more rain moved in.
#4-Havick finished 2nd followed by pole sitter #41-Busch, #18-Busch, #21-Menard, #2-Keselowski, #22-Logano, #12-Blaney, #9-Elliott, #1-McMurray.
Stage 1 was won by #12-Blaney, finished 8th.
Stage 2 was won by #4-Harvick, finished 2nd.
There were 9 lead changes among 7 drivers and 8 cautions for 30 yellow flag laps.
The average speed of the race was: 132.723mph.
See unofficial race results, awards, laps led, cautions and more at:
Unofficial Race Results (pdf)
Cumulative Report (pdf)
Penalty Report (pdf)
See OFFICIAL race results & points standings on the Official Race & Points Report (pdf).
MENCS at Michigan
- Clint Bowyer: 10th career MENCS win (2nd this season); 61st driver to reach at least 10 Cup Series wins (tied with Sterling Marlin and Donnie Allison for 59th all-time)
- Bowyer: went 8 races between last 2 wins after going 190 starts between previous 2 wins
- Stewart-Haas Racing: also finished 2nd (Kevin Harvick) and 3rd (Kurt Busch); 18th 1-2-3 finish by a team in Cup Series history and first since Roush Fenway Racing in Sept. 2008 at Dover
- Bowyer and Harvick were both part of a 1-2-3 finish for Richard Childress Racing in March 2008 at Bristol (Jeff Burton won race)
- Harvick: 11th top-5 finish this season (had 14 in 36 races last season); 6th runner-up finish at Michigan since only win at track in August 2010
- Kurt Busch: finished 3rd; winless in last 22 races when winning pole (only win from pole was in 2002 season finale at Homestead)
- Paul Menard: finished 5th; 1st top-5 finish with Wood Brothers and 1st since Daytona last July (1st top 5 in a non-restrictor plate track since March 2015 at California); went from 30 points back to 4 points back of a playoff spot
(ESPN Stats & Info)(6-10-2018)
Race Fast Facts - Michigan
Clint Bowyer won the 50th Annual FireKeepers Casino 400, his 10th victory in 448 NASCAR Monster Energy Cup Series races.
This is his second victory and eighth top-10 finish in 2018.
This is his first victory and 12th top-10 finish in 25 races at Michigan International Speedway.
Kevin Harvick (second) posted his 16th top-10 finish in 35 races at Michigan International Speedway. It is his 12th top-10 finish in 2018.
Kurt Busch (third) posted his 12th top-10 finish in 35 races at Michigan International Speedway.
William Byron (13th) was the highest finishing rookie.
Kyle Busch leads the point standings by 75 points over Kevin Harvick.
Stewart-Haas Racing has won seven of the first 15 races of the season - Kevin Harvick (five) and Clint Bowyer (two).
(NASCAR Integrated Sports Marketing)(6-10-2018)
2018 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Driver Chase Standings:
[after Michigan, race 15 of 36]
#18-Kyle Busch [4 wins], 664
#4-Kevin Harvick [5 wins - 4 can be used for playoffs], 589
#22-Joey Logano [1 win], 566
#14-Clint Bowyer [2 wins], 510
#78-Martin Truex Jr. [2 wins], 506
#3-Austin Dillon [1 win], 292
#2-Brad Keselowski, 514, -150
#41-Kurt Busch, 493, -171
#11-Denny Hamlin, 468, -196
#12-Ryan Blaney, 457, -207
#42-Kyle Larson, 443, -221
#10-Aric Almirola, 433, -231
#48-Jimmie Johnson, 377, -287
#9-Chase Elliott, 362, -302
#20-Erik Jones, 346, -318
#88-Alex Bowman, 331, -333
See the Unofficial Drivers Points Standings page (pdf) and Unofficial Owners Points Standings page (pdf)
See OFFICIAL race results & points standings on the Official Race & Points Report (pdf).
Top-Ten Stage 2 Results (lap 120) of the FireKeepers Casino 400 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series race at Michigan International Speedway (lap 120/200):
#4-Harvick, 10pts, 1 playoff point
#14-Bowyer, 9pts
#41-Busch, 8pts
#18-Busch, 7pts
#21-Menard, 6pts
#12-Blaney, 5pts
#2-Keselowski, 4pts
#1-McMurray, 3pts
#20-Jones, 2pts
#24-Byron, 1pt
Top-Ten Stage 1 Results (lap 60) of the FireKeepers Casino 400 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series race at Michigan International Speedway (lap 60/200):
#12-Blaney, 10pts, 1 playoff point
#42-Larson, 9pts
#14-Bowyer, 8pts
#4-Harvick, 6pts
#11-Hamlin, 7pts
#2-Keselowski, 5pts
#41-Busch, 4pts
#24-Byron, 3pts
#22-Logano, 2pts
#10-Almirola, 1pt
Lucky Dogs, drivers that got a lap back during the cautions (and their finish):
Caution 1: #72-LaJoie, 27th
Caution 2: #00-Cassill, 32nd
Caution 3: #66-Hill, 35th
Caution 4: #23-Gaulding, 31st
Caution 5: #7-Kennington, 34th
Caution 6: #66-Hill (2), 35th
Caution 7: #15-Chastain, 26th
Caution 8: #42-Larson, 28th
Sunday pre-race schedule at Michigan (ET):
1:20pm: Driver introductions
1:58pm: Canadian National Anthem, MIS's Lisa Bascom
2:00pm: Presentation of the Colors: Michigan State Police
2:00pm: Invocation, St. Francis de Sales High Schook, Father Geoff Rose
2:01pm: National anthem, Lisa Bascom
2:02pm: Fly-by: C-130H Hercules, 910th Airlift Wing, Youngstown, Ohio Air Reserve Station
2:07pm: "Drivers, start your engines" command by Trace Adkins, country music star
2:26pm: Green flag, FireKeepers Casino 400 (200 laps, 400 miles)
See the starting lineup for the FireKeepers Casino 400 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series race at Michigan International Speedway on the Starting Lineup Page (pdf).
To the rear: #11-Hamlin (inspection failure), #18-Busch (inspection failure), #20-Jones (inspection failure)
NASCAR Overtime Race Procedure: Rule and notes on the NASCAR Overtime rules/news/stats page.
Wave Around: how the wave around rule works: All vehicles between the leader and the caution vehicle at the start/finish line when the "one to go" signal is given by the starter are considered "Wave Around" eligible. "Wave Around" vehicles will not be permitted to enter pit road at any time during this yellow flag/caution period. "Wave Around" vehicles must receive the green flag on the race track before being permitted to enter pit road without a penalty. Vehicles under a penalty and the "Free Pass" vehicle will not be eligible to receive a "Wave Around".
Pit Stall Selections: The selections of pit stalls for the FireKeepers Casino 400 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series race at Michigan International Speedway have been made.
With 39 teams entered, pit stalls 13, 41, 42, 43 are not in use.
Pole winner #41-Busch chose pit stall 1, the first stall available [as do most pole sitters].
Outside pole winner #2-Keselowski. took pit stall 38, with an opening in front of it.
#18-Busch, who starts 3rd, took the 2nd stall.
The final pit stall was taken by #10-Almirola, who starts 6th.
To see where the drivers/teams pit stall is, see the pit selection chart on Jayski.com's Pit Stall Selection chart.(6-9-2018)
Links to results, practices, qualifying PDF's: (will be added as available)
Official Race & Points Report
Race Results
Drivers Points
Owners Points
Cumlative Race Report
Penalty Report
Practice 2 Speeds
Pitstalls
Starting Lineup
Qualifying Results
Qualifying Order
Practice 1 Speeds
Crew Rosters
Latest / Final Entry List
Preliminary Entry List
See the 2018 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series race results page
QUALIFYING INFO, PRACTICE SPEED and ENTRIES
Happy Hour (final) practice for the FireKeepers Casino 400 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series race at Michigan International Speedway was canceled due to rain at the track. (6-9-2018)
First Saturday practice for the FireKeepers Casino 400 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series race at Michigan International Speedway is over, after 44 minutes, the top five, slowest and notes:
#4-Harvick 200.719
#42-Larson 200.083
#22-Logano 199.800
#14-Bowyer 199.723
#2-Keselowski 199.529
best 10 consecutive lap avg (of 14 drivers): #4-Harvick 199.345
slowest: #39-Hill 185.672
notes: Rain cut practice short a few minutes from the finish.
See the fastest speeds, best 10 consecutive lap average, laps run on the Second Practice speeds page (pdf) (6-9-2018)
Kurt Busch gets exhilarating pole win at Michigan: The Busch Pole Award was Busch's second of the season, this third at Michigan and the 24th of his career.[More](6-8-2018)
Kurt Busch won the Busch pole for the FireKeepers Casino 400 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series race at Michigan International Speedway with speed of 203.361mph for his 2nd pole of 2018, 3rd at Michigan and 24th of his career. Busch has won once from the 23 previous poles.
#2-Keselowski will start 2nd followed by #18-Busch, #4-Harvick, #22-Logano, #18-Almirola, #17-Stenhouse, jr., #20-Jones, #12-Blaney, #11-Hamlin, #31-Newman, and #14-Bowyer.
#4-Harvick was quickest in the first round with a speed of 202.800mph and the second round at 203.092mph.
Driver(s) who will miss the race: none as 39 were entered for 40 spots
See round-by-round qualifying results on the Qualifying results page (pdf) and the complete starting lineup on the Starting Lineup page (pdf).(6-8-2018)
Michigan International Speedway - Qualifying Fast Facts:
Kurt Busch won the Busch Pole Award for the 50th Annual FireKeepers Casino 400 with a lap of 35.405 seconds, 203.361 mph.
This is his 24th pole in 627 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series races.
This is his second pole and 11th top-10 start in 2018.
This is his third pole in 35 races at Michigan International Speedway.
Brad Keselowski (second) posted his ninth top-10 start of 2018 and his seventh in 18 races at Michigan International Speedway.
Kyle Busch (third) posted his 13th top-10 start at Michigan International Speedway. It is his 11th in 15 races this season.
William Byron (14th) was the fastest qualifying rookie.
(NASCAR Statistics)(6-8-2018)
Second Round of Qualifying for the FireKeepers Casino 400 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series race at Michigan International Speedway is over, after 10 scheduled minutes.
#4-Harvick 203.092
#18-Busch 202.049
#12-Blaney 201.981
#41-Busch 201.726
#2-Keselowski 201.726
the rest of the top 12: 22 11 14 31 20 17 10
out of the top 12 and not advancing to round 3: 9 24 21 3 78 37 6 48 88 19 34 1
(6-8-2018)
First Round of Qualifying for the FireKeepers Casino 400 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series race at Michigan International Speedway is over, after 15 scheduled minutes.
#4-Harvick 202.800
#12-Blaney 201.896
#2-Keselowski 201.461
#22-Logano 201.196
#21-Menard 201.106
the rest of the top 24: 88 10 31 41 17 9 3 11 14 48 6 20 37 78 24 1 34 18 19
out of the top 24 and not advancing to round 2: 47 42 38 43 95 32 13 72 15 23 51 00 7 66 99
Drivers who will miss the race: none, 39 entered
(6-8-2018)
Coverage of Qualifying for the FireKeepers Casino 400 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series race at Michigan International Speedway is scheduled for Friday, June 8, 2018 at 4:10pm/et.
Television (TV): FS1, 4:00pm/et
Radio: Live online at Motor Racing Network (MRN)
Group qualifying under the three-round qualifying format:
• Round 1 -- All entries will have 15 minutes to post a qualifying time, after which the 24 registering the fastest laps will advance to the second round. Those failing to advance will be sorted based on first-round times in descending order (from fastest to slowest).
• Round 2 -- The 24 fastest from the first round will have 10 minutes to post a second-round qualifying time, with the 12 fastest advancing to a third round. Those not advancing will earn starting positions 13 through 24 based on time, again in descending order.
• Round 3 -- The final round will be five minutes in length. The fastest times from this session will determine the first (Coors Light Pole Award) through 12th starting positions.
There will be a seven-minute break between each round; teams may make adjustments to their entries only during the individual breaks. They will not be allowed to jack the vehicle or raise the hood, and once the car or truck enters the garage, it will no longer be permitted to return to the track for additional qualifying attempts.
Qualifying Order for the FireKeepers Casino 400 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series race at Michigan International Speedway is posted.
The first driver to be lined up on pit road will be #14-Bowyer.
The final driver lined up on pit road will be #17-Stenhouse, Jr.
The order is set by a random draw, how cars park on pit road before they qualify, held about an hour before the first practice.
After the first round, the cars lined up by speed.
For the qualifying order, see the Qualifying Order page (pdf).(6-8-2018)
First practice for the FireKeepers Casino 400 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series race at Michigan International Speedway is over. The top-five, slowest and notes:
#12-Blaney 202.617
#18-Busch 201.935
#2-Keselowski 201.867
#4-Harvick 201.478
#9-Elliott 201.134
most laps run: #14-Boywer, #24-Byron, #6-Kenseth, #00-Cassill, #15-Chastain. 14 laps.
slowest: #99-Smithley 183.786 & #66-Hill 183.767.
#14-Bowyer was the only driver to run 10 consecutive laps. His average speed was 195.986.
notes: Practice was extended by 10 minutes after an early caution for track cleanup.
See the fastest speeds, best 10 consecutive lap average, laps run on the Friday Practice speeds (pdf) (6-6-2018)
Entry List for the FireKeepers Casino 400 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series race at Michigan International Speedway is posted, 39 teams/drivers [for 40 spots] are listed.
36 teams with Charters are guaranteed to make the field. The rest need to make the field via qualifying / qualifying races / rules book (owners attempts/points).
Some of the drivers entered include: #07-Reed Sorenson, #15-Ross Chastain, #51-TBA, #99-Smithley.
Since only 39 cars are entered, all drivers will make the race.
See the full entry list on the Entry List (pdf)
For qualifying rules and formats, see the Qualifying Rules page
How to Calculate Track Speeds: use the formula Speed = Distance divided by Time. Distance is Track Length, and Lap Time into Hours. Once hour is 3600 seconds, so the calculation for a 48 second lap at Daytona(2.5 miles) would be: Speed = 2.5 x (3600/48), = 2.5 x 75 = 187.500mph. For a 19 second lap at Michigan(.533 miles): Speed = .533 x (3600/19), = .533 x 189.474 = a speed of 100.990mph
Weather Channel
Accuweather
National Weather Service
Race Weather
Race Day Forecast
WeatherBug
Weather Underground
Brian Neudorff @NASCAR_WXMAN
Aaron Studwell @RaceWeather
Michigan Goodyear Tire Notes See complete tire information for the race weekend across all series on the [Goodyear Tire Notes - Michigan International Speedway page.(6-5-2018)
RACE & CHAMPIONSHIP ODDS
Vegas Insider
Race and Championship odds
NASCAR Top-Five Finish Prediction
Bovada Sportsbook:
Race and the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Championship
Don Best:
Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Championship / Race
How to Calculate Track Speeds: use the formula Speed = Distance divided by Time. Distance is Track Length, and Lap Time into Hours. Once hour is 3600 seconds, so the calculation for a 48 second lap at Daytona(2.5 miles) would be: Speed = 2.5 x (3600/48), = 2.5 x 75 = 187.500mph. For a 19 second lap at Michigan(.533 miles): Speed = .533 x (3600/19), = .533 x 189.474 = a speed of 100.990mph
Weather Channel
Accuweather
National Weather Service
Race Weather
Race Day Forecast
WeatherBug
Weather Underground
Brian Neudorff @NASCAR_WXMAN
Aaron Studwell @RaceWeather
posted when available
RACE & CHAMPIONSHIP ODDS
Vegas Insider
Race and Championship odds
NASCAR Top-Five Finish Prediction
Michigan Race Preview by Micah Roberts
Bovada Sportsbook:
Race and the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Championship