Ryan Blaney puts Ford back in Victory Lane at Michigan: Ryan Blaney took the lead on a restart with eight laps remaining and skillfully held off a frantic field to earn the victory Sunday in the FireKeepers Casino 400 at Michigan International Speedway in the penultimate race of the NASCAR Cup Series regular season. Those eight laps out front were the only laps Blaney’s No. 12 Team Penske Ford led on the afternoon but it was good enough to give him his second victory of the season – by a modern-day track record margin of .077-second over Hendrick Motorsports teammates William Byron and Kyle Larson.[Read More](8-22-2021)
#12-Ryan Blaney won the FireKeepers Casino 400 NASCAR Cup Series race at Michigan International Speedway. The win is his 2nd win of the year, 1st at Michigan and 6th career win.
#24-Byron finished 2nd followed by #5-Larson, #1-Busch, #11-Hamlin, #21-DiBenedetto, #18-Busch, #9-Elliott, #2-Keselowski, and #19-Truex, Jr.
Blaney took the lead just after the final restart, with 7 laps remaining, and held over Byron and Larson through the final laps to win by .077 second.
Stage 1 was won by #9-Elliott. Stage 2 was won by #18-Busch.
There were 20 lead changes among 11 drivers and 6 cautions for 29 yellow flag laps.
The average speed of the race was: 142.476mph.
See race details at: Race Results, Driver Points Standings, Owner Points Standings, Cumulative Report, Penalty Report.
Race Fast Facts – Michigan:
Ryan Blaney won the 53rd Annual FireKeepers Casino 400, his sixth victory in 223 NASCAR Cup Series races.
This is his second victory and 13th top-10 finish in 2021.
This is his first victory and sixth top-10 finish in 13 races at Michigan International Speedway.
William Byron (second) posted his second top-10 finish in seven races at Michigan International Speedway. It is his 16th top-10 finish in 2021.
Kyle Larson (third) posted his seventh top-10 finish in 13 races at Michigan International Speedway.
Chase Briscoe (11th) was the highest finishing rookie.
This is the seventh consecutive and 42nd overall victory for Ford in the NASCAR Cup Series at Michigan International Speedway.
Today’s race was the closest margin of victory (0.077 second) in the NASCAR Cup Series at Michigan International Speedway since the inception of electronic scoring in 1993.
Stewart-Haas Racing driver Kevin Harvick has clinched a spot in the NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs on points.
(NASCAR)(8-22-2021)
Cup Series Playoff Standings after Michigan:
(race 25 of 26 in the regular season)
*Driver has clinched a Playoff spot
1) #5-Kyle Larson* [5 wins], 1004
2) #19-Martin Truex, Jr.* [3 wins], 789
3) #48-Alex Bowman* [3 wins], 674
4) #12-Ryan Blaney* [2 wins], 787
5) #18-Kyle Busch* [2 wins], 838
6) #9-Chase Elliott* [2 wins], 820
7) #24-William Byron* [1 win], 833
8) #22-Joey Logano* [1 win], 772
9) #2-Brad Keselowski* [1 win], 729
10) #1-Kurt Busch* [1 win], 643
11) #20-Christopher Bell* [1 win], 595
12) #34-Michael McDowell* [1 win], 497
13) #10-Aric Almirola* [1 win], 436
14) #11-Denny Hamlin* [in on points], 976
15) #4-Kevin Harvick* 756
16) #8-Tyler Reddick, 677, +25 ahead of 17th
Currently outside the playoffs:
17) #3-Austin Dillon, 652, -25 behind 16th
See the Driver Points Standings and Owner Points Standings.
Cars to the rear: #7-Berry (driver change), #15-Gase (driver change)
Pit Stall Selections: The selections of pit stalls for the FireKeepers Casino 400 NASCAR Cup Series race at Michigan International Speedway have been made.
Pole sitter #5-Larson chose pit stall 1.
Outside pole sitter #9-Elliott took the 6th stall, with an opening in front of it.
See all pit choices on Pit Stall chart.(8-18-2021)
#5-Kyle Larson will start from the pole for the FireKeepers Casino 400 NASCAR Cup Series race at Michigan International Speedway.
#9-Elliott will start the race in second, followed by #12-Blaney, #21-DiBenedetto, #19-Truex, Jr, #1-Busch, #18-Busch, #4-Harvick, #11-Hamlin, and #48-Bowman.
The lineup was set by the qualifying metric, based on race finish, points position, and fastest race lap.
See the complete FireKeepers Casino 400 Starting Lineup.(8-18-2021)
There will be no practice or qualifying for the Michigan race.
Crew Rosters
Goodyear Tires Notes
The Entry List for the FireKeepers Casino 400 NASCAR Cup Series race at Michigan International Speedway is posted, 37 teams/drivers [for 40 spots] are listed.
Some of the drivers entered include: #53-Smithley, #77-Haley, #78-McLeod.
UPDATES: Josh Berry will be in the #7, Joey Gase in the #15.
See the full entry list on the FireKeepers Casino 400 Entry List page.
2021 Cup Series: Firekeepers Casino 400 TandemDraft Stats
