Chris Buescher seizes nail-biting victory in FireKeepers Casino 400 at Michigan International Speedway: After the completion of the FireKeepers Casino 400 at Michigan International Speedway, we can hold the follow truths to be self-evident:

• Roush Fenway Keselowski Racing is officially “back.”
• Chris Buescher is rapidly gaining elite status as a driver.
• Ford maintained its dominance in the Irish Hills.
• Chase Elliott will have to win one of the next three races to make the NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs.
• The fastest car didn’t win Sunday’s race.

[Read More](8-7-2023)

#17-Chris Buescher won the FireKeepers Casino 400 NASCAR Cup Series race at Michigan International Speedway on Monday. The win is his 2nd win of the year, 1st at Michigan and 4th career win.
#19-Martin Truex, Jr. finished 2nd followed by #11-Denny Hamlin, #6-Brad Keselowski, #5-Kyle Larson, #99-Daniel Suarez, #1-Ross Chastain, #4-Kevin Harvick, #12-Ryan Blaney, and #43-Erik Jones.
Buescher  led 52 laps, the most of any driver.  He took the lead with 18 laps remaining, following green flag pit stops, and battled with Martin Truex, Jr for the remainder of the race, giving the lead up with 12 laps remaining but took it right back on the next lap.
Pole winner #20-Christopher Bell finished 13.  He had contact with the wall on Sunday and struggled with the car the rest of the race.
Sunday’s start of the race was delayed because of light rain. After getting underway, 74 laps were completed before the race was red flagged and postponed to Monday.
Stages 1 & 2 were both won by #19-Martin Truex, Jr.
There were 26 lead changes among 16 drivers and 9 cautions for 43 yellow flag laps.
The average speed of the race was: 131.159mph.
See race details at: Race Results, Driver Points Standings, Owner Points Standings, Cumulative Report, Penalty Report.

Race Fast Facts – Michigan:
Chris Buescher won the FireKeepers Casino 400, his fourth victory in 280 Cup Series races.
This is his second victory and 10th top-10 finish in 2023.
This is his first victory and second top-10 finish in 13 races at Michigan International Speedway.
Martin Truex Jr. (second) posted his 16th top-10 finish in 33 races at Michigan International Speedway.
It is his 13th top-10 finish in 2023.
Denny Hamlin (third) posted his 18th top-10 finish in 33 races at Michigan International Speedway.
Ty Gibbs (11th) was the highest finishing rookie.
Martin Truex Jr. leads the point standings by 57 points over Denny Hamlin.
The following drivers clinched spots in the NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs: Christopher Bell, Ross Chastain, Ryan Blaney, Chris Buescher, Joey Logano, Tyler Reddick and Ricky Stenhouse Jr.
(NASCAR)

Cup Series Playoff Standings after Michigan:
Race 23 of 26 in the regular season
3 races left in the regular season
1) #24-William Byron [4 wins], 703
2) #19-Martin Truex, Jr. [3 wins], 799
3) #8-Kyle Busch [3 wins], 649
4) #11-Denny Hamlin [2 wins], 742
5) #5-Kyle Larson [2 wins], 662
6) #17-Chris Buescher [2 wins], 639
7) #20-Christopher Bell [1 win], 677
8) #1-Ross Chastain, [1 win], 656
9) #12-Ryan Blaney, [1 win], 642
10) #22-Joey Logano [1 win], 636
11) #45-Tyler Reddick [1 win], 609
12) #47-Ricky Stenhouse, Jr. [1 win], 530
Drivers above have clinched a playoff spot
13) #4-Kevin Harvick, 663, +180
14) #6-Brad Keselowski, 651, +168
15) #23-Bubba Wallace, 541, +58
16) #54-Ty Gibbs, 486, +3 ahead of 17th
Outside the playoffs:
17) #34-Michael McDowell, 483, -3 behind 16th
18) #99-Daniel Suarez, 481, -5
19) #16-A.J. Allmendinger, 462, -24
20) #48-Alex Bowman, 442, -44
21) #2-Austin Cindric, 433, -53
22) #9-Chase Elliott, 431, -55
See the Driver Points Standings and Owner Points Standings.

The remainder of the NASCAR Cup Series race at Michigan International Speedway has been postponed until 12:00pm/et Monday. It will be broadcast on USA, MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio.

Paint Schemes

Cars to the rear: #7-LaJoie (unapproved adjustments), #15-Yeley (unapproved adjustments), #42-Berry (unapproved adjustments), #62-Hill (unapproved adjustments)

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 winner #20-Bell chose pit stall 1.
Outside pole sitter #1-Chastain took the 6th stall, with an opening in front of it.
See all pit choices on the Michigan Pit Stall page.

#20-Christopher Bell won the Busch pole for the FireKeepers Casino 400 NASCAR Cup Series race at Michigan International Speedway with speed of 193.382mph for his 2nd pole of the year,  1st at Michigan and 6th of his career. The pole speed is the fastest since the 2020 Daytona 500.
#1-Ross Chastain will start second followed by #45-Ty Gibbs , #17-Chris Buescher, #19-Martin Truex, Jr. , #22-Joey Logano, #24-William Byron, #8-Kyle Busch, #12-Ryan Blaney, and #9-Chase Elliott.
See the complete qualifying results and the FireKeepers Casino 400 Starting Lineup.

Michigan International Speedway – Qualifying Fast Facts:
Christopher Bell won the Pole Award for the FireKeepers Casino 400 with a lap of 37.232 seconds, 193.382 mph.
This is his sixth pole in 131 NASCAR Cup Series races.
This is his second pole and 14th top-10 start in 2023.
This is his first pole in five races at Michigan International Speedway.
Ross Chastain (second) posted his ninth top-10 start of 2023 and his first in six races at Michigan International Speedway.
Ty Gibbs # (third) posted his first top-10 start at Michigan International Speedway. It is his seventh in 23 races this season.
Ty Gibbs (third) was the fastest qualifying rookie.
(NASCAR)

Qualifying Order

Practice for the FireKeepers Casino 400 NASCAR Cup Series race at Michigan International Speedway is complete:
#19-Martin Truex, Jr. 192.020
#20-Chistopher Bell 191.984
#24-William Byron 191.729
#54-Ty Gibbs 191.693
#1-Ross Chastain 191.479
Slowest: #78-Bilicki 181.753
Most laps run:#10-Aric Almirola, 28 laps.
Best 10 consecutive lap avg (of 21 drivers): #24-William Byron 190.592
Notes: #7-Corey LaJoie got loose and up into the outside wall during Group B.
See the fastest speeds, best 10 consecutive lap average, laps run, and more on the FireKeepers Casino 400 Practice speeds page.

Crew Rosters

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: #15-J.J. Yeley, #51-Cole Custer, #62-Austin Hill, #78-Josh Bilicki
See the full entry list on the FireKeepers Casino 400 Entry List page.

Goodyear Fast Facts — Michigan International Speedway

TandemDraft Stats – Michigan Cup

Weekend Event Schedule