Michigan International Speedway weather delays NASCAR Cup Series race schedule

Posted : 07 August 2023

Inclement weather took center stage on Sunday at Michigan International Speedway, impacting the NASCAR Cup Series race schedule. The event faced a delayed start and was eventually postponed after completing 74 laps of the 400-mile race.

Throughout the early segments of the FireKeepers Casino 400, six caution flags were waved, leading to the retirement of four cars from the race. Tyler Reddick assumed the current race lead, followed by Alex Bowman, Kyle Larson, Martin Truex Jr., and Erik Jones in the top five positions.

Although the race did not reach its halfway point due to weather conditions, several key takeaways emerged from the portion that was completed. Notably, Kyle Busch, Chase Elliott, and William Byron were involved in separate incidents that led to their crashes and exits from the race. On Lap 14, Busch spun into the wall during a competitive battle with Ryan Blaney in Turns 1 and 2, ultimately finishing last in 37th place.

Elliott encountered a tire issue that sent his No. 9 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet into the wall on Turn 2, resulting in a Did Not Finish (DNF) status. This setback places Elliott in a must-win situation for the final three races of the regular season, especially considering his position below the playoff cutline.

Teammate William Byron also faced adversity, making contact with the wall at Turn 4, leading to significant damage and ultimately putting his No. 24 car behind the wall.

Despite Toyota drivers leading 38 out of the 74 laps completed, the varying strategies employed during Stage 1 and the ongoing Stage 2 have created a shuffled running order. Martin Truex Jr. emerged as a strong contender among Toyota drivers, taking the lead on Lap 30 and pacing the field for 30 laps.

Alex Bowman, currently positioned 21st in points and 42 points below the playoff elimination line, led for 19 laps and is set to resume racing on Monday in the second position. Several winless drivers, including Erik Jones, Austin Cindric, Austin Dillon, and Bubba Wallace, are poised within the top 10 when the race resumes.

The prospect of a ninth consecutive Michigan win for the Ford camp seems uncertain at the moment. Kevin Harvick, a six-time Michigan winner, started outside the top 20 and struggled to advance during the race.

He is slated to restart from the 23rd position on Monday. Among Fords, only Austin Cindric (sixth) and Brad Keselowski (seventh) currently reside within the top 10. Keselowski's fourth-place result in Stage 1 marked the only Ford driver to score points in that stage.

Michigan International Speedway weather delays NASCAR Cup Series race schedule

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