The NASCAR drivers will be racing at high-speed in the Firekeepers Casino 400 at Michigan International Speedway with hopes of making the post-season.
Drivers will reach average speeds well over 100 MPH during this weekend’s race. In fact, the cars will regularly reach speeds of 150 MPH and more. At times the cars could reach 200 MPH plus. Those speeds give the chance to win. However, they also create the chance for disaster.
Michigan International Speedway Data
Track Size: 2-miles
Banking/Turn 1 & 2: 18 degrees
Banking/Turn 3 & 4: 18 degrees
Banking/Frontstretch: 5 degrees
Banking/Backstretch: 2 degrees
Frontstretch Length: 3,600 feet
Backstretch Length: 2,242 feet
Firekeepers Casino 400 Data
Season Race #: 25 of 36 (08-22-21)
Race Length: 200 laps / 400 miles
Stage 1 Length: 60 laps
Stage 2 Length: 60 laps
Final Stage Length: 80 laps
There are 13 drivers who have clinched their spots in the Playoffs by winning at least one race already this season. There is one driver who has clinched his spot in the post-season based on points won through the season.
That leaves two spots open with two races (counting this weekend) before the Playoffs begin. If there is not a new winner for the season this weekend, Kevin Harvick could clinch his spot by finishing with enough points to stay more than a race worth of points ahead of Tyler Reddick and Austin Dillon. Of course, if he were to win that would also clinch his spot in the post-season. Kevin could be a serious contender for the win this weekend. He was the winner of three of the three stages in the doubleheader weekend at Michigan in 2020 and won both races.
Tyler Reddick and Austin Dillon can only clinch a Playoff Spot this weekend by winning. That is also the only way any driver below them in the top 30 in points can clinch a post-season spot.
The 14 drivers that have clinched their Playoff spots still want to win Playoff Points. That will help them throughout the post-season. The only way to gain those bonus Playoff Points is to win stages and win races.
Here are the active drivers that have performed overall during their Cup Series Careers at Michigan International Speedway.
Kevin Harvick……………………… 102.5
Joey Logano………………………… 99.1
Chase Elliott…………………………. 99.1
Brad Keselowski……………………. 97.3
Kyle Larson………………………….. 96.1
Denny Hamlin……………………….. 92.6
Ryan Blaney…………………………. 92.5
Kurt Busch…………………………… 91.8
Kyle Busch…………………………… 90.7
Christopher Bell…………………….. 89.6
Martin Truex Jr……………………… 89.3
Erik Jones……………………………. 86.6
Note: Driver Ratings compiled from 2005-2020 races (32 total) among active drivers at Michigan International Speedway.
Here are the active drivers that have won in the Cup Series at Michigan.
Kevin Harvick – 5 Wins
Kurt Busch – 3 Wins
Joey Logano – 3 Wins
Denny Hamlin – 2 Wins
Ryan Newman – 2 Wins
Kyle Busch – 1 Win
With multiple story lines unfolding at such high speeds, drama and excitement could play out from start to finish this weekend. We will find out what main story is written when the green flag starts the Firekeepers Casino 400 Sunday, August 22nd at 2 P.M. central time (3 P.M. eastern time) at Michigan International Speedway.
By: Buck Stevens
