NASCAR Cup race in Michigan canceled until Monday due to ongoing storms
By Larry Lage, The Associated Press
BROOKLYN, Michigan – NASCAR has suspended the FireKeepers 400 until Monday because there was no time to run a race on Sunday, which was delayed and suspended due to rain.
On lap 51 of the 200-lap Cup race, cars pulled into the pits to wait and see if the rain would stop in time to finish at least half of the race, make it official and avoid having to drag on for an extra day at Michigan for the second straight year.
Racing is scheduled to resume Monday at 11 a.m. EDT.
It airs on USA Network and you can stream it live on FuboTV (free trial), SlingTV (low introductory price), and DirecTV Stream (free trial).
During the driver introduction under dark clouds, Austin Dillon drew some boos but responded by kissing his right palm and waving to the crowd, a week after terrifying Joey Logano and Denny Hamlin en route to a win at Richmond Raceway.
Hamlin started from pole after qualifying was canceled due to rain on Saturday and precipitation delayed the start of the race, forcing the cars to pit after a few formation laps.
Jet dryers were doing their rounds to remove at least some of the moisture and possibly make the race possible, but the weather did not cooperate.
More than two hours later, the drivers got back in their cars and Kyle Larson took the lead on the first lap and maintained it by driving more than 200 mph on the straightaways and around 180 mph on the corners.
As Larson and Hamlin were running side by side on lap 36, Bubba Wallace went deep and passed them both.
Michael Jordan, co-owner of the 23XI Racing Team with Hamlin, smiled after Wallace made the move.
A few laps later, Hamlin attempted to catch up with Wallace, but lost control of the car, earning him the yellow flag.
John Hunter Nemechek runs to the team trailer after rain stops a NASCAR Cup Series auto race at Michigan International Speedway, Sunday, Aug. 18, 2024, in Brooklyn, Mich. (AP Photo/Carlos Osorio)AP
Wallace opted to pit, foregoing the chance to win 10 points for the first stage – he had a fuel and tire strategy in mind that might help him win – and Ryan Blaney took advantage of this to finish first after 45 laps.
Twelve drivers have secured a place in the playoffs, with four spots still open as three races remain in Michigan, Daytona and Darlington.
Drivers and teams can qualify faster for the Coke Zero Sugar 400 on Saturday night in Daytona Beach, Florida, after the FireKeepers 400 on Friday.
AP NASCAR: apnews.com/hub/nascar-racing
