Joey Logano Elated by Third-Place Finish at Michigan

Chase Elliott, driver of the #24 NAPA Chevrolet, leads Joey Logano, driver of the #22 Shell Pennzoil Ford, during the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series FireKeepers Casino 400 at Michigan International Speedway on June 18, 2017 in Brooklyn, Michigan. Photo – Brian Lawdermilk/Getty Images

Far from being disappointed with his third-place finish in Sunday’s FireKeepers Casino 400 at Michigan International Speedway, Joey Logano was positively beaming when he walked into the media center to answer questions after the race.

The reason? After a series of calamities and ill-handling cars over the past month or so, Logano was simply looking for a trouble-free race. On Sunday, he got it—and then some. Continue reading

The Bottom Lane Means Bad Bottom Line for Martin Truex Jr

Kyle Larson, driver of the #42 Cars 3/Target Chevrolet, and Martin Truex Jr., driver of the #78 Auto-Owners Insurance Toyota, lead the field during the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series FireKeepers Casino 400 at Michigan International Speedway on June 18, 2017 in Brooklyn, Michigan. Photo – Brian Lawdermilk/Getty Images

For much of Sunday’s FireKeepers Casino 400 at Michigan International Speedway, Martin Truex Jr. appeared likely to sweep the proceedings.

He won the first two 60-lap stages, and he likely had the strongest car in the race. Unfortunately, Truex lined up fifth, fifth, ninth and seventh for the final four restarts of the race—all in the bottom lane where grip through Turns 1 and 2 was almost impossible to find. Continue reading

Superb Restarts Propel Kyle Larson to Victory in Michigan

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Two weeks ago at Dover, Kyle Larson took a painful master class in restarts from Professor Jimmie Johnson.

In Sunday’s FireKeepers Casino 400 at Michigan International Speedway, Larson graduated with high honors, using a series of exceptional restarts to win his second Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series race of the season and his second in a row, dating to last August, at the two-mile track in the Irish Hills. Continue reading

Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series, FireKeepers Casino 400 at Michigan Preview

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The Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series will race the FireKeepers Casino 400 at Michigan International Speedway on Sunday, June 18th at 3 pm ET. Coverage begins at 2 pm ET on FOX Sports 1, MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio

Drivers will race 400 miles over 200 laps with Stage 1 ending on lap 60, Stage 2 on lap 120 and the last Stage ending on the last lap 200. Continue reading

Kyle Larson Edges Martin Truex Jr. for Michigan Pole

Kyle Larson, driver of the #42 Cars 3/Target Chevrolet, celebrates after winning the pole award for the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series FireKeepers Casino 400 at Michigan International Speedway on June 16, 2017 in Brooklyn, Michigan Photo – Jonathan Ferrey/Getty Images

Martin Truex Jr. thought he had the pole for Sunday’s FireKeepers Casino 400—until Kyle Larson made the last run in the final round of Friday’s Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series knockout qualifying at Michigan International Speedway.

Driving the No. 42 Chip Ganassi Racing Chevrolet, Larson, who won the first Cup race of his career last August at MIS, covered the two-mile distance in 35.616 seconds (202.156 mph), edging Truex (202.117 mph) for the top starting spot by a scant 0.007 seconds. Continue reading