The FireKeepers Casino 400 gave fans plenty to talk about! (Photo Credit: Michigan International Speedway | X)

FireKeepers Casino 400

The rain finally stayed away, and the NASCAR Cup Series was able to complete a qualifying session. After all 37 drivers took to the track, Denny Hamlin secured the pole for the FireKeepers Casino 400. However, he was forced to start from the rear after sustaining damage from a flat tire. Austin Cindric, Christopher Bell, Josh Berry, William Byron, and Erik Jones would ultimately join him at the back of the field.

Stage 1

Lap 2 brought the first caution as Connor Zilisch kissed the wall in Turns 3 and 4. Shortly after resuming the action, Zilisch went for another spin, which ended his day. Tyler Reddick led 27 laps and claimed the stage win.

Stage 2

Bubba Wallace took the lead at the restart, but on Lap 58, Carson Hocevar charged to the front. After Brad Keselowski slowed on track with a flat tire, Chase Elliott and Kyle Larson led the field to green.

AJ Allmendinger brought out the next caution on Lap 78 when he went for a spin. On the following restart, there was a huge stack-up.

Once again, Larson and Elliott started out front, but the yellow flag was in the air immediately. Keselowski was once again the culprit. Elliott stole the lead on the next restart and, after some shuffling, went on to win Stage 2.

Stage 3

Elliott led the field to green for the start of the final stage. He held the lead until Lap 142 when Zane Smith smacked the wall. On the restart, William Byron claimed the lead, but immediately, Bell and Elliott wrecked, and both their days ended. Additionally, the race was red-flagged as the wall needed repairs.

Following a 20-minute repair, Byron and Daniel Suarez led the field to green. Only a few laps were run before the next caution waved. This time, for a multi-car pile-up.

Suarez and Byron once again brought the field to green, and pole winner Denny Hamlin was right behind them after coming from the rear. With 38 to go, Hamlin passed Hocevar for the lead. With 17 to go, he had a nearly six-second lead on the field.

With 10 to go, Hamlin’s lead grew to 8.5 seconds. From there, it extended to over 10 seconds as he took the white flag, then the checkered.

Rich MARvelous Move of the Race

One driver had a quiet race, stayed out of trouble, but turned our heads and earned the Rich MARvelous Move for the FireKeepers Casino 400.

The Rich MARvelous Move of the Race is voted on by the Pit Pass Network staff following the NASCAR Cup Series race.c

Erik Jones qualified P10; however, he was forced to start from the rear for unapproved adjustments. At the end of Stage 1, he had worked his way to P15 on speed alone.

(Photo Credit: Legacy Motor Club | X)

Throughout the remainder of the race, he continued his speed and avoided the carnage. In the closing laps, he passed Wallace for P2 and secured his first top-five finish of the season. Prior to Michigan, his best finish of the season was a pair of P10s – at Darlington and Phoenix.

Shout-Out

We’d be remiss not to mention J.J. Yeley‘s afternoon in the Irish Hills. The NY Racing Team driver made his third start of the season and finished P21, ahead of Todd Gilliland and Cody Ware.

The result also marked the third-best finish in the organization’s history and its best since a 20th-place finish in the 2024 fall race at Daytona International Speedway.

(Photo Credit: NY Racing Team | Instagram)

As always, we want to extend a huge thank you to Rich Mar Florist for their continued sponsorship of the Rich MARvelous Move of the Race into the 2026 NASCAR Cup Series season.

Make sure to give them a follow across social media (Facebook, Instagram, X) to stay up-to-date with all the Team Rich Mar NASCAR happenings! And check out their website for all your floral needs, no matter where you are located!