BROOKLYN, Mich. (WOOD) — The NASCAR Cup Sequence will take the monitor at Michigan Worldwide Speedway for the 108th time Sunday, this time in June as an alternative of August.
This is what race followers ought to know going into the weekend.
SCHEDULE
There are three races going down at MIS over the weekend, culminating within the Cup Sequence race Sunday. Under are their occasions and tv protection:
Friday at 5:00 p.m. — ARCA Menards Sequence Henry Ford Well being 200, FS2
Saturday at 9:30 a.m. — Cup Sequence follow & qualifying, Prime Video
Saturday at 12:00 p.m. — Craftsman Truck Sequence DQS Options & Staffing 250 Powered by Precision Car Logistics, FOX
Saturday 2:00 p.m. — Cup Sequence FireKeepers On line casino 400, Prime Video
FORECAST
Latest race weekends have been rain-soaked, with a going streak of 4 consecutive weather-impacted races. The final two races had been postponed to Monday as a consequence of climate. The 12 months earlier than, the race was delayed by a number of hours, and the 12 months earlier than noticed a warning flag thrown as a consequence of mild rain. Earlier than shedding its date, the earlier two June races had been additionally each postponed to Monday as a consequence of rain.
Whereas the monitor could must dodge some rain once more, the possibility for race delay or postponement appears decrease than in earlier years.
Present forecasts counsel a weak disturbance will go south of Michigan Sunday morning. The northern defend of rain may transfer over the monitor throughout this time. There’s nonetheless an opportunity the rain may miss south, relying on how a lot dry air is in place and the way a lot smoke is overhead.
As of Friday morning’s forecast, Sunday afternoon seems principally dry. Temperatures will attain the decrease to center 70s as soon as any attainable rain strikes out. A number of further rain showers are attainable in a single day Sunday into Monday.
For followers who could also be hesitant to buy tickets, monitor president Joe Fowler stated the monitor’s climate safety program stays in place.
“We have the weather protection plan, and that’s something that we’re proud of,” he stated. “If anybody has any questions about it or might be a little bit hesitant, take a look at website and take a look at the plan.”
Extra particulars on the safety plan could be discovered on the MIS web site.
BROOKLYN, MICHIGAN – AUGUST 19: A common view of racing from the grandstand through the NASCAR Cup Sequence FireKeepers On line casino 400 at Michigan Worldwide Speedway on August 19, 2024 in Brooklyn, Michigan. (Photograph by Jonathan Bachman/Getty Pictures)
AT THE TRACK
Fowler additionally suggested incoming followers to concentrate on a couple of logistical modifications for this 12 months’s race weekend.
“We do have a new traffic plan, and we do have a new gate plan,” he stated. “It’s going to be similar on the ingress and egress for parking, but our gate system is going to be new, where we’ve relabeled everything and we’ve added more gates to get people in faster.”
You could find maps for visitors, parking and gates right here.
Parking heaps will open at 6:30 a.m. Saturday and seven:00 a.m. Sunday, with gates opening one hour later. You possibly can view the monitor’s weekend occasion schedule right here.
RACE PREVIEW
Tyler Reddick was final 12 months’s FireKeepers On line casino 400 winner. It marked the primary non-Ford win on the monitor since Kyle Larson received in a Chevrolet in 2017.
Ryan Blaney is the Cup Sequence’ most up-to-date winner, taking the checkered flag in Nashville Sunday night time. He received the FireKeepers On line casino 400 in 2021, and hopes to take his momentum north for the weekend.
“It’s a big week for us being in Ford’s backyard,” Blaney stated. “Hopefully we can keep that Heritage Trophy at Ford Headquarters.”
Along with the driving force’s trophy, the successful producer takes residence the Heritage Trophy. Tyler Reddick was final 12 months’s FireKeepers On line casino 400 winner, which marked the primary non-Ford win on the monitor since Kyle Larson’s Chevrolet received in 2017.
Portage native Carson Hocevar is coming off a career-best second-place end in Nashville. He adopted that up with a dominating win at Berlin Raceway, his residence quick monitor. He says the momentum could not come at a greater time as he prepares to race in each the truck & Cup Sequence races.
“Perfect time for it to happen, getting ready (for) a week of racing for me in Michigan,” Hocevar stated.
BROOKLYN, MICHIGAN – AUGUST 18: A common view of racing through the NASCAR Cup Sequence FireKeepers On line casino 400 at Michigan Worldwide Speedway on August 18, 2024 in Brooklyn, Michigan. (Photograph by Logan Riely/Getty Pictures)
Denny Hamlin has Michigan circled on his calendar for a wide range of causes, calling it essentially the most underrated monitor in NASCAR.
“It puts on some of the best racing that NASCAR has to offer,” he stated. “Generally speaking, you just can’t get a better race.”
Rochester Hills native Brad Keselowski has but to win at his residence monitor, however has a brand new perspective as a part-owner of RFK racing.
“The fun thing about being a team owner is I have three chances to win on any weekend,” he stated. “But that said, I want to win as a driver.”
Ty Gibbs is campaigning his third full-time season within the Cup Sequence, along with his two races at Michigan being postponed to Monday.
“I enjoy like the hotter side of the races where it becomes more physical, and a lot less grip and more slick,” he stated. “But last two times we raced Michigan, both rained out on Sunday and we raced Monday.”
