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August 18, 2024

Inclement weather delays Cup Series race at Michigan


Sunday’s NASCAR Cup Series race has been delayed by rain for a second time at Michigan International Speedway.

The FireKeepers Casino 400 was scheduled for a 2:36 p.m. ET green flag, but precipitation at the 2-mile track placed the start on hold. After two waves of showers, the race went green at 4:55 p.m. ET, but another downpour soaked the track and forced another delay with 51 of a scheduled 200 laps complete.

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The race was moved to a Monday finish at 11 a.m. ET (USA Network, MRN Radio, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio, NBC Sports App).

Chase Elliott was scored as the race leader in the No. 9 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet when the event was halted. Martin Truex Jr., Bubba Wallace, Alex Bowman and Tyler Reddick completed the top five.

Denny Hamlin started from the pole position, but dropped back when his No. 11 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota spun off Turn 4 as he ran second in the 38th lap. Hamlin recovered after a slide through the infield grass and was listed as 17th in the 36-car field at the time of the stoppage.

Ryan Blaney led eight laps and earned the Stage 1 win. He pitted during the stage intermission, handing the lead to Elliott. The race did not go back to green-flag conditions in Stage 2, when an approaching shower halted the action.

Kyle Larson led a race-best 34 laps in the No. 5 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet. He was scored seventh at the red flag.

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It’s the second consecutive day that wet weather has disrupted the Michigan schedule. Rain interrupted Cup Series practice and washed out Busch Light Pole qualifying, forcing the starting grid to be set by performance metrics. Rain also caused delays to Saturday’s Xfinity Series race, which was won by Justin Allgaier in overtime.

Ford is striving for its 10th straight Cup Series victory at Michigan. Chevrolet, Ford and Toyota are competing for the Michigan Heritage Trophy, awarded to the winning manufacturer each year at the 2-mile track.

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