NASCAR.com’s 36 for 36 picks for Michigan

Posted on August 16, 2024August 18, 2024 by Steve Luvender

NASCAR.com’s 36 for 36 continues at Michigan International Speedway.

With 36 races and 36 full-time Charter cars, our players select one car per race, but there’s a simple twist: once they’ve made the pick, they can’t choose that car again for the rest of the 36-race season. Yes, that means every car will be selected exactly once … a survivor pool, by another name.

Follow along weekly as our panel of pickers — Dustin Albino from Jayski, along with Steve Luvender and Cameron Richardson from NASCAR.com — embarks on a season-long journey to think like strategists and prove their picking prowess.

We’ll also feature a fourth “community” 36 for 36 pick each week, as decided by fan vote on the r/NASCAR subreddit. Can the collective vote topple our trio of full-timers?

Current Standings:

Steve Luvender: 578
Dustin Albino: -63
r/NASCAR Community: -64
Cameron Richardson: -108

Race 24 of 36: Michigan

Last week’s race at Richmond didn’t shake up our 36 for 36 standings much. Cameron Richardson’s pick of Noah Gragson landed him 17 points, while Dustin Albino and Steve Luvender earned 24 apiece from Josh Berry. The NASCAR subreddit earned the highest points total — 32 points — from Joey Logano, despite a last-lap spin courtesy of Austin Dillon.

Our panel now faces Michigan, the Cup Series’ lone stop on a high-speed two-mile D-shaped oval, while the playoffs draw near.

Jayski’s Dustin Albino: No. 71, Zane Smith

Dustin’s pick last week: No. 4, Josh Berry (24 points)

Total season points: 515 (second place)

Dustin: With how brutal the first three months were for Smith’s rookie season, he could only salvage his rookie campaign so much after being buried in the championship standings. The No. 71 team has seemingly turned the corner in recent weeks, however, with five top-20 finishes — including a runner-up result at Nashville — over the last nine events. The 2022 Craftsman Truck Series champion has only competed in one national touring series race at Michigan, which resulted in his first truck victory. Here’s to thinking Smith will have another fond memory of MIS this weekend.

NASCAR.com’s Steve Luvender: No. 17, Chris Buescher

Steve’s pick last week: No. 4, Josh Berry (24 points)

Total season points: 578 (first place)

Steve: Chris Buescher has five career race wins, and they’ve all taken place in a 49-day window between July 30 and September 17. Monday’s race at Michigan falls within the “Buescher Window” (trademarking that) and the pressure’s on to lock the No. 17 into the playoffs. Of course, Buescher won at Michigan last year as part of his freakishly good three-win August. The Buescher Window is real.

NASCAR.com’s Cameron Richardson: No. 17, Chris BuescherCameron’s pick last week: No. 10, Noah Gragson (17 points)

Total season points: 470 (fourth place)

Cameron: I am sticking to the plan for the long game. I still have 13 races to go even though I’m more than 100 points back of the lead, but a Chris Buescher pick for Michigan could get me back under that mark. Ford’s going for its 10th consecutive win at the 2-mile oval and Buescher is the defending winner. He’s been well overdue to break through in 2024 and with him and Ross Chastain being dead even for the final playoff spot, Monday would be the perfect day for Buescher to become the 13th driver into the Cup Series Playoffs.

r/NASCAR Community: No. 17, Chris Buescher

r/NASCAR’s pick last week: No. 22, Joey Logano (32 points)
Total season points: 514 (third place)

The NASCAR subreddit voted defending race winner Chris Buescher as the pick for Monday. Here’s what some Redditors had to say in this week’s voting thread:

u/Blue8844: “I’m okay with burning this pick earlier than I would’ve thought. He needs a solid points day, hoping RFK can deliver.”

u/FridgusDomin8or: “Yes. Defending race winner, RFK is typically the Ford team to beat on the intermediates, and this track has been Ford’s stomping ground the last number of years.”

u/Extreme-Bite-9123: “We take this guy now. We need a solid points day, and Buescher needs a solid points day. It’s a no-brainer to pick the guy who won last year”

Check back next week to see how our pickers fared as the season-long 36 for 36 journey continues.

And, if you’ve got a competitive itch beyond meticulously managing your Fantasy Live lineup each week, feel free to save or print your own 36 for 36 sheet and see if you can beat our pickers and the Reddit community!

Posted on August 16, 2024 by Brandon White

Niece Motorsports development driver Matthew Gould is set to take a major step forward in his career at one of the United States’ most historic tracks.

When the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Playoffs begin at the Milwaukee Mile next Sunday for the LiUNA! 175, Niece will field a fourth No. 44 Chevrolet Silverado for Gould, who seeks to gain vital experience in his series debut.

Gould has spent the past several weeks gathering advice from his father Phil Gould, who is the crew chief on Niece’s No. 45. The environment within Niece’s shop has Matthew Gould in a comfortable state of mind ahead of an eventful weekend.

“It means everything,” Gould said. “I’m only 18 years old, but I feel like I’ve worked my whole life to get here. It’s really cool to do this with my family at Niece Motorsports, and it’s been cool to work on the truck with my dad. It’s going to be weird racing against him, but I’m really excited for a new opportunity.”

The path for Gould to reach this point in his career began at age 4, when he started racing go-karts on a makeshift track in Clint Bowyer’s backyard; Phil Gould at the time worked for Bowyer.

Matthew has many fond memories of his time racing on Bowyer’s track and how that fostered his love for motorsports. He even competed against Phil on several occasions, one of which ended with Matthew wrecking his dad.

As he got older, Matthew Gould began refining his dirt-racing skills at North Carolina’s Millbridge Speedway before eventually moving up to Late Model Stocks. He’s accumulated laps in a Late Model Stock at several different tracks in the southeast, earning wins at Orange County Speedway, Florence Motor Speedway and Hickory Motor Speedway.

Matthew Gould actively competes in Late Model Stocks and currently has three victories across three tracks. (Photo: Adam Fenwick/NASCAR)

There are plenty of fundamentals about car control Gould has taken from racing Late Model Stocks, but he said the abrasive surfaces of short tracks in the southeast instill other essential qualities like tire management and patience.

“You just learn discipline,” Gould said. “Hickory is very rough and worn out, so you have to take what the car gives you. The Late Models around here have a lot of horsepower and don’t really weigh much, so they dance around the race track. You’re really driving a street car that’s set up for racing.”

Gould hopes the experience obtained at Hickory and other short tracks pays dividends at the Milwaukee Mile, where he previously raced in the ARCA Menards Series in 2022. Despite finishing a lap down to winner Sammy Smith, Matthew managed to bring home a top-10 finish that day in a Niece car.

Driving an ARCA car at the Milwaukee Mile taught Gould many lessons about aerodynamics and the importance of clean air, along with primarily using the bottom line for passing. He expects all those same factors to be prevalent throughout the Truck Series race next Sunday.

Matthew Gould looks to apply experience from Late Model Stocks and the ARCA Menards Series into his NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series debut. (Photo: Luke Hales/ARCA Racing)

Despite this, Gould anticipates a different environment compared to his ARCA start, especially since 10 of his competitors are in a separate battle for the Truck Series championship. He also wants to be courteous around his dad’s team, which is going for the owner’s title.

Gould’s preparation for the Milwaukee Mile has involved spending plenty of time in the simulator alongside teammate Kaden Honeycutt and Truck Series veteran Grant Enfinger. Their insights have been invaluable to Gould, but his primary goals are to earn respect amongst the other drivers and keep his No. 44 truck in one piece.

“I want to run all the laps and finish,” he said. “If I hold myself to an expectation, nine times out of 10 I won’t meet it. That’s because I hold myself to too high an expectation, so I want to keep it clean. The way the Truck Series goes, if you do that, you’ll at least finish in the top 20.”

There are no current plans in place for Gould to make another Truck Series start this year, but a strong performance at the Milwaukee Mile could be a crucial first step toward his reaching more career milestones in NASCAR.

Posted on August 16, 2024August 18, 2024 by Seth Sharp

Throughout the 2024 NASCAR season, Ken Martin, director of historical content for the sanctioning body, will offer his suggestions on which historical races fans should watch from the NASCAR Classics library in preparation for each upcoming race weekend.

Martin has worked exclusively for NASCAR since 2008 but has been involved with the sport since 1982, overseeing various projects. He has worked in the broadcast booth for hundreds of races, assisting the broadcast team with different tasks. This includes calculating the “points as they run” for the historic 1992 finale, the Hooters 500 at Atlanta Motor Speedway.

The following suggestions are Ken’s picks to watch before this Monday’s FireKeepers Casino 400 at Michigan International Speedway.

NASCAR Research & Archives Center | Getty Images

1978 Gabriel 400:

It seemed like nothing could go wrong for Cale Yarborough and his No. 11 Junior Johnson-owned team.

They won the NASCAR Cup Series championship in 1976 and 1977. After the first 14 races of the 1978 season, Yarborough led the series standings by 37 points over Benny Parsons.

The halfway point of the season was a stop in Michigan, a track where Yarborough had plenty of success. He won the inaugural race at the track in 1969 and won additional races there in 1970 and 1977.

He was nearly a lock for a top-10 finish at the track. Over his first 14 races at the track, he compiled 11 finishes of 10th or better, with nine of them being in the top five.

Yarborough qualified third for the race, behind David Pearson and Parsons.

It seemed like Yarborough’s luck at Michigan was about to run out, as he had to duck into the pits for tires. This put him a lap down and it looked like that would be his chance at another victory until the caution flag came out just after the halfway point for an incident between Blackie Wangerin and Al Hobert.

This reset the field and gave Yarborough a second chance. If he wanted to be the first to the checkered flag, he would have to power past a group of strong cars. The strongest of the day seemed to be the DiGard Racing Chevrolet of Darrell Waltrip.

Waltrip, driving the No. 88 car, led 88 of the first 129 laps before his engine let go, sending him to a 28th-place finish.

Yarborough found his way back to the front of the field, checking out on Pearson, Parsons and the rest of the field, en route to a 13-second victory.

His comeback win extended his points lead to 47 points over Parsons, in a season that saw Yarborough eventually capture a record third straight series championship.

NASCAR Research & Archives Center | Getty Images

1986 Miller American 400:

“Daddy, start your engine!”

The Petty family couldn’t have dreamed up a better Father’s Day in 1986, as Richard Petty was on the brink of history.

Petty was set to make his record-setting 1,000th NASCAR Cup Series start and Michigan International Speedway and NASCAR pulled out all the stops to ensure it was a pre-race memory that would last forever.

“King Richard’s” three daughters gave the command for their Dad and their Dad only to start his engine, roughly 20 seconds before the rest of the field followed suit. The crowd roared as the No. 43 car came to life for the 1,000th time.

Ken Squier also interviewed Petty while making the preliminary pace laps before the race. He qualified 15th for the race, a few rows ahead of his son, Kyle.

Tim Richmond set the fastest lap during qualifying, but the driver to watch was Dawsonville, Georgia’s Bill Elliott, who started eighth.

Elliott was in the middle of a torrid stretch at the track. The second race at Michigan saw him start second and finish third. Elliott’s two races there in 1984 included two pole positions, one victory and a third-place finish. 1985 was more of the same for Elliott, as he won both races from the top spot.

The only surprise was that Elliott had yet to win a race in 1986 after winning 11 of the 28 races in 1985.

Richmond’s teammate Geoff Bodine and an injured Harry Gant dominated the race, leading 111 of its 200 laps, but it was Elliott whose car came on strongest at the end.

Elliott took his car to the point for the first time on the 150th lap, leading 22 laps before giving up the lead to Gant.

He went on to lead the final five laps on his way to his first victory of the season and his third-straight victory there.

Elliott returned to the track in August and put his No. 9 car in Victory Lane yet again, giving him four straight victories and five of the last six. His final victory at the track came in 1989, giving him seven victories over the 11 races held at the track between 1984 and 1989.

NASCAR Research & Archives Center | Getty Images

1991 Champion Spark Plug 400:

Jarrett and Allison.

Two names synonymous with NASCAR history and visiting victory lane.

Ned Jarrett won 50 races in just 352 starts between 1953 and 1966, capturing the championship in both 1961 and 1965.

Bobby Allison’s career abruptly came to a halt midway through the 1988 season after a crash at Pocono, just a handful of races after winning the Daytona 500. He won 84 races between 1961 and 1988, won the title in 1983 and finished second in the final season standings five times.

His brother Donnie also made the final start of his career in 1988, winning 10 races in 242 starts.

It was no surprise that these two legacies produced a new generation of talent that could be found at the front of the field every Sunday afternoon.

Bobby’s son Davey finished second to him in the 1988 Daytona 500 and was quickly carving up a name for himself. He had won two races in 1987, 1988, 1989 and 1990, managing to turn up the heat even hotter in 1991.

He captured victories at Charlotte, Sonoma and Michigan, as he arrived at Michigan for the second time sitting fourth in the season standings.

Dale Jarrett, the son of Ned, didn’t have as smooth of an entry into the NASCAR Cup Series. He raced for a handful of owners between 1984 and 1989, while still winning races in the Xfinity Series. Jarrett was named the driver of the No. 21 car for the Wood Brothers Racing team in 1990 after their usual driver Neil Bonnett was injured in a crash.

Jarrett drove the final 24 races of the 1990 season for the team, finishing fourth at Atlanta.

The 1991 season saw more success and growth for the Hickory, North Carolina driver. He arrived at Michigan in 15th in the season standings, thanks to a career-best stretch of three straight top-10 finishes.

Allison looked poised to visit Victory Lane at the track for the season sweep, but that was until Jarrett entered the picture.

The two drivers had an incredible back-and-forth battle for the victory over the final laps of the race, as the two took the white flag side-by-side.

The two drivers continued in tow with each other as Bob Jenkins, Benny Parsons, and Jarrett’s Dad Ned called the final moments of the race.

Jarrett and Allison stayed equal with each other and touched out of the fourth turn, as Jarrett beat Allison to the line by inches in quite possibly the most popular victory in some time.

Ned’s reaction in the television booth as a proud Father induced goosebumps, as he raved about how clean his son raced for his first victory.

It was also the first victory for the No. 21 team since Kyle Petty won at Charlotte in 1987.

Allison visited Victory Lane to congratulate Jarrett and praised him in his post-race interview with how clean he drove him.

Posted on August 16, 2024August 16, 2024 by Seth Sharp

The fiery passion of any NASCAR fan can be traced back to the day that they discovered NASCAR.

Each of these moments, both big and small, have been ingrained in our hearts through the years and helps continue to fuel our passion for racing today.

From some of the biggest moments in NASCAR history to the most minuscule details along the way, every little spark of a memory invokes a feeling of nostalgia and brings a smile to our faces. Many can recall who they were with, where they were and every tiny part of their day in between.

Our greatest memories have been spent alongside our family, friends, and even in the crowd, cheering with thousands of other race fans with whom we share so much.

Over the years, many have hoped, begged and dreamed of one place where they could relive all those memorable moments.

On Aug. 17, 2023, those dreams became a reality with the launch of the NASCAR Classics Library.

The library allowed fans to watch more than 1,000 NASCAR Cup Series races from the past for free. The catalog was filtered by era and track, while the search feature allowed fans to search for race wins by their favorite driver.

A custom timeline for each race allowed viewers to descriptively jump to the biggest and most memorable moments of each race.

This all coincided with the launch of NASCAR Classics’ social accounts on Facebook, Instagram, X and YouTube.

Fast-forward to 2024, and there are over 1,360 races in the library, which continues to add more historic moments from our sport’s storied history.

Look at the most viewed races from the library’s successful first calendar year.

1. 1951 Motor City 250 at Michigan State Fairgrounds

Aug. 12, 1951.

NASCAR raced a 250-mile event at the Michigan State Fairgrounds in honor of Detroit’s 250th anniversary celebration. The race was won by Tommy Thompson, which was the only victory of his career.

This race currently is the second-oldest race in the NASCAR Classics Library.

2. 1952 Daytona Beach Course Race at Daytona Beach & Road Course

Feb. 10, 1952.

Marshall Teague captured the victory on the beach course for the second consecutive season.

This race is currently the third-oldest race in the NASCAR Classics Library.

3. 1979 Daytona 500 at Daytona International Speedway

Feb. 18, 1979.

The first flag-to-flag broadcast of a 500-mile race ended with Richard Petty in Victory Lane, while Bobby Allison, Donnie Allison and Cale Yarborough brawled on the track following a crash between Yarborough and Donnie.

4. 2007 Daytona 500 at Daytona International Speedway

Feb. 18, 2007.

Kevin Harvick beat Mark Martin to the line in a thrilling finish as Clint Bowyer’s car crossed the line, sliding on his roof.

5. 1951 Daytona Beach at Daytona Beach & Road Course

Feb. 5, 1951.

The season-opening race saw Marshall Teague take the checkered flag, holding off Tim and Fonty Flock.

This race is currently the oldest race in the NASCAR Classics Library.

6. 2022 Xfinity 500 at Martinsville Speedway

Oct. 30, 2022.

The title hopes of Christopher Bell continued with a clutch victory. Ross Chastain’s thrilling “Hail Melon” move on the final lap helped him advance to the Championship 4.

7. 2001 Pepsi 400 at Daytona International Speedway

July 7, 2001.

Dale Earnhardt Jr. and the NASCAR Cup Series returned to Daytona for the first time since Dale Earnhardt passed away in February 2001. Using lessons learned from his father, Earnhardt Jr. went from sixth to first to take the checkered flag.

8. 1959 Daytona 500 at Daytona International Speedway

Feb. 22, 1959.

The first Daytona 500 ended in a photo finish and took three days to officially crown Lee Petty the winner over Johnny Beauchamp.

9. 1998 Daytona 500 at Daytona International Speedway

Feb. 15, 1998.

Dale Earnhardt finally wins his first Daytona 500, after 20 years of frustration.

10. 1958 Daytona Beach at Daytona Beach & Road Course

Feb. 23, 1958.

The final race on the beach course was won by Paul Goldsmith, who led all 39 laps.

NASCAR Research & Archives Center | Getty Images

The following 10 races are the most viewed races on NASCAR’s YouTube channel.

1. 1972 Carolina 500 from Rockingham Speedway

March 12, 1972.

Keith Jackson and Donnie Allison called the event, which was tape-delayed for six days. The race was won by Bobby Isaac.

2. 2014 Daytona 500 from Daytona International Speedway

Feb. 23, 2014.

Dale Earnhardt Jr. captured his second-career Daytona 500 victory, holding off a strong group of competitors on the final lap.

3. 2019 Daytona 500 from Daytona International Speedway

Feb. 17, 2019.

Joe Gibbs Racing sweeps the first three finishing positions as Denny Hamlin captures his second career Daytona 500 victory.

4. 1999 Goody’s Headache Powder 500 from Bristol Motor Speedway

Aug. 28, 1999.

The race to the checkered flag came down to Dale Earnhardt and Terry Labonte for the second time but this time it was Earnhardt in Victory Lane.

5. 2010 Daytona 500 from Daytona International Speedway

Feb. 14, 2010.

The thrilling finish to the “Great American Race” saw Jamie McMurray hold off Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Greg Biffle for his fourth career series victory.

6. 2001 Pepsi 400 from Daytona International Speedway

July 7, 2001.

7. 2001 Dura Lube 400 from Rockingham Speedway

Feb. 25, 2001.

The first race following the tragic passing of Dale Earnhardt saw his driver, Steve Park, take the checkered flag in thrilling fashion.

8. 2007 Daytona 500 from Daytona International Speedway

Feb. 18, 2007.

Kevin Harvick beat Mark Martin to the line in a thrilling finish as Clint Bowyer’s car crossed the line, sliding on his roof.

9. 1985 Valleydale 500 from Bristol Motor Speedway

April 6, 1985.

Dale Earnhardt powers his way to victory, despite driving the race without power steering.

10. 1988 DieHard 500 from Talladega Superspeedway

July 31, 1988.

Ken Schrader takes the lead on the final lap and holds on for his first career NASCAR Cup Series victory.

Posted on August 16, 2024August 18, 2024 by Chris Murdock

Chris Buescher exited Richmond Raceway squarely on the bubble in the postseason grid to advance to the NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs at the end of the regular season, which sits just three weeks away.

An up-and-down day at the Virginia short track left what was a very optimistic Buescher entering the race wondering what could have been after troubles on pit road left the driver of the No. 17 Ford Mustang for RFK Racing fighting an uphill battle for a majority of the evening.

RELATED: Cup standings

“It was a strong start to the weekend for us,” Buescher told NASCAR.com in a recent teleconference. “Obviously, really high expectations going back to Richmond, to the race that we were able to start our streak last year, and to start off the race, we were in pretty good shape.

“We had our hiccup on pit road and ended up going, you know, a lap down there and kind of struggled to get back from that all night long. Really no cautions to help that until, what, (two) to go? So it ended up making for a bit of a long night; certainly not what we needed there.”

For Buescher, Richmond is now in the rearview mirror as the Cup Series heads to two other tracks where the Prosper, Texas, native is the defending race winner, starting with the Michigan International Speedway on Monday (11 a.m. ET, USA Network, MRN Radio, Sirius XM NASCAR Radio, NBC Sports App).

Michigan holds great significance for RFK Racing — not only for Buescher, but for co-owners Jack Roush and Brad Keselowski as well as Ford, all of whom call Michigan a home track.

“Michigan is very important to everybody around here, right?” Buescher said. “Being a home track for Brad, home track for Jack, and then Ford’s backyard as well, it’s a big deal. And so we go to that race track, we know there’s a little added pressure.”

Last year, that pressure produced a victory after a fierce battle with a Cup Series champion over the closing laps.

“To be able to hold off Martin Truex Jr. there at the end, you know, was a heck of a race,” Buescher said. “I enjoyed the battle at that one and talked about it a lot at the time. But, you know, being able to battle with a racer like him, one of the cleanest guys out there, to the point where you have that respect, and you can race each other knowing that you’re not going to end up firewall deep in the fence from something silly, right? You’re going to have a hard race, but it’s going to be a good, clean, hard race.”

But with a playoff spot on the line this weekend and no margin for error, Buescher hopes to expand to a more comfortable lead — both in the points standings and on the track.

“I don’t want it to be quite that close,” Buescher said with a smile on his face. “You know, if we can get a little bit more of a stretch out, that would be OK.”

MORE: How to get notified for 2025 schedule release

As for Daytona, the other track out of the three remaining regular-season races where Buescher is the defending race winner, the 31-year-old isn’t thinking much about the outcome of the 400-mile event.

“We know that as we get to Daytona, there’s a certain amount of a wild card there, and we can’t control all that,” Buescher said. “That’s one of those races you got to have a little bit of good fortune on your side. We’re going to work hard with our teammate when we get there and and try and put ourselves in the best situation to to be able to get a win again.”

The last stop on the Cup Series trek to the postseason promised land is Darlington Raceway, a track where the No. 17 team has much history in past outings.

In Buescher’s last three starts at the track “Too Tough to Tame,” he has one top 10, a podium finish of third and was en route to potential victory in the Cup Series’ last trip to the South Carolina race track before contact with Tyler Reddick spoiled the chance at the win, giving the top spot to none other than Buescher’s teammate, Brad Keselowski.

“We talk about Richmond, Michigan and Daytona being our three wins last year,” Buescher said. “But yeah, Darlington was really strong for us last fall, and to be in the hunt to win it a couple of months back. And obviously Brad winning it shows that that RFK has got a lot of potential when we go to that one.

“I feel like everybody at RFK has worked so hard that I definitely don’t want to get through these next three and feel like we left something on the table. So it’s a matter of going to the race track, putting in all of our efforts, you know, don’t get conservative, right? That’s the biggest problem. I feel like what I see points racing through the years is you get conservative. You know, get back on your heels a little bit, and you can end up giving up way more than that, then you felt like you should have just tried to play it safe, and I don’t want to do that.”

As for Buescher’s mindset heading into the final three races before the 16 drivers who will compete for the Bill France Cup are decided, it is business as usual, taking each week one race track at a time and not adding any extra pressure to what is already a tight race at the elimination line.

“There’s no extra pressure. It’s every week, right?” he said. “I mean, if you break it down and put it into the week, you know the race that’s six days ahead of you every Monday, that’s the most important one.”

“We don’t want to circle races, and we haven’t had to this year. We’ve been fast at so many different styles of tracks that we haven’t been in that box where we’ve had to say ‘alright, we’re out of these three races,’ or, ‘we have to be on for this one because this is our best chance.’ No, we feel like they’re all our best chance.”

Posted on August 16, 2024August 18, 2024 by Cameron Richardson

Editor’s Note: Racing Insights’ playoff projections use a combination of current standings and historical performance at upcoming tracks to determine the probability of each driver winning or making the playoffs on points.

With the Cup Series Playoffs on the mind throughout the season, what if there was a way to project how the 16-driver field could look before each race weekend?

It now exists via Racing Insights. From now until the start of the 2024 NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs, “The Field of 16” will give fans a weekly look at where their favorite drivers could potentially land in the postseason field — and the likelihood of having a shot at the Bill France Cup.

Here’s this week’s update on the projections heading into Michigan International Speedway.

NOTABLE PROBABILITY SHIFTS POST-RICHMOND

DRIVER	AT RICHMOND	ENTERING MICHIGAN	DIFFERENCE
Bubba Wallace	44.52%	71.12%	+26.60
Ross Chastain	51.26%	56.39%	+5.13
Chris Buescher	76.80%	71.90%	-4.90
Ty Gibbs	78.69%	62.63%	-16.06

PROBABILITY CALCULATED BY RACING INSIGHTS AHEAD OF FIREKEEPERS CASINO 400, AUGUST 18, 2024

DRIVERS SOLIDLY IN PLAYOFF PICTURE

One of the most intense battles for the Regular Season Championship is taking shape as Kyle Larson, Tyler Reddick and Chase Elliott are separated by just six points with three races to go. Denny Hamlin is still within striking distance, sitting 21 points back.

Ryan Blaney, Christopher Bell and William Byron have all won multiple races this season, and while a regular-season title isn’t within grasp for the trio, they can still continue to rack up playoff points to position themselves well for the start of the postseason.

Brad Keselowski, Joey Logano, Alex Bowman, Daniel Suárez and Austin Cindric each own a win and have locked in spots in the postseason. Both Suárez and Cindric return to the playoffs after missing out in 2023.

LAST 4 IN

This has to be one of the most hotly contested bubble battles in the postseason era. The fateful end to Martin Truex Jr.’s 2022 regular season is slowly creeping back up to him after an engine failure at Richmond now has him just 78 points above the current elimination line. While he was the runner-up at Michigan last year, he’s yet to win at the track, and waiting in the wings to take the next playoff spot is the defending winner whom Truex lost out to last year — Chris Buescher.

Buescher has been overdue for a breakthrough this season, and while it hasn’t come yet, Michigan is his best chance to finally secure a spot in the postseason. The No. 17 RFK Racing driver led a quarter of the laps in the Irish Hills last season to get win No. 2 of 2023. Now, Monday becomes the opportunity to clutch up again to close the regular season like he did last year as Ford goes for its 10th consecutive win at the track.

Out of all those on the bubble, Bubba Wallace has the most momentum heading into the final weeks of the regular season. Four top 10s in the last five races have the No. 23 23XI Racing driver three points to the good ahead of Michigan, and with both Daytona and Darlington being favorable tracks for the veteran, Wallace is the likeliest of the group of five on the bubble to stretch the gap to the elimination line and advance.

On the flip side of momentum, Ty Gibbs’ summer has been one to forget. Outside of a third-place result at the Chicago Street Course, the No. 54 Joe Gibbs Racing driver has just one finish inside the top 20 since Gateway. Whether it’s an equipment issue that has been plaguing JGR since Hamlin’s engine failure at Sonoma or just in-race execution, Gibbs is in desperate need of a big points day at Michigan before the wild card of Daytona creates 400 miles of stress for the team.

FIRST 4 OUT

Entering the season, would you have thought Ross Chastain would be on the outside looking in with just three races to go? Well, that’s where the 2022 Championship 4 driver and last year’s Phoenix title race winner sits right now as he’s even with Buescher for the 16th and final spot. (Buescher owns the tiebreaker with the best finish.) Without a victory yet in 2024, a top five at Richmond last weekend didn’t really do much to improve Chastain’s position.

However, Michigan could be a saving grace as both Suárez and Chastain have led 10+ laps each in the last two races in the Irish Hills and both grabbed top 10s in last year’s event.

Michael McDowell will be an intriguing driver to watch with Front Row Motorsports’ Tier 1 support from Ford and technical alliance with Team Penske. You wouldn’t ping the organization as one to win at this track type but practice and qualifying will be a good indicator of if this team has race-contending speed.

WHO CAN SHAKE UP PLAYOFF PICTURE AT MICHIGAN?

McDowell’s experience lends better to his abilities to perform in good equipment but with his departure to Spire Motorsports after this season, it opens the door for Todd Gilliland to have a big weekend in Ford’s backyard. Outside of his Pocono crash, the No. 38 driver has finished inside the top 20 in every race since Kansas in May, and with Ford being the top dog at Michigan, it could be a special weekend for the rising Cup star.

MORE: 2024 Cup Series schedule | How to get notified for 2025 schedule release

Before each race weekend, check back into The Field of 16 to see the latest projections of the 2024 Cup Series playoff field.

Posted on August 15, 2024 by Team Release

KANNAPOLIS, N.C. (Aug. 15, 2024) — Haas Factory Team has hired Aaron Kramer to be the crew chief for driver Cole Custer and the No. 41 NASCAR Cup Series team in 2025.

Kramer will come to Haas Factory Team after the 2024 season from RFK Racing, with whom Haas Factory Team will have a technical alliance. The 35-year-old from Wellsville, New York is currently the lead race engineer for Cup Series driver Chris Buescher and the No. 17 team.

Kramer has been with RFK since 2016, rising from an electrical and data systems engineer who oversaw the team’s 8-post advanced track simulator rig to lead race engineer on RFK’s No. 60 NASCAR Xfinity Series team in 2018. Kramer was promoted to Cup in 2019, working as the secondary race engineer for two years with the No. 6 team and driver Ryan Newman before moving to the No. 17 team in 2021 with Buescher.

Kramer was on the pit box for Buescher’s first Cup Series win with RFK on Sept. 17, 2022, at Bristol Motor Speedway before becoming the lead race engineer for the No. 17 team in 2023. Since then, Kramer has won three more races with Buescher and helped orchestrate his career-best finish of seventh in last year’s championship standings.

“Aaron’s engineering pedigree and his history with RFK Racing are great assets for Haas Factory Team. We’re proud to have him join our team,” said Joe Custer, president of Haas Factory Team. “NASCAR, and the Cup Series in particular, has become very engineering-driven. Limited track time and the nuances of the Next Gen car have put a premium on simulation and data, and to really maximize all that information, you need people who can apply that information to the car and work closely with the driver to fine-tune the car. Aaron is that person, and we’re confident he can build a team of like-minded people who will have our race team ready to go for 2025.”

Kramer earned a mechanical engineering degree from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte (UNCC) in 2016. Throughout his college years, Kramer was immersed in racing. After being the car chief at K-Automotive Motorsports for driver Brian Keselowski in 2010, Kramer joined Max-Q Motorsports in 2011. He was the front-end mechanic for the team’s No. 37 Cup Series entry during his freshman year at UNCC. From 2012 through the midpoint of 2015, Kramer built engines at Arrington Racing Engines. He spent the remainder of 2015 with BorgWarner Turbo Systems as a commercial vehicle application engineer. Kramer joined Penske Technology Group in 2016, providing wind tunnel support and operating the team’s 7-post rig with cars from Team Penske’s NASCAR and IndyCar operations. That time with Penske paved Kramer’s path to RFK.

“This is a great opportunity and I’m very grateful for it,” Kramer said. “I’ve been working toward the crew chief position since I was racing go-karts in high school. It’s a proud moment to have it come with Haas Factory Team. Their alliance with RFK makes the learning curve a little less steep because I’m very familiar with the people and processes at RFK.

“Having Cole as the driver is a huge asset. He’s highly motivated and dedicated to his craft. He puts in the time away from the track so that he’s ready every time he climbs into the race car. That’s what you want as a crew chief. We’re going to push each other and support each other to get the best results possible.”

Custer is the reigning Xfinity Series champion and current Xfinity Series points leader, who secured his spot in the playoffs with a victory on July 13 at Pocono Raceway. Custer’s move to Haas Factory Team in 2025 brings the 26-year-old back to the Cup Series, where he was the 2020 Rookie of the Year and a race winner in just his 20th career start — July 12, 2020, at Kentucky Speedway in Sparta.

“I’m very happy to have Aaron join Haas Factory Team,” Custer said. “Crew chief is a crucial piece in the makeup of a race team and Aaron brings a lot to our program. His background will really be a plus for me and our whole organization. Both of us still have jobs to do this year, but it’s reassuring to know that he’ll be my guy on top of the pit box next year.”

Posted on August 15, 2024August 18, 2024 by Pat DeCola

Here’s what’s happening in the world of NASCAR with Richmond in the rearview and Michigan (Mon., 11 a.m. ET, USA) up next.

THE LINEUP ️

1️⃣ Does Austin Dillon still have realistic path to playoffs?

2️⃣ Could we see another surprise at Michigan?

3️⃣ Around the Track: Manufacturer pride on line at Michigan

4️⃣ Will Martin finally make it happen at Michigan?

5️⃣ Catch the pack — news and notes from around the garage

Logan Whitton | Getty Images

1. Does Austin Dillon still have a realistic path to playoffs?

Despite sinking back to sub-30th in the standings, there’s still a chance we see No. 3 in the 2024 NASCAR Playoffs.

Who would’ve thought the most controversial victory in the history of the No. 3 Chevrolet would be with Austin Dillon behind the wheel?

The now five-time Cup Series winner stirred up controversy following his aggressively dramatic victory at Richmond Raceway this past Sunday. What could have been a crowning achievement and a wholly unexpected playoff surprise quickly morphed into a contentious debate before NASCAR officials ruled Wednesday that Dillon was ineligible for the playoffs based on the Richmond result.

With four playoff spots back on the table, it begs the question — will Dillon find his way back into one of them?

With just three regular-season races left — Michigan, Daytona and Darlington — No. 3’s path to the playoffs becomes a high-stakes chess match, now with a target on his back after drawing the ire of Denny Hamlin, Joey Logano and beyond (even 23XI Racing’s Tyler Reddick showed Dillon, his former teammate, displeasure on the cooldown lap.)

First up is Monday’s race at Michigan (11 a.m. ET, USA Network, MRN Radio, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio, NBC Sports App), a 2-mile oval where Dillon has had moderate success. The larger tracks on the circuit have tended to be his bread-and-butter at times, and five top 10s in the Irish Hills are tied for fourth-most at any track for him, with a pair of top-fives tied for third on his career resume. A 2018 trip there in the Xfinity Series resulted in a visit to Victory Lane, so it’s possible he once again flips the playoffs and wins Monday.

Daytona comes the week after, a track known for its unpredictability and the potential for surprise winners — only Dillon wouldn’t be a surprise winner if he takes the checkered flag there. The 2018 Daytona 500 winner is not only a threat every time the series heads to a superspeedway, but he’s also won this race before in a similar position — from below the elimination line to propel himself into the 2022 playoffs.

That win at Daytona came when he was 262 points below the bubble, the largest deficit overcome in history, save for Kyle Busch’s 2015 playoff entrance when he was 327 points out after missing the first 11 races due to injury.

(Worth noting — Dillon was 265 points below the elimination line heading into Richmond.)

If we make it to the regular-season finale at Darlington and Dillon failed to clinch at the previous two races, that might just about do it for his postseason chances, however. We’ve seen unsung winners at “The Track Too Tough to Tame,” but the No. 3 driver has plenty of history at the track and has never led a single lap in 16 starts. That said, a 2020 runner-up suggests he can at least find the front of the field … but this is a driver that mostly hasn’t sniffed the lead all year, with his 35 circuits out front at Richmond being his first laps led all season.

Jonathan Bachman | Getty Images

2. Could we see another surprise at Michigan?

With manufacturer emphasis and bragging rights at stake, along with a potential playoff spot, the 2-mile track could see drama of its own.

And now to shift gears — because, amazingly, we’re just a few days away from Michigan potentially slotting in another surprise playoff contender or more drama bubbling to the surface as the postseason pressure mounts.

Michigan doesn’t scream “wild-card race” — but ask yourself, before last weekend, did Richmond?

MORE: Analysis: Playoff picture altered again after Richmond penalties

Regardless of Dillon’s eventual playoff-berth revocation, he still had a fast car all weekend, seemingly out of nowhere relative to the rest of the season, and it’s possible another dark-horse team spent its two-week Olympic break focusing on Michigan.

Ford has been the manufacturer to beat at Michigan, having won the last nine races there, five of which have come at the hands of now-retired Kevin Harvick. His former team Stewart-Haas Racing, with four Ford drivers in its stable itching to make the playoffs, likely has this race circled on the proverbial shop calendar and could be competitive despite a disappointing season to date.

However, only one of the last 11 Michigan races was won by a driver securing his first victory of the season, so a surprise winner might not be likely.

The lengthy Ford streak is also the longest ever by a single make at Michigan, and the significance of the Heritage Trophy, awarded to the winning manufacturer, is not lost on blue-oval drivers. Team Penske’s Ryan Blaney emphasized the importance of keeping the trophy in the Motor City.

“We take a lot of pride in that trophy, the Heritage Trophy, and obviously Ford from being right there, it’s really important,” the reigning champ said recently. “Edsel (Ford II) definitely makes sure that we know that it is important that we keep that there in Detroit at their home base. I was fortunate enough to win there a few years ago (2021) and have Edsel there and see that excitement in him, so yeah, it’d be important to keep the streak going. Hopefully we can at least make a run at it and keep that trophy where it belongs.”

Toyota-backed Joe Gibbs Racing finds itself in an unusual position at Michigan. Despite winning the last five stages at this track, JGR has been winless in the last 13 Michigan races, with 91 wins on 23 different tracks since its last victory in the Irish Hills. Martin Truex Jr. is still in need of clinching his playoff berth, and it’s possible it finally happens this weekend, along with his first career Michigan win — more on him below.

This season has seen seven drivers end winless streaks of at least 42 races, tying the record set in 2010 and 2013, and Michigan has been a place where eight drivers have historically broken winless streaks of at least 41 races.

If your ears are ringing right now, Kyle Busch, you know why.

3. Around the Track: Manufacturer pride on line at Michigan

The annual NASCAR trip to Michigan International Speedway means bragging rights are at stake in the birth state of Ford and Chevrolet.

4. Will Martin finally make it happen at Michigan?

Martin Truex Jr. needs a win badly, and owns the longest active top-10 streak at Michigan — but he’s never won there. He’s come close, though, and his runner-ups at the track have him in the history books.

Most runner-up finishes at a track without a win

Driver	Runner-ups	Track
Mark Martin	7	Pocono
Bobby Allison	6	Martinsville
Harry Gant	5	Rockingham
Terry Labonte	5	Daytona
Martin Truex Jr.	4	Michigan
Marvin Panch	4	Martinsville
Benny Parsons	4	Martinsville
Ricky Rudd	4	Bristol
Matt Kenseth	4	Indianapolis

5. Catch the pack — news and notes from around the garage

Power Rankings: Might Austin Dillon win again before playoffs?

Joey Logano penalized after pit-road incident at Richmond

Richard Childress Racing to appeal Richmond penalties

Paint Scheme Preview: Michigan

NASCAR betting: 2024 Michigan race odds

Erik Jones set for 2025 return to Legacy Motor Club

Irate Joey Logano lambastes Austin Dillon’s last lap: ‘It’s a bunch of BS’

Dillon, Richard Childress defend Richmond ruckus: ‘When given that shot, you just got to take it’

@nascarcasm: Fake texts to Richmond 2024 winner Austin Dillon

How to get notified for 2025 schedule release

Suárez, Trackhouse make most of tire options, shake up strategy for Richmond top 10

First look: Chase Elliott’s DESI9N TO DRIVE paint scheme for Atlanta

Updated championship odds following Richmond

signage at michigan international speedway — Getty Images

Posted on August 15, 2024August 18, 2024 by Staff Report

Kaulig Racing announced Thursday that AJ Allmendinger will return to the NASCAR Cup Series next season, tapping him for full-time driving duties.

Allmendinger currently drives in the NASCAR Xfinity Series, where he’s competed full-time for the Matt Kaulig-owned operation in three of the last four seasons. The 42-year-old veteran has also piloted Kaulig’s No. 16 in 10 Cup Series races this year, splitting time with a host other of drivers — Ty Dillon, Derek Kraus, Shane van Gisbergen and Josh Williams.

MORE: Key players in 2024-25 Silly Season

Allmendinger has driven for the Kaulig organization since 2019, when he signed on for five Xfinity Series races. That stint included his first NASCAR national-series victory in nearly five years, and Allmendinger’s workload increased to full-time duties in 2021.

His victory total has also grown. Two of his three career triumphs in the NASCAR Cup Series have come during his time with Kaulig, and his Xfinity Series win count now stands at 17 — with 15 of those achieved in the last five-plus seasons.

Kaulig ventured into the Cup Series in 2020 with a one-off Daytona 500 effort for Justin Haley, but quickly grew to be a full-time Cup operation two years later by fielding two full-time, chartered cars. Allmendinger returned to Cup full-time in 2023, producing his most recent win at the Charlotte Motor Speedway oval and road-course layout, before returning to Xfinity on a full-time basis this season.

Allmendinger currently ranks sixth in the Xfinity Series standings, with three top-five finishes in 20 starts. He is slated for double duty this weekend at Michigan International Speedway, where he’ll drive the No. 16 Chevy in Saturday’s Xfinity Series Cabo Wabo 250 (3:30 p.m. ET) and Monday’s Cup Series FireKeepers Casino 400 (11 a.m. ET), both races broadcast on USA Network, NBC Sports App, MRN Radio and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio.

Posted on August 15, 2024 by Holly Cain

After an extra off week, the NASCAR Xfinity Series returns to competition this weekend at Michigan International Speedway in Saturday’s Cabo Wabo 250 (3:30 p.m. ET, USA, MRN Radio, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio, NBC Sports App).

It’s been a good stretch for the Stewart-Haas Racing duo of championship points leader Cole Custer, who won at Pocono Raceway, and his teammate Riley Herbst, who won at Indianapolis — the last two races before the break.

MORE: Full Michigan schedule | Xfinity Series standings

Custer’s victory and a season of solid finishes have separated him among the top four in regular season championship contention. He holds a 56-point edge over JR Motorsports’ Justin Allgaier, an 87-point advantage over Richard Childress Racing’s Austin Hill and a 100-point gap over Joe Gibbs Racing’s Chandler Smith — the top of the standings offering a diverse representation of teams.

Kaulig Racing’s AJ Allmendinger is the only current Xfinity Series championship contender with a win at the 2-mile Michigan track — claiming the 2021 trophy by a slight .163-second over Brandon Jones, then with JGR, now with JR Motorsports. Allmendinger has that victory and a seventh-place finish in his two Xfinity Series starts at the track. He’s yet to win a race in 2024 but is the highest-ranked driver (ninth) without a victory.

Eight drivers have earned race victories to clinch a position in the 12-driver playoffs, with six races still remaining in the regular season. New Zealander Shane van Gisbergen leads the playoff standings, with the Kaulig Racing driver boasting a series-best three wins. Hill, Chandler Smith and JRM’s Sam Mayer have a pair of wins. Custer, Allgaier, Herbst and rookie Jesse Love round out the list of winners.

Allmendinger, Sheldon Creed, Parker Kligerman and Ryan Sieg currently hold the final playoff positions based on points. Sieg is only three points up on Sammy Smith, however, for that final transfer position with Jones next, 69 points below the elimination line.

Defending race winner John Hunter Nemechek is entered this week, driving the No. 20 Toyota for Joe Gibbs Racing. Daniel Dye, who just qualified for the Craftsman Truck Series Playoffs last weekend, will drive the No. 10 Kaulig Racing Chevrolet. Young standout Carson Kvapil will be in the JR Motorsports No. 88 Chevrolet.

Practice is at 3:30 p.m. ET Friday, followed by qualifying at 4:10 p.m. ET. Both sessions will air live on NBC Sports App.