Kevin Harvick has secured a spot in the 2021 NASCAR Playoffs.
The driver of the No. 4 Stewart-Haas Racing Ford clinched a berth by virtue of Ryan Blaney, a two-time winning driver in 2021, taking the checkered flag Sunday at Michigan International Speedway. Harvick finished 14th in Sunday’s FireKeepers Casino 400, race No. 25 of the season. Fifteen drivers have now clinched a spot in the NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs.
Harvick entered the race with the ninth-most points in the NASCAR Cup Series, but he was 15th in the provisional field with 13 winners having already locked their positions up and fellow non-winner Denny Hamlin outpacing Harvick in points. When it came to the playoff picture, Harvick was 95 points above the final spot, and with that kind of cushion, he was the only driver capable of clinching solely on points.
He needed to be 56 points ahead of the third winless driver in the standings. A win would have done the trick, too. No first-time winners at Michigan made his points gap insurmountable, and he ended the day 104 points up on 17th-place Austin Dillon.
Harvick has qualified for the NASCAR Playoffs 15 times now — and every season since 2009. The current four-round format was introduced in 2014, the year of Harvick’s only Cup title. He followed that up with a runner-up finish to Kyle Busch in 2015.
Last season, Harvick missed the Championship 4 for the first time since 2016, ultimately placing fifth in the final standings.
One regular-season race remains, Saturday at Daytona International Speedway (7 p.m. ET on NBC/NBC Sports App, MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio) with the Coke Zero Sugar 400. Harvick has won twice at Daytona, with his most recent victory there coming in 2010.
Ryan Blaney took the lead on a restart with eight laps remaining and skillfully held off a frantic field to earn the victory Sunday in the FireKeepers Casino 400 at Michigan International Speedway in the penultimate race of the NASCAR Cup Series regular season.
Those eight laps out front were the only laps Blaney’s No. 12 Team Penske Ford led on the afternoon but it was good enough to give him his second victory of the season — by a modern-day track-record margin of .077 seconds over Hendrick Motorsports’ William Byron, who had teammate Kyle Larson close behind.
Blaney credited Joe Gibbs Racing driver Kyle Busch with giving him a push from behind on the final restart to get out front, and the popular 27-year-old Blaney took it from there, using all the track to keep the field behind him.
Kurt Busch and Denny Hamlin finished fourth and fifth with Matt DiBenedetto, Kyle Busch, Chase Elliott, Brad Keselowski and Martin Truex Jr. rounding out the top 10.
“We got a great push by the 18 (Kyle Busch) on the restart and were able to get clear there,” Blaney said. “Michigan you pretty much run wide open and just play the air game.
“Such a huge win for Ford,” he added. “I’m fired up.”
Blaney conceded he didn’t necessarily consider himself an odds-on favorite coming into the race but credited his team for the improvements they made to his Ford all day. He finished runner-up at Indianapolis last week, giving the organization some well-timed momentum heading into the Playoffs in two weeks.
As with his late-race rally at Indy, Blaney made steady gains all afternoon. Most of the early race was a battle between Larson (who led 70 laps), Elliott (68) and Hamlin (10) – the three drivers combining to lead 148 of the 200 laps.
Different pit strategies affected the final run – with some drivers getting a variation of two tires or four tires with their fuel. When the final stops cycled out Byron led Larson and Hamlin. A brief caution came out for rain with 21 laps remaining and another for a seven-car accident with 14 laps to go.
“Honestly I think I was maybe a little too patient behind the 12 (Blaney),” said Larson, who leads the regular-season championship standings by 28 points over Hamlin with only one race left to decide the 15-point championship bonus. “Just made a couple wrong moves and allowed Blaney to get by me.
“I was never close enough to William (Byron) to help him generate a run on the 12,” Larson added. “Good points day. Wish we could have gotten more, but all in all, a good day.’’
Stewart-Haas Racing driver Kevin Harvick finished 14th which was good enough to secure the 15th Playoff position on points heading into Daytona.
Richard Childress Racing’s Tyler Reddick is in 16th place after a late spin and an eventful 29th-place finish. He holds a slim 25-point edge on his teammate Austin Dillon for the 16th and final Playoff position. DiBenedetto is 18th, 120 points behind, meaning he would have to win at Daytona to qualify for the Playoffs.
For much of the Michigan race, it looked like Dillon was in position to hold the upper edge going to Daytona. He ran top five (led a pair of laps) and moved that Playoff duel into a tie after the Stage 1 break.
But contact between Keselowski and Dillon just after taking the Stage 2 green-checkered flag spun Dillon’s No. 3 Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet across the track and hard into the wall. Dillon had crossed the line sixth and Keselowski seventh before the contact.
For his part, Keselowski immediately radioed his crew, “Man, I didn’t want to do that, I just wanted to hold him down (track).”
After being released from the infield care center, Dillon said he watched a replay and didn’t understand the hard racing after taking the stage flag.
“I was just trying to get as many stage points as I could get,” Dillon said. “Did a good job side-drafting. I was starting to come off the apron because it’s so rough down there. I figured by that point, he’d give me some room. Just hate it. I don’t know why it happened really. I thought I had a little room to come up and he just held me down there a little too long, I guess.”
Daytona has been a good venue for Dillon. The grandson of team owner Richard Childress won the 2018 Daytona 500 and has eight top-10 finishes in 16 starts there, including a third place back in February.
Elliott and Kyle Busch divided the stage wins before registering top-10 finishes. Elliott led 68 laps and dipped to eighth in the final order. Busch rallied after sustaining minor right-front damage in an early scrape with teammate Truex, then overshot his pit stall on his final stop. He wound up seventh.
The NASCAR Cup Series’ next race is Saturday’s Coke Zero Sugar 400 (7 p.m. ET, NBC, MRN, SiriusXM), the regular-season finale. The playoff field of 16 title-eligible drivers will be set after the 400-mile event.
Notes: Ford retained the Michigan Heritage Trophy, presented to the winning manufacturer at the 2-mile track. Ford drivers have won the last seven Cup Series races at Michigan. “This is such a big deal for our company, for our employees,” said Mark Rushbrook, the global director of Ford Performance. “To come here and race in front of all of our employees and their friends and families and have Ryan go get that win with Team Penske and Roush Yates power. We are taking the Heritage Trophy back to Dearborn.” … Post-race inspection was completed in the Cup Series garage without major issue. The No. 42 Chip Ganassi Racing Chevrolet (driver Ross Chastain) lost an axle during the race, which will result in a one-race suspension for car chief David Fero. Two teams — the No. 23 23XI Racing Toyota (driver Bubba Wallace) and the No. 51 Petty Ware Racing Chevrolet (driver Cody Ware) — were found with one unsecured lug nut each in a post-race check. … Part-time Xfinity Series competitor Josh Berry finished 26th in his second Cup Series start. Berry subbed in for the No. 7 Spire Motorsports team after Corey LaJoie was sidelined this week under COVID-19 protocols.
Austin Dillon’s hopes for making up ground in the NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs hunt took a significant hit Sunday after a mid-race tangle with Brad Keselowski in Sunday’s NASCAR Cup Series event at Michigan International Speedway.
Dillon’s No. 3 Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet had just crossed the start-finish line in sixth place at the end of Stage 2 in the FireKeepers Casino 400. His car made contact with the No. 2 Team Penske Ford of seventh-place Brad Keselowski, sending the No. 3 hard into the outside retaining wall on the track’s sweeping frontstretch.
“My bad, guys,” said Dillon over the team’s radio communications. Team owner Richard Childress replied on the No. 3 radio: “Hit him on purpose. I’m an old man but I’d kick his ass.”
Keselowski apologized on the No. 2 team radio. “Aw, man. I didn’t want to do that,” he said, adding the contact was not intentional.
“I was starting to come up off the apron because it’s so rough down there,” Dillon said after he was checked and released from the track’s infield care center. “But I figured by that point, he would have given me a little room. I hate it. I’m thankful that the good Lord kept me safe today. That was a heck of a wreck, but I feel fine. I hate it for (sponsor) BREZTRI and my guys, most of all. They built a rocket ship. They really wanted this one, and I did, too. Just working our tails off right there. I think we would have had a shot to do something there at the end with our race car. It’s the best race car we’ve brought to the track at RCR this year, I feel like.
“It’s just a bummer but we’ve got Daytona left and I just hate it. I don’t know why it happened, really. I thought I had a little room to come up and he just held me down there a little bit too long, I guess.”
Dillon — in a fevered pursuit of RCR teammate Tyler Reddick for a final playoff spot — quickly rose from the 26th starting position, leading two laps and running among the top five through the first half of the race. One race remains in the regular season — Saturday’s finale at Daytona International Speedway (7 p.m. ET, NBC, MRN, SiriusXM).
Dillon finished 36th in the 37-car field but earned 14 points thanks to strong finishes of third and sixth at each stage break. That total was actually better than Reddick’s 11-point day, a total that was hurt by a solo spin with a flat tire with six laps remaining. He finished 29th. Reddick’s lead in his bid for the final playoff spot actually shrank from 28 points to 25 entering Saturday’s Daytona finale.
Keselowski continued to finish ninth in his home-state race.
“I am bummed. I wanted of course to get a win and I hate that I had that contact with the 3,” Keselowski said. “That really sucks for everybody. It really hurt our day and obviously ruined his. That was crappy. So it goes.”
Monday, August 23 2 a.m., NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Toyota 200 presented by CK Power, FS1 (re-air)
6 p.m., NASCAR Race Hub, FS1
7 p.m., Renegades: The Bad Boys of NASCAR, FS1 (re-air)
Tuesday, August 24 4 a.m., NASCAR Race Hub: Race Hub Game Night – Part 1, FS2 (re-air)
5 a.m., NASCAR Race Hub: Race Hub Game Night – Part 2, FS2 (re-air)
6 a.m., NASCAR Race Hub: Best of Features – Part 1, FS2 (re-air)
7 a.m., NASCAR Race Hub: Best of Features – Part 2, FS2 (re-air) 6 p.m., NASCAR Race Hub, FS1
Wednesday, August 25
6 p.m., NASCAR Race Hub, FS1 Chase documentary premieres on Peacock today.
Thursday, August 26
6 p.m., NASCAR Race Hub, FS1
6 p.m., Dale Jr. Download, NBCSN
Friday, August 27 8 a.m., NASCAR Race Hub: Best of 2021 Radioactive- Part 1, FS2
9 a.m., NASCAR Race Hub: Best of 2021 Radioactive- Part 2, FS2
10 a.m., NASCAR Race Hub: Legends Show, FS2
2 p.m., NASCAR The Decades: The 1990s, NBCSN (re-air)
2:30 p.m., Dale Jr. Download: Dale Inman, NBCSN (re-air)
3:30 p.m., Dale Jr. Download, NBCSN (re-air)
4:30 p.m., Lost Speedways: Earnhardt Proving Grounds, NBCSN (re-air)
5 p.m., Lost Speedways: In the Still of the Night, NBCSN (re-air)
5:30 p.m., Lost Speedways: Animal House, NBCSN (re-air)
6 p.m., Lost Speedways: Fireball’s Forgotten Georgia Giants, NBCSN (re-air) 6 p.m., NASCAR Race Hub, FS1
6:30 p.m., Lost Speedways: Concrete Palace on the Passaic, NBCSN (re-air)
7 p.m., NASCAR Xfinity Series Countdown to Green, NBCSN/NBC Sports App (Canada: TSN2)
7:30 p.m., NASCAR Xfinity Series Wawa 250, NBCSN/NBC Sports App (Canada: TSN2)–POSTPONED TO SATURDAY
On MRN
7 p.m., NASCAR Xfinity Series Wawa 250
Saturday, August 28
12:30 p.m., NASCAR Xfinity Series Wawa 250, NBCSN/NBC Sports App (Canada: TSN2)
3 p.m., NASCAR RaceDay: Daytona, FS1
5 p.m., Chase, NBCSN/NBC Sports App
6 p.m., NASCAR America, NBCSN/NBC Sports App
6:30 p.m., NASCAR Cup Series Countdown to Green, NBCSN/NBC Sports App (Canada: TSN5)
7 p.m., NASCAR Cup Series: Coke Zero Sugar 400, NBC/NBC Sports App (Canada: TSN5)
11 p.m., NASCAR Cup Series Post-Race Show, NBCSN/NBC Sports App
11:30 p.m., Lost Speedways: Earnhardt Proving Grounds, NBCSN (re-air)
On MRN
12:30 p.m., NASCAR Xfinity Series Wawa 250
6 p.m., NASCAR Cup Series Coke Zero Sugar 400
Sunday, August 29
Midnight, Lost Speedways: In the Still of the Night, NBCSN (re-air)
12:30 a.m., Lost Speedways: Animal House, NBCSN (re-air)
4:30 p.m., NASCAR ARCA Menards Series West NAPA Auto Parts 150 presented by Sunrise Ford, NBCSN/NBC Sports App (tape delay)
5:30 p.m., NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour Rumble at the Ridge 200, NBCSN/NBC Sports App (tape delay)
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. — The NASCAR Foundation and Ford Performance unveiled today a custom-designed, all-electric 2021 Ford Mustang Mach-E donated by Ford Performance as the grand prize for the non-profit’s second-annual car giveaway fundraiser.
Starting on Aug. 1 until Nov. 7, fans can enter to win for a $25 donation at NASCARfoundation.org/cargiveaway. Four fans will be selected as finalists, winning a VIP trip to Phoenix for NASCAR Championship Weekend where one of them will get to take home a brand new 2021 Ford Mustang Mach-E.
“We’re very grateful to have the support from Ford because without them, this wouldn’t be possible,” said Nichole Krieger, The NASCAR Foundation executive director. “The 2021 Ford Mustang Mach-E is an incredible car and we’re confident it will help us raise funds that will allow the foundation to continue its mission of helping kids across our local racing communities.”
Recognized as the 2021 Utility Vehicle of The Year, the 2021 Ford Mustang Mach-E is Ford’s first all-electric crossover. Inspired in the automaker’s iconic pony car, the Mustang Mach-E can provide up to 305 miles of driving range when paired with the extended-range battery. The Mustang Mach-E also features 19-inch wheels, a panoramic fixed-glass roof and a Band & Olufsen 10-Speaker surround sound system. For a full vehicle description please visit Ford.com/suvs/mach-e.
“We’re proud to support The NASCAR Foundation with our all-electric 2021 Mustang Mach-E,” said Jeannee Kirkaldy, Motorsport Marketing Manager, Ford Performance. “We’ve had the chance to introduce the Mach-E to the NASCAR community by allowing our drivers to experience it in their everyday driving, and it had a chance to be the official pace car at the NASCAR Cup Series races at Talladega and Nashville, so we’re excited that one lucky consumer will get to experience this great new car, while benefiting the good works The NASCAR Foundation does.”
Four finalists will be treated to a VIP experience including travel to Phoenix where one of them will be announced as the grand prize winner on Nov. 7. Each finalist will be selected throughout four different phases of the contest. The first finalist will be announced on Aug. 23 based on the entries received from Aug. 1 to Aug. 22. The second finalist will be announced on Sept. 13 based on the entries received from Aug. 22 to Sept. 12. The third finalist will be announced on Oct. 4 based on the entries received from Sept. 13 to Oct. 3. The fourth finalist will be announced on Oct. 25 based on the entries received from Oct. 4 to Oct. 24.
Since it was established in 2006, The NASCAR Foundation has raised nearly $40 million and helped over 1.4 million children in need. The Car Giveaway Fundraiser will continue these efforts, with all proceeds benefiting the Foundation’s initiatives, aimed at improving the health and wellness of children in race markets across the country.
Erik Jones announced Sunday from Michigan International Speedway that he will return to Richard Petty Motorsports for a second season, driving the No. 43 Chevrolet in the 2022 NASCAR Cup Series.
Jones, 25, is in his fifth full season of Cup Series competition. He joined the Richard Petty-owned team in 2021 after eight years with Joe Gibbs Racing and its affiliated teams across all three national series.
“I’m just happy to have it done at this point in the season and to be able to focus not only on the rest of this year but work on getting next year settled in with a new car and everything going on there,” Jones said.
Jones currently sits in a tie for 24th in the Cup Series standings. His best finish this year is a seventh-place result at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Road Course, marking one of three top 10s for RPM this season.
Jones has two Cup Series victories to his credit, both coming at historic tracks on the schedule. He broke through at Daytona International Speedway in July 2018, then prevailed in the Southern 500 at Darlington Raceway the next year — both wins coming in Gibbs’ No. 20 Toyota.
Jones has 16 wins in other NASCAR national series. He drove to the Camping World Truck Series championship in 2015 for Kyle Busch Motorsports.
Richard Petty Motorsports is seeking its first Cup Series win since July 2014, when Aric Almirola prevailed for the team at Daytona.
Two races remain before the NASCAR Cup Series enters its postseason.
With Daytona ahead next weekend, this weekend’s FireKeepers Casino 400 race in Michigan is the last regular-season track visit where competitors can truly control their own destinies. While Daytona is a massive fan favorite, when it comes to NASCAR racing, drivers know they can’t count on success.
They’re not in control of anything at Daytona. So Michigan is the last stop that guarantees a driver and a good car could wrap things with a smile on the face.
So what’s going to happen, and who might lock themselves into the playoff field? We discuss it below:
THE ODDS-ON FAVORITE
Kyle Larson (+260)
Like most of his opponents, Larson has been leaving other drivers in his rearview mirror. Yes, pun fully intended.
But this past week? Larson leap-frogged Denny Hamlin in the NASCAR Cup Series standings, straight up. Not just because he has more wins heading into the pivotal final month but because he actually has outscored the NASCAR veteran of the Cup Series.
Larson now stands atop the standings and seemingly can win anywhere. He’s a big-time threat to win every weekend. He’s a perfect driver to lead things off with this weekend, and the NASCAR racing odds reflect it.
During his young career, this year’s points leader has started 12 Cup Series races at Michigan with five top-five finishes. He has three wins.
That’s right — three wins in 12 starts.
We’re not sure any NASCAR driver would deny that batting one out of four for wins-to-starts as a ratio is a great deal.
OTHERS: Kyle Busch (+650) is Kyle Busch. He’s always a threat. With 32 career starts here and 14 top-10 finishes, he understandably is a serious candidate to win. Sounds like a broken record? He’s won here before, has nine top-five finishes … you name it. He’s good. Thus his status.
With 59 career Cup Series wins, 102 Xfinity wins and 62 Camping World Truck Series victories — he’s proven he can do anything, anywhere.
THE DARK HORSE THREAT
Kevin Harvick (+750)
Harvick’s the most dominant Cup Series driver of the current field when it comes to Michigan. He’s won five races in 40 career starts and has 21 top-10 finishes. Larson, Joey Logano, and Kurt Busch have won three apiece — but Harvick is the best here.
Two things put him in this slot: He’s traditionally strong at Michigan, and aside from Phoenix (nine career wins), one could make the argument this is his second-best NASCAR track when it comes to the Cup Series.
Secondly? He’s hungry to make this postseason field after the final two regular-season races. If he posts a win this weekend at one of his top tracks, he doesn’t have to sweat Daytona.
Harvick knows how to navigate Michigan. Will this one lock him into the NASCAR Cup Series Playoff mix?
THE INTRIGUING LONG SHOT
Austin Dillon (+5000)
You might be scratching your head when it comes to Dillon occupying this spot, but don’t scratch too long. Dillon is not too shabby at Michigan. While his strongest venues are the restrictor-plate tracks and places like Darlington and Homestead — there’s no question there’s a connection with Michigan, results-wise.
He’s decent here (16.4 average finish). He has won here in the Xfinity Series. The idea he could challenge for success this weekend isn’t far-fetched.
He may not be a fighter, but Ron Silk proved he was ready to rumble late Saturday night, passing Matt Hirschman with less than 10 laps remaining to win the Rumble at the Ridge 200 at Maine’s Beech Ridge Speedway.
The win was Silk’s first of the season and 16th of the veteran’s career, coming in a season that’s been up and down for the No. 85 Kevin Stuart-led machine.
“Pretty damn good,” Silk said with a smirk of how he was feeling in Victory Lane. “We had a great car the whole race. I knew right from the beginning that we were going to have a car that had a shot to win. Just pumped for all my guys to get them back to Victory Lane. … A great night for us.”
Like most of the field, it was Silk’s first trip to the third-mile Scarborough oval, being the Whelen Modified Tour’s first event at the facility in over 15 years.
But he and eventual runner-up Hirschman made it seem like they were veterans at the track, slowly conserving their equipment while running inside the top five, preparing for a late-race battle.
Known on the tour as the best of the best when it comes to tire conservation, Hirschman led the opening 62 laps from the pole and dominated most of the event. He just couldn’t hold off the hard-charging Silk in the closing stages.
The second-place finish for Hirschman is his worst result of 2021 — because it’s only his second start of the season. He’s chosen to enter only a handful of races on the tour, and after winning Oswego and another strong showing at Beech Ridge, explained why he and the No. 60 team decided to Rumble at the Ridge of all places.
“A lot of people ask, ‘Well why’d you come here?’ The answer to be honest is it’s just a different race track,” Hirschman said. “I like to see different places on the schedule, get to go to new tracks. And for the first time here we did pretty well. We just gotta be a little bit better and hopefully we have the opportunity to come back here again.”
Beating Hirschman gives Silk even an added ounce of satisfaction with this particular win.
“It was exciting racing there with Matt at the end,” he said. “Feels good to beat him. You beat the best. We got four more (races) to go and we’re gonna go and try win some more.”
After losing a lap due to the right rear tire falling off the hub under caution, Patrick Emerling came home third for his seventh top five of the year. Still trailing Justin Bonsignore in the overall points standings, the driver of the No. 07 thinks if a late caution came out, they would’ve been able to challenge for their third victory of 2021.
“We improved upon our car a lot on the pit stops there,” he said. “We were knocking on the door of Matty (Hirschman) and I think we were the fastest car on the track at the end. Good points day for us. First time here, we can’t be disappointed salvaging a pretty solid day over a pretty major issue we had in the pits and getting ourselves trapped a lap down.”
Entering only his fourth race of the year, Matt Swanson came home fourth, his first top 10 and best result this season. Doug Coby, who was one of only two drivers with prior NWMT experience at Beech Ridge entering the 200-lap event, rebounded from a mid-race spin that put him a lap down to finish fifth.
Anthony Nocella, Kyle Bonsignore, Justin Bonsignore, Kyle Ebersole and J.B Fortin completed the top 10 finishers.
Despite only his second finish outside the top five this season, defending series champion Justin Bonsignore holds his points lead over Emerling with just four races remaining on the slate. Entering the event third in the standings, Jon McKennedy finished 16th, 13 laps down with front-end issues.
Up next for the Whelen Modified Tour is a trip to Owesgo Speedway on Sept. 4 for the Toyota Mod Classic 150. Earlier this year, Hirschman was victorious at the 5/8-mile, with Bonsignore taking the win in 2019.
Josh Berry opened his week by revealing he’d have full-time driving duties for JR Motorsports in 2022. Any earned mojo from the announcement carried into the weekend, where he reaffirmed he’s still a more-than-capable part-timer in the NASCAR Xfinity Series ranks this season.
Berry dazzled again in his first career start at Michigan International Speedway, leading 24 of 139 laps before settling in for a fourth-place finish in Saturday’s New Holland 250. The 30-year-old Tennessee native led until AJ Allmendinger took command on a Lap 122 restart, holding on for the eventual win through three overtimes. Berry apologized to his JRM crew on the radio after the checkered flag and struck a similar tone of regret in post-race interviews.
“When I go to sleep tonight I’m going to say that I ran fourth with the best car,” Berry told NBC Sports.
Berry, running a partial schedule in the Xfinity Series this year, was making his second start in the No. 1 Chevrolet as a replacement for Michael Annett, who is still recovering from surgery for a stress fracture in his right leg. Berry dropped to the back of the 40-car field in pace laps because of the driver change but quickly moved upward; he finished in the points at both stage breaks before the halfway mark.
The longtime Late Model ace inserted his name into the conversation for the win in the final stage, rising from the top-10 bracket into the top five. By Lap 88, he took the lead for the first time with a nifty three-wide move from third place, dispatching both Allmendinger and JRM teammate Justin Allgaier.
“That’s how you do it, boys!” Berry exclaimed to his crew after threading the Turn 2 gap past both cars. His No. 1 team concurred on the radio: “Yeah, that was pretty slick right there.”
Berry’s strength wasn’t lost on Allmendinger, who wrapped up his third win of the season Saturday and fortified his stature as a title contender.
“I mean, I think Josh is going to be like really, really tough next year,” Allmendinger said. “I mean, JR Motorsports is no doubt a great team, been around for a long time. I don’t come from that world of the short-track side of it, but I knew who Josh Berry was for a long time. And I just remember, I think, when he ran a couple of races for JR Motorsports, like a few years ago, maybe Richmond was one of those races where I thought he almost won that. He can get it done, so he’s gonna be really strong.”
On Saturday, a caution period for Jeb Burton’s fuel-less No. 10 Chevrolet was the first in a flurry of late yellows, setting up a handful of restart attempts that eventually forced the race into multiple overtimes. The shuffling on restarts kept Berry out of Victory Lane, but he did net his fifth top-five result in 17 starts this season.
Though the immediate disappointment hit home, Berry was still able to savor the full-scale positives from his year to date. Those high notes included his recent dose of job security as a fixture behind the wheel of JRM’s No. 8 Chevrolet next season.
“Man, it’s just been a whirlwind,” Berry said. “I’m just so thankful for all the opportunities I’ve had, everybody at JR Motorsports for believing in me, man. Today was another day that proved it. I’m disappointed that we didn’t win; I wish it would have went green. I think we were in a great spot but, you know, thankfully for me this week, we learned that I’m not going anywhere, so it’s really another really encouraging run. Looking forward to next year and everything else I got the rest of this year.”
Everything you need to know for Sunday’s race, the 25th points-paying NASCAR Cup Series event of the 2021 season.
Where: Michigan International Speedway, a 2-mile oval located in Brooklyn, Michigan Green flag: 3:16 p.m. ET TV/Radio: NBCSN/NBC Sports App, MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio Forecast: A slight chance of showers before 11 a.m., then a slight chance of showers and thunderstorms between 11 a.m. and 2 p.m., then a slight chance of showers after 2 p.m. Sunny, with a high near 85, according to NOAA.gov Grand Marshal: Healthcare Workers form Henry Ford Health System and Oaklawn Hospital Race distance: 200 laps, 400 miles Stages: 60 | 120 | 200 Pit-road speed: 55 mph Caution car speed: 65 mph Michigan 101: Get the full lowdown
Starting lineup: See who’s in the field | Larson wins Busch pole Pit-stall assignments: See who is pitting where| Expert breaks down pit-road challenges
TV schedule: See the full listings
Five to watch
Here are five big story lines we’ll be following at Michigan International Speedway:
1. OK, if it doesn’t happen here for Kevin Harvick, we can pretty much rule out seeing the No. 4 car in Victory Lane this year. All season, there have been spots in the schedule where it seemed like the Stewart-Haas Racing driver would finally break through and all season, last year’s nine-time victor has remained winless. Out of all 36 races, this weekend might be his best opportunity yet, so if we wake up Monday morning and we aren’t talking about Kevin Harvick’s win, chances are we won’t be doing that until 2022. Harvick is the unquestioned master of Michigan, having won four of the last five there and three straight. He’s finished in the top two in 30% of his 40 starts. Of course, if he doesn’t win this weekend it doesn’t actually rule out a win at some point this year, but Sunday is clearly his best shot remaining. And a win would go a long way to establishing him as a title hopeful in 2021.
2. Harvick is not the favorite, however. Twice in the last nine Michigan races a driver has won three straight, and the other one is (pre-Hendrick Motorsports) Kyle Larson. The No. 5 Chevrolet driver and Sunday’s pole starter is also the only driver to win from the first starting position this year, having done so twice. He’s the oddsmakers’ pick for the weekend, and for good reason as he’s the season’s best driver and this is arguably his best track. Larson could put the finishing touches on a Regular Season Championship this weekend as well, and the only question now is if he can keep up this pace all the way to Phoenix.
3. Larson’s only threat to the Regular Season Championship, of course, is Denny Hamlin. The No. 11 Joe Gibbs Racing driver is now not first in the points standings for the first time since week two of the season after what was looking like a win at Indianapolis turned into a 23rd-place finish. It’s been an interesting year for Hamlin, who had eight top fives in the season’s first nine races but has just four in the past 15. The veteran still clinched a playoff spot last week, however, and many of the season’s early tracks make their return in the playoffs, so after a midseason lull we might be right around the corner from Hamlin domination once again. Perhaps this time he’ll even throw in a win or two.
4. As each race goes by it appears more and more likely that Tyler Reddick is going to be the last man standing in the Richard Childress Racing battle of teammates between he and Austin Dillon for the final playoff spot. The sophomore continues to put distance between himself and his veteran teammate, but the No. 3 driver may have the upper hand in these final two races to add to the intrigue. Last year’s Michigan doubleheader stands as Reddick’s only Cup experience at the track, and it didn’t go well (18th and 24th, no stage points). Dillon hasn’t lit the world on fire at the northern track — and finished 31st himself in one of those races — but did finish fourth there in the August race in both 2015 and 2018. Daytona is still the 2018 500 winner’s best shot, but he could make up a good amount of ground this weekend.
5. It’s hot, there’s a lot of pressure to make the playoffs and drivers are starting to get a little testy with each other after a long regular season. Ah, late-summer NASCAR. The postseason intensity is already starting to ramp up with two races remaining before the title contenders are cut down to 16 and we’re seeing some beefs starting to pop up in the garage (two road courses in a row might have played a helping hand in that). Michigan isn’t the most likely of places for drivers to take out their frustrations with each other — well, except that one time — but several drivers talked about how disrespectful they felt their competitors were at Indy. Drivers have short fuses and long memories, so it isn’t like those transgressions will just be forgotten. The feuds (Hamlin vs. Chase Briscoe, Christopher Bell vs. Larson, Daniel Suarez vs. everybody) may or may not heat up over this weekend, but they’re still simmering in the background ready to boil over.
Race-day staples
Our biggest pieces of the week — get covered for race day from all angles.
•Power Rankings: Locked in, Hamlin now ready to roll? | Scope the ranks •Paint Scheme Preview: Check out the Michigan paint | See the schemes
• Bubble Watch: Where cutline drivers stand before Michigan | See the bubble
• Clinching scenarios: What drivers need to claim their playoff spots | Read more • Playoff Watch: How the full postseason picture looks | See the outlook •Fantasy Fastlane: See which drivers to use, avoid | Full Fantasy advice |Set your roster •Preview Show: Kim Coon and Alex Weaver preview the race | Watch the show
Get in on the action
Think you know NASCAR? Put your mettle to the test with gaming, fantasy.
• Odds: Betting figures for Michigan | See the odds
• Michigan betting: Harvick poised to break through at Michigan | Find out why
• Jackpot Races: Kyle Larson or Kevin Harvick in Group 1? | Watch the video
• Fantasy: Why you should start Larson, bench Byron | Watch the video • The rise: Todd Fuhrman dishes on NASCAR’s ascent as betting sport | Read more • Take a shot at winning cash prizes with the free-to-play Jackpot Races app | Hit the jackpot
• Full guide to 2021 NASCAR Fantasy Live game | Get the FAQ
Michigan memories
NASCAR makes its way back to the Irish Hills. Take a look at some track history and what happened last time out.
•Fast out front: Top 10 lap leaders at Michigan International Speedway | See the list • First-timers: A look back at the first NASCAR Cup race at Michigan | Read more • Irish Hills smile on Chase: Michigan stands as Elliott’s best track | Read analysis
• Memorable moments: See the most memory-worth moments at Michigan | See the history
Fast five
Hard-hitting, race-relevant statistics, brought to you by the experts at Racing Insights.
• Ryan Blaney has finished 15th or worse in seven of his 12 Michigan starts. • Kurt Busch, Joey Logano and Kyle Larson each have three career wins at Michigan and all three are 2021 winners. • Joe Gibbs Racing hasn’t won at Michigan since 2015 with Matt Kenseth. • Chase Elliott‘s nine top 10s at Michigan are his most at any track. • Kyle Busch has the longest active top-10 streak at Michigan, with eight straight.
Catch the pack
Read up on all the headlines from the week leading up to Sunday’s race.
• LaJoie out: No. 7 driver to miss Michigan due to COVID-19 protocols; Berry to sub | Read more
• Spotter swap: Logano, Keselowski trade spotters for rest of 2021 | Read more
• Debate: Briscoe vs. Hamlin | Watch the video
• Debate: Hard racing or disrespectful racing? | Watch the video
• Straight from the source: Chase Briscoe breaks down the final lap on ‘Stacking Pennies’ | Watch the clip
• Spicy scanner: ‘Then he wrecked us’ | Hear the audio
• Penalty report: Todd Gordon fined for No. 12 lug-nut violation | Read more
• Last week’s winner: AJ Allmendinger focused on fun, savoring opportunity | Read more
• Another one in the books: JGR re-ups with longtime Truex sponsor | Read more
• Chasing Victory Lane: Matt DiBenedetto offers a look into his mindset and future | Read more
• Next Gen sighting: Christopher Bell tests prototype at Bristol | See the photos
Say what?
The best quotes from big names in the sport heading into this weekend’s race.
• “It’s a totally different package; aero, engine, all that compared to when I used to win there but Hendrick Motorsports has been strong there and we have been good on all the bigger ovals this year. The draft plays a big role there, so you have to be really patient when you are making moves. As long as we keep executing and being smart like we have been doing all year long, we should have ourselves in position to challenge for another win.” — Kyle Larson, driver of the No. 5 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet
Sean Gardner | Getty Images
• “A fast car is the biggest key. Our organization has run really well at Michigan. The Roush Yates folks from the engine side and Doug Yates, in particular, love going to Michigan. Ford, from a manufacturer’s side, loves having the manufacturers’ trophy sitting in its facility. So there is a lot of motivation going into Michigan. For us, being at a race track we have run well at and won at, the expectations are in the same category. We want to get to Victory Lane.” — Kevin Harvick, driver of the No. 4 Stewart-Haas Racing Ford
• “Historically, we’ve struggled at Michigan, but I’m more optimistic now than ever before going into Sunday. The package, and just us improving as a race team, we can finish in the top 10 or top 15 and really get a good result. Right now, we’re looking to have that good finish. We raced well in Indy, but disappointed in not getting the result. I think Sunday, we’ll have a good MTS/Love’s Travel Stops Ford and can get the finish that we all want.” — Michael McDowell, driver of the No. 34 Front Row Motorsports Ford
• “Michigan is just a fun race track. It’s wide and you can move around a little bit. We’ve also had very strong cars up there the past few years, just haven’t quite had the best car yet, but we have been close. I’m excited to get back up to Michigan this weekend. I love the track and love that part of the country. It would mean a lot to finally win there for sure.” — Martin Truex Jr., driver of the No. 19 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota
Race-day staples
