This week the NASCAR Cup Series drivers will be racing to make the Playoffs at high speeds in the FireKeepers Casino 400 at Michigan International Speedway.
Racing at Michigan is both challenging and exciting. The cars will be running around 200 MPH at times. That’s the exciting part. If you have a car that is not handling well and you make a mistake at those speeds, your cay could be over. Another car could take you out of the race even if YOU don’t make a mistake. That’s the challenging part.
Here is the data for the track and race that all drivers and teams will be dealing with.
Michigan International Speedway Data
Track Size: 2-miles
Banking/Turns: 18 degrees
Banking/Frontstretch: 5 degrees
Banking/Backstretch: 2 degrees
Frontstretch Length: 3,600 feet
Backstretch Length: 2,242 feet
FireKeepers Casino 400 Data
Season Race #: 23 of 36 (08-07-22)
Race Length: 200 laps / 400 miles
Stage 1 Length: 45 laps
Stage 2 Length: 75 laps
Final Stage Length: 80 laps
These are the top 10 active drivers with the best overall driver rating at Michigan International Speedway.
Kevin Harvick – 101.8
Chase Elliott – 100.7
Greg Biffle – 99.6
Kyle Larson – 98.9
Joey Logano – 98.1
Brad Keselowski – 96.8
Denny Hamlin – 93.5
Ryan Blaney – 93.5
Kurt Busch – 92.2
Kyle Busch – 91.0
Note: Driver Ratings compiled from 2005-Present among active drivers at Michigan International Speedway.
Here are the active drivers that have won at Michigan International Speedway in their Cup Series careers.
| Kevin Harvick | 5 Wins | 2020 sweep, 2019, 2018, 2010 |
| Joey Logano | 3 Wins | 2019, 2016, 2013 |
| Kurt Busch | 3 Wins | 2015, 2007, 2003 |
| Kyle Larson | 3 Wins | 2017 sweep, 2016 |
| Denny Hamlin | 2 Wins | 2011, 2010 |
| Ryan Blaney | 1 Win | 2021 |
| Kyle Busch | 1 Win | 2011 |
The race is always important to every driver and team. This is the chance to win for your manufacturer in their own backyard. There is also a very strong pressure to win right now for those drivers that have not yet this season.
The NASCAR Playoffs are only four races away (counting this weekend). There are only two spots in the 16-driver field for the post-season not currently filled by a driver with at least one win. If there are two new 2022 winners in the next four races, any driver without a win will not have a chance at the championship.
If there are MORE than two new 2022 winners in the next four races, a driver WITH a win will not have a chance at the championship. That means drivers with a single win will be racing hard to get another and lock themselves in regardless of how the other races play out.
It should all make for an exciting race for fans to watch when the green flag waives to start the FireKeepers Casino 400 at Michigan International Speedway Sunday, August 7th at 2 p.m. central time (3 p.m. eastern time).
By: Buck Stevens
