UPDATE 6: Sunday, August 6, 2023 at 6:15 PM ET
Rain picked back up, and as a result, NASCAR’s hand was forced to pull the plug on the action at Michigan on Sunday. The race, which had completed 74 Laps, will resume on Monday, August 7th at Noon ET. USA Network will continue with the TV broadcast, and MRN and SiriusXM will continue to carry the radio call of the race.
NASCAR Cup FireKeepers Casino 400 Conclusion Pushed to Monday at Noon ET
UPDATE 5: Sunday, August 6, 2023 at 6:00 PM ET
Rain has started to slow down at Michigan International Speedway, and NASCAR has dispatched the track drying team. You can hear jet driers on the track, and the hope is that we will return racing in a little while.
UPDATE 4: Sunday, August 6, 2023 at 5:25 PM ET
With 25 laps remaining, until Sunday’s NASCAR Cup Series FireKeepers Casino 400 can be considered an official race, more rain has descended upon the Michigan International Speedway.
The caution flag was displayed for rain on Lap 74, and the cars were brought back down pit road and the red flag was displayed on Lap 75. The race must reach the halfway point (lap 100) in order to come to an official end due to weather.
Tyler Reddick is the current leader of the race ahead of Alex Bowman, Kyle Larson, Martin Truex Jr., and Erik Jones.
Race Results: NASCAR Cup Series FireKeepers Casino 400 at Michigan
UPDATE 3: Sunday, August 6, 2023 at 4:13 PM ET
Christopher Bell has taken the field across the start-finish line to start the FireKeepers Casino 400. After a nearly two-hour delay, the NASCAR Cup Series race at Michigan is GREEN!
UPDATE 2: Sunday, August 6, 2023 at 4:00 PM ET
NASCAR states that the engines will be refired at 4:05 PM ET, and the FireKeepers Casino 400 will have a Lap 20 competition caution.
Corey LaJoie, JJ Yeley, Josh Berry, and Austin Hill will all drop to the rear before the green flag flies due to unapproved adjustments.
Sunday’s race is scheduled for 200 laps / 400 miles, but the race will become official at the halfway point (100 laps).
Stage 1 will end on Lap 45, Stage 2 ends on Lap 120, and the schedule race distance will end at Lap 200, but overtime is always an option if a late race caution occurs with more than one lap remaining.
UPDATE 1: Sunday, August 6, 2023 at 3:49 PM ET
Car covers have been coming off of the NASCAR Cup Series cars, which are staged on pit lane, and drivers have been called back to their cars.
At this time, NASCAR has not given an official time for the start of the FireKeepers Casino 400, but this is an encouraging sign, and the green flag should be happening in short order, barring another round of rain hitting the 2-mile track.
ORIGINAL STORY: Sunday, August 6, 2023 at 3:20 PM ET
The NASCAR Cup Series drivers and teams were set to go green in Sunday’s FireKeepers Casino 400 at Michigan International Speedway at 2:30 PM ET. However, after the national anthem, sprinkles prevented the race from going green, and increasing rain caused NASCAR to call the teams back down to pit road.
As it stands right now, the track is being dried at 3:20 PM ET. As drivers are conducting rain delay interviews on pit road, the sun has seemingly popped out from behind the clouds, and it seems like we may actually go racing for real.
When the race does go green Joe Gibbs Racing driver Christopher Bell will start the race from the pole with Ross Chastain alongside on the front row.
RELATED: NASCAR Cup Series FireKeepers Casino 400 Starting Lineup
For Bell, this is the second pole position of the season.
Ty Gibbs, Chris Buescher, Martin Truex Jr., Joey Logano, William Byron, Kyle Busch, Ryan Blaney, and Chase Elliott make up the remainder of the top-10 in the starting lineup for Sunday’s race.
The challenge ahead for the track drying team is the massive size of the 2-mile speedway in Brooklyn, Michigan. It can be completely dry and no rain at all on the frontstretch, while pouring in Turn 2, if a shower pops up.
This post will be updated with official race start time updates and other weather notes, so keep checking back!
