2018 FireKeepers Casino 400

The **2018 FireKeepers Casino 400** is a Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series race held on June 10, 2018 at Michigan International Speedway in Brooklyn, Michigan. Contested over 133 of the scheduled 200 laps on the 2-mile (3.2 km)\* D-shaped oval, it will be the 15th race of the 2018 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series season.

## Report

### Background

The race will be held at Michigan International Speedway, a 2-mile (3.2 km)\* moderate-banked D-shaped speedway located in Brooklyn, Michigan. The track is used primarily for NASCAR events. It is sometimes known as a "sister track" to Texas World Speedway, and was used as the basis of Auto Club Speedway. The track is owned by International Speedway Corporation. Michigan International Speedway is recognized as one of motorsports' premier facilities because of its wide racing surface and high banking (by open-wheel standards; the 18-degree banking is modest by stock car standards).

## First practice

Ryan Blaney was the fastest in the first practice session with a time of 35.535 seconds and a speed of 202.617 mph (326.080 km/h).

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## Qualifying

Kurt Busch scored the pole for the race with a time of 35.405 and a speed of 203.361 mph (327.278 km/h).

## Practice (post-qualifying)

### Second practice

Kevin Harvick was the fastest in the second practice session with a time of 35.871 seconds and a speed of 200.719 mph (323.026 km/h).

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### Final practice

Final practice session for Saturday was cancelled due to rain.

## Race

### Stage 1

Despite a 2-hour and 15-minute rain delay. Michigan International Speedway dried up enough to put a green flag to the FireKeepers Casino 400. At a race track where track position is so important, going to the rear of the field is a major penalty. Kyle Busch(18), Denny Hamlin(11), and Erik Jones(20), three of the four drivers from Joe Gibbs Racing were sent to the rear of the field for inspection violations.

Because of the amount of rain dumped on the racetrack, NASCAR mandated a competition caution on lap 25. The entire field opted to pit for tires and fuel. Kurt Busch and Harvick exited still in first and second. On the restart, Brad Keselowski(2) passed Harvick. However, the result was the same. A two-car breakaway for the lead.

On Lap 36, Darrell Wallace Jr.(43) and David Ragan(38) got the aero on their cars out of sorts and spun off turn 2. Ragan got the worse of it. His car hit the wall. Wallace escaped with minor damage and was able to continue.

Back to green and Keselowski’s Team Penske teammate, Ryan Blaney(12), follows Kurt Busch as they try and escape the rest of the field. On Lap 40 Kyle Busch(18), who started at the rear of the field, worked his way into the top 10.

### Stage 2

The front of the field jumbled up on the Stage ending caution. Kasey Kahne(95) held the top spot. On the drop of the green flag, trouble flared up before they could complete a lap. Daniel Suarez(19) spun in Turn 4 bringing out the caution again.

On the restart Stewart-Haas Racing teammates Harvick and Clint Bowyer(14) moved out front. Followed by Penske teammates Keselowski and Blaney. Logano and Kurt Busch joined in to make it a six-car Blue Oval train at the front of the pack.

Kyle Larson, the winner of the last 3 Cup races at MIS, spun off Turn 4 on lap 85. The caution allowed the field to pit for enough gas to complete the stage. Some drivers took tires, some did not, as track position is so important. Especially given the rain threat.

Paul Menard(21) stayed out and assumed the lead. Harvick, Kurt Busch, Bowyer, and Kyle Busch followed. On the restart, Harvick easily slid into the lead. Menard, Bowyer, Kurt Busch, and Kyle Busch followed. With 95 laps complete, 25 more are required to make it an official race. Teams are told by NASCAR that rain may occur within the next 15 minutes.

The 100-lap mark went up on the scoreboard at 6:12 pm. The skies dropped lower darkening the view around the speedway. However, they do get to the end of Stage 2 making the race official.

A 1-2-3 finish for the Fords of Stewart-Haas Racing. Six Fords in the top 10, you can hear the shouts from the Dearborn contingent above the noise of the engines.

### The Final Stage

Back to green flag racing and the battle for the lead between Harvick and Bowyer produced an interesting result. Bowyer moved to the front and held off Harvick through 2 laps of side-by-side racing.

Kasey Kahne hit the wall and the yellow came out with Bowyer it the lead. Then the rain hit. And Bower had his 2nd win of the year, also the 7th win of 2018 for Stewart-Haas Racing.

### Stage Results

**Stage 1**
*Laps:* 60

**Stage 2**
*Laps:* 60

### Final Stage Results

**Stage 3**
*Laps:* 80

### Race statistics

* Lead changes: 7 among different drivers
* Cautions/Laps: 8 for 30
* Red flags: 1
* Time of race: 2 hours, 00 minutes and 15 seconds
* Average speed: 132.723 miles per hour (213.597 km/h)

## Media

### Television

*Fox NASCAR* will televise the race in the United States on FOX for the seventh time at Michigan. Mike Joy will be the lap-by-lap announcer, while three-time Michigan winner, Jeff Gordon and two-time winner Darrell Waltrip will be the color commentators. Jamie Little, Regan Smith and Matt Yocum will report from pit lane during the race.

### Radio

Radio coverage of the race was broadcast by Motor Racing Network (MRN) and simulcasted on Sirius XM NASCAR Radio. Joe Moore, Jeff Striegle and five-time Michigan winner Rusty Wallace announced the race in the booth while the field is racing on the front stretch. Dave Moody called the race from a billboard outside of turn 2 when the field was racing through turns 1 and 2. Mike Bagley called the race from a platform outside of turn 3 when the field was racing through turns 3 and 4. Alex Hayden, Winston Kelley and Steve Post reported from pit lane during the race.

 **Lead announcer:** Joe Moore**Announcer:** Jeff Striegle**Announcer:** Rusty Wallace | **Turns 1 & 2:** Dave Moody**Turns 3 & 4:** Buddy Long | Alex HaydenWinston KelleySteve Post

## References

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