The FireKeepers Casino 400 at Michigan International Speedway saw an eventful start filled with high drama and competitive racing, despite a lengthy rain delay that pushed the green flag back by nearly two and a half hours.
When the race finally got underway, it was Denny Hamlin and Tyler Reddick leading the pack in their Toyotas. However, it didn’t take long for Kyle Larson, starting from the fourth position, to make his presence felt. Larson executed an aggressive maneuver on the very first lap, surging past Hamlin and Reddick to take the early lead.
For the next 34 laps, Larson maintained his lead under relentless pressure from Hamlin. But it was Bubba Wallace who made a decisive move on Lap 35, charging past both Larson and Hamlin to capture the lead. The top five at that point included Wallace in the lead, Hamlin in second, Larson in third, Tyler Reddick in fourth, and Christopher Bell in fifth. With the first stage consisting of 45 laps, the battle for positioning was fierce.
DENNY HAMLIN SPINS RACING FOR THE LEAD!
📺 : USA Network | #NASCAR pic.twitter.com/msvPvPdDgG
— NASCAR on NBC (@NASCARonNBC) August 18, 2024
As the first stage neared its conclusion, many of the frontrunners opted to pit for fuel and fresh tires. Chase Elliott, who was the fastest off pit road, looked poised to make a run, but several other drivers, including Ryan Blaney, William Byron, Chris Buescher, Daniel Suarez, Brad Keselowski, Ty Gibbs, and Harrison Burton, stayed out to gain track position.
Bubba Wallace PASSED THEM BOTH.
He rockets to the race lead past Denny Hamlin and Kyle Larson. #NASCAR pic.twitter.com/oqYNDJTNsO
— NASCAR on NBC (@NASCARonNBC) August 18, 2024
The strategy paid off for Ryan Blaney, who managed to secure the lead during a three-lap shootout to end Stage 1. Blaney held off a charging Elliott, who had worked his way back up to second place after restarting outside the top 10. The stage ended with Blaney taking the win, followed by Elliott, Byron, Wallace, and Buescher rounding out the top five.
Here are the top 10 finishers in Stage 1:
1. Ryan Blaney, No. 12 Ford
2. Chase Elliott, No. 9 Chevrolet
3. William Byron, No. 24 Chevrolet
4. Bubba Wallace, No. 23 Toyota
5. Chris Buescher, No. 17 Ford
6. Kyle Busch, No. 8 Chevrolet
7. Brad Keselowski, No. 6 Ford
8. Martin Truex Jr., No. 19 Toyota
9. Alex Bowman, No. 48 Chevrolet
10. Ross Chastain, No. 1 Chevrolet
Just as the intensity of the race was building, rain once again became a factor. NASCAR threw a red flag at the end of Lap 51, just before the start of Stage 2, as rain began to fall over the speedway. All the cars were brought down pit road, and the drivers exited their vehicles while the teams covered up the cars to protect them from the weather.
With the race on hold due to the rain, fans and teams alike are left waiting to see when, or if, the action will resume. The FireKeepers Casino 400 has already provided plenty of excitement, and there’s sure to be more to come once the skies clear over Michigan.
