Denny Hamlin wins at Michigan to tie Kyle Busch in career NASCAR Cup wins

Denny Hamlin took the lead in the FireKeepers Casino 400 on Sunday, June 7 and never looked back. In a NASCAR Cup Series race that featured a record-high 11 caution flags at Michigan International Speedway, it was all green flag racing on the final 37 laps and nobody could catch Hamlin’s No. 11 Toyota.

Hamlin built up a lead of more than 11.110 seconds — the largest of his career — comfortably coasting to the finish line for his second second consecutive win at Michigan. Hamlin won last week at Nashville too, marking back-to-back checkered flags for the 45-year-old.

The victory for Hamlin gave him 63 in his NASCAR Cup Series career, moving him into a tie for ninth all-time with the late Kyle Busch, his former longtime teammate at Joe Gibbs Racing. After winning, Hamlin did a victory lap holding a flag out the window that gave a nod to both Busch’s No. 18 and No. 8 cars.

Busch drove the No. 18 Toyota for Gibbs and more recently raced the No. 8 Chevrolet for Richard Childress Racing. The two-time Cup Series champion shockingly died on May 21 at the age of 41 due to complications from pneumonia that progressed into sepsis.

“We love you, KB,” Hamlin said on his radio after crossing the finish line.

During his post-race interview with Prime Sports, Hamlin also gave a nod to Ned Jarrett, who won a pair of Cup Series championships in the No. 11 car in the 1960s. Jarrett died this past week at the age of 93.

Despite winning the pole on Saturday, Hamlin started at the back due to an unapproved repair to his car's underbody after he suffered a flat left-rear tire during practice. Hamlin worked his way all the way to the front and led 40 laps.

Two fellow Toyotas, Legacy Motor Club's Erik Jones and 23XI Racing's Bubba Wallace, finished second and third, respectively. It was the best finish of the season for both drivers. Chevrolet drivers rounded out the top five with Hendrick Motorsports' Kyle Larson in fourth and Michigan native Carson Hocevar, of Spire Motorsports, in fifth.

Hamlin also passed Harry Gant in the NASCAR record books for eighth all-time in Cup victories after turning 40. Hamlin now has 19 and is putting forth some of the best racing of his career.

Cup Series points leader Tyler Reddick was knocked out of the race midway through Stage 2 after a domino effect — beginning with Hocevar driving the nose of his No. 77 Chevrolet into the bumper of John Hunter Nemechek’s No. 42 Toyota — caused a multi-car crash. Nemechek’s rear turned into the field, knocking Wallace into Ty Gibbs, which pushed Gibbs into Reddick and sent his No. 45 Toyota spinning.

Reddick hit the inside wall and then got tagged by Austin Dillon’s No. 3 Chevrolet before his car came to a complete stop. Multiple drivers expressed frustration with the hard-driving Hocevar on their radios.

“From what I saw it looked like the 77 got into the 42 and turned him across," Dillon told Prime Sports after visiting the infield care center and watching a replay of the wreck. "Man, I hope at some point (Hocever) figures it out. I'm mad because we had a fast race car."

It marked the first time this season that Reddick had not finished a race and the first time he finished outside of the top 15. He won the first stage on Sunday and was able to retain his top spot in the standings despite Hamlin's win. Reddick — who has five wins this season to Hamlin's three — is 51 points ahead in the standings. Hamlin, along with NBA legend Michael Jordan, is the co-owner of the team Reddick drives for, 23XI Racing.

Chase Elliott won the second stage and seemed to be in position to battle for the win, but got loose out of a restart on lap 149 and wrecked into Christopher Bell in a violent collision. Elliott’s No. 9 Chevrolet and Bell’s No. 20 Toyota were battling for second place with about 50 laps to go when Elliott lost control and went up the track, crashing into Bell and sending them both into the outside wall.

"My god, that was the scariest hit I’ve ever seen,” Wallace said over his radio.

“That takes your breath away just watching," Prime Sports broadcaster Dale Earnhardt Jr. said.

Both drivers were able to exit their cars under their own power, but the red flag was brought out with 50 laps to go to repair the SAFER barrier they crashed into. Elliott said the wreck was “totally my fault… It was nothing intentional."

Another multi-car crash on the 154th lap, which began with Ricky Stenhouse Jr. making contact with Michael McDowell, knocked both of those drivers out of the race along with Noah Gragson, Shane van Gisbergen and Ryan Preece. Brad Keselowski, Connor Zilisch and Zane Smith also did not finish due to various separate incidents.

NASCAR at Michigan race highlights

NASCAR at Michigan race results

Here are the top 10 finishers in the FireKeepers Casino 400 with starting position in parentheses followed by driver, car number, race team and manufacturer:

1. (1) Denny Hamlin, No. 11 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota
2. (10) Erik Jones, No. 43 Legacy Motor Club Toyota
3. (13) Bubba Wallace No. 23 23XI Racing Toyota
4. (7) Kyle Larson, No. 5 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet
5. (2) Carson Hocevar, No. 77 Spire Motorsports Chevrolet
6. (11 Daniel Suarez, No. 7 Spire Motorsports Chevrolet
7. (18) Joey Logano, No. 22 Team Penske Ford
8. (19) Ryan Blaney, No. 12Team Penske Ford
9. (14) Chris Buescher, No. 17 RFK Racing Ford
10. (5) Chase Briscoe, No. 19 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota

▶ Click here for full race results from FireKeepers Casino 400.

Chase Elliott, Christopher Bell involved in violent crash, bringing red flag out

Two of the top drivers in the FireKeepers Casino 400 on Sunday at Michigan crashed out with about 50 laps to go.

The violent crash on lap 149 happened when Elliott's No. 9 Chevrolet got loose and turned up the track, slamming into Bell's No. 20 Toyota and sending both cars into the outside wall SAFER barrier. Elliott then drifted down the track and settled near tire barriers on the outside wall.

Both drivers — who were battling for second place behind William Byron — got out of their cars under their own power, but their machines were destroyed. Elliott then walked over to Bell to check on him.

"That's violent. That takes your breath away just watching," Prime Sports broadcaster Dale Earnhardt Jr. said.

Drivers expressed concern for both Bell and Elliott over their radios too.

"Let me know if he's OK," Ryan Preece said. "That was wild."

"Holy (expletive). Please tell me that guy's all right," Bubba Wallace said. "My god, that was the scariest hit I’ve ever seen."

The red flag was waived, stopping the race to repair the wall the two drivers crashed into. Before the flag went from yellow to red, it was the 10th caution flag of the day, tying a track record for a Cup Series race at Michigan.

"Totally my fault. I feel really bad for Bell.... Got in there, got free, thought I was going to spin... Hooked it right and sent Christopher into the wall super hard," Elliott told Prime Sports after exiting the infield care center. "Just racing really hard. I felt like that was the turning point in the race and stepped over the line... It was nothing intentional."

Chase Elliott wins Stage 2 in Michigan NASCAR Cup Race

Chase Elliott's No. 9 Chevrolet was the frontrunner when Stage 2 of the FireKeepers Casino 400 came to an end on Sunday.

Here were the cars running in the top 10 and earning stage points:

1. Chase Elliott
2. Erik Jones
3. Daniel Suarez
4. Kyle Larson
5. William Byron
6. Christopher Bell
7. Carson Hocevar
8. Denny Hamlin
9. Joey Logano
10. Zane Smith

Points leader Tyler Reddick and Austin Dillon were knocked out of the race when Carson Hocevar caused a multi-car crash on the 83rd lap. Brad Keselowski and Connor Zilisch will also not finish the race.

Brad Keselowski is done for the day after broken shock

Brad Keselowski's No. 6 Ford will not finish the FireKeepers Casino 400 at Michigan on Sunday after breaking a shock at the end of Stage 2. Keselowski took his second spin of the day and brought the caution flag out after getting some contact from John Hunter Nemechek.

Keselowski will join Connor Zilisch, Tyler Reddick and Austin Dillon as drivers who were knocked out of the race early.

Chase Elliott is in the lead with 18 laps to go in Stage 2.

Carson Hocevar causes big wreck that collects Tyler Reddick, Austin Dillon at Michigan

NASCAR Cup Series points leader Tyler Reddick had his No. 45 Toyota destroyed during a big multi-car crash during the restart on the 83rd lap of the FireKeepers Casino 400 on Sunday at Michigan.

The chain reaction began when Carson Hocevar's No. 77 drove into the bumper of John Hunter Nemechek's No. 42, turning him towards the right wall and into the field. Hocevar was able to to escape into the crash mostly unscathed.

Nemechek's car turned into Bubba Wallace, who then turned into Ty Gibbs, which then sent Reddick spinning into the wall. Reddick then got tagged by Austin Dillon before his car came to a complete stop.

The wreck ended days for Reddick and Dillon. It will mark the first time this season that Reddick has not finished a race.

"Man, Carson (Hocevar), he just gets so (expletive) excited he can't help it," veteran driver Denny Hamlin said on his radio. Hamlin, who won last week at Nashville, managed to spin his way through the pileup.

"You can count on Hocevar to junk up (expletive)," Nemechek said on his radio.

"I've seen one replay, but from what I saw it looked like the 77 got into the 42 and turned him across," Dillon told Prime Sports. "Man, I hope at some point (Hocever) figures it out. I'm mad because we had a fast race car."

AJ Allmendinger brings out the caution flag at Michigan

AJ Allmendinger got loose off turn two on lap 78, blowing both right side tires as the fifth caution flag of the day came out. Allmendinger didn't appear to make contact with any other drivers, but expressed frustration about "playing defense" on his radio.

"I'm just tired, man," Allmendinger said. "We're so slow... My whole life in this car is playing defense... Tired of getting crashed all the time."

Brad Keselowski picked up the free pass to get back on the lead lap.

Chase Elliott is the race leader, trailed by Kyle Larson and Tyler Reddick.

Ty Gibbs, Ryan Preece collide on pit road

During the fourth caution flag of the day — brought out due to Brad Keselowski's blown tire — two cars collided on pit road.

Ty Gibbs in the No. 54 Toyota had contact with Ryan Preece's No. 60 Ford. Gibbs was exiting his pit stall after taking two tires when he and Preece brushed sides. Gibbs' right front tire hit hard with Preece's left front as the Ford was entering his pit stall.

"What the hell? Come on," Gibbs said on the radio.

Gibbs' crew told to stay out as there wasn't much damage on his car, with his crew saying, "little scuff on the fender. It's not even crinkled, should be fine."

The top five drivers coming out of the caution were Chase Elliott, Kyle Larson, Bubba Wallace, Tyler Reddick and Riley Herbst, as Hendrick Motorsports and 23XI Racing owned the top five.

Brad Keselowski's blown tire brings out Stage 2 caution

The caution flag came out on lap 65 of the FireKeepers Casino 400 when Brade Keselowski blew the left rear tire on his No. 6 Ford between the first two turns. Keselowski, a Michigan native, was running well in 12th place. It was the fourth caution of the day for the competition at Michigan.

Keselowski's pit crew told him they would change all four tires on the radio.

Ty Gibbs, Carson Hocevar, Chase Elliott, Bubba Wallace and Zane Smith make up the top five during the caution.

Tyler Reddick wins Stage 1 in Michigan NASCAR Cup race

Despite leading the point standings in NASCAR's top level Cup Series, Tyler Reddick hadn't won a stage all season.

That changed Sunday at Michigan when Reddick was running up front at the end of Stage 1 for the FireKeepers Casino 400, holding off Ty Gibbs and nearly lapping Ross Chastain.

Here were the cars running in the top 10 and earning stage points at the end of the first 45 laps:

• 1 - Tyler Reddick
• 2 - Ty Gibbs
• 3 - Carson Hocevar
• 4 - Chase Elliott
• 5 - Bubba Wallace
• 6 - Zane Smith
• 7 - Kyle Larson
• 8 - Chris Buescher
• 9 - Riley Herbst
• 10 - Daniel Suarez

Connor Zilisch has crash out of the race early for the third consecutive week. Todd Gilliland is running a lap down.

Reddick led 33 laps in Stage 1, while Michigan native Hocevar led 14.

There's no sign of rain impacting the race.

Michigan NASCAR crowd gives salute for Kyle Busch on lap No. 8

Fans at Michigan International Speedway on Sunday gave a salute for the late Kyle Busch on Sunday, holding eight fingers in the air as drivers completed the eighth lap.

Busch, who shockingly died on May 21 due to complications from pneumonia that progressed into sepsis, had driven the No. 8 Chevrolet for Richards Childress Racing for the past four seasons. Childress said on Saturday that he and Busch had planned to announce at Michigan that Busch would return to RCR for the 2027 season.

Last year at Michigan, Busch placed eighth. He had one Cup Series win at the track, taking the checkered flag in 2011 in the No. 18 Toyota for Joe Gibbs Racing. In 2015, the year he won his first Cup Series championship, Busch won races in Trucks and the O'Reilly Series at Michigan.

Rough season continues for Connor Zilisch

Connor Zilisch is the only rookie in NASCAR's Cup Series this year and his rough season continued on Sunday at Michigan when he spun out and hit the inside wall on lap 9. It was the second time Zilisch spun out, hitting the outside wall on lap 2.

"We're done. I'm sorry, guys. Gosh, man. Oh my God," Zilisch said in frustration over his radio.

The 19-year-old Zilisch, who drives the No. 88 Chevrolet for Trackhouse Motorsports, has now not finished in three consecutive races. He has finished 29th or worse in nine of 15 races this season.

A year ago, he was finished second in the point standings in the second-tier O'Reilly Auto Parts Series, winning nine races in the No. 88 for JR Motorsports.

What time does the NASCAR race at Michigan start?

The FireKeepers Casino 400 starts at 3 p.m. ET at Michigan International Speedway in Brooklyn, Michigan.

What TV channel is the NASCAR Michigan race on?

There is no television broadcast of the FireKeepers Casino 400 NASCAR Cup Series race at Michigan International Speedway.

Is there live stream of the NASCAR race at Michigan?

Amazon Prime Video is streaming the FireKeepers Casino 400 and will have a pre-race show at 2 p.m. ET. The race can also be streamed HBO Max.

How many laps is the NASCAR race at Michigan?

The FireKeepers Casino 400 features 200 laps around a 2-mile D-shaped oval course for a total of 399 miles. The race will have three stages (laps per stage) — Stage 1: Lap 45 (45 laps); Stage 2: Lap 120 (75 laps); Stage 3: Lap 200 (80 laps).

What is the lineup for the FireKeepers Casino 400 at Michigan?

(Car number in parentheses)

1. (11) Denny Hamlin, Toyota
2. (77) Carson Hocevar, Chevrolet
3. (45) Tyler Reddick, Toyota
4. (54) Ty Gibbs, Toyota
5. (19) Chase Briscoe, Toyota
6. (9) Chase Elliott, Chevrolet
7. (5) Kyle Larson, Chevrolet
8. (20) Christopher Bell, Toyota
9. (24) William Byron, Chevrolet
10. (43) Erik Jones, Toyota
11. (7) Daniel Suarez, Chevrolet
12. (35) Riley Herbst, Toyota
13. (23) Bubba Wallace, Toyota
14. (17) Chris Buescher, Ford
15. (41) Cole Custer, Chevrolet
16. (38) Zane Smith, Ford
17. (42) John Hunter Nemechek, Toyota
18. (22) Joey Logano, Ford
19. (12) Ryan Blaney, Ford
20. (71) Michael McDowell, Chevrolet
21. (3) Austin Dillon, Chevrolet
22. (4) Noah Gragson, Ford
23. (47) Ricky Stenhouse Jr., Chevrolet
24. (10) Ty Dillon, Chevrolet
25. (16) AJ Allmendinger, Chevrolet
26. (6) Brad Keselowski, Ford
27. (60) Ryan Preece, Ford
28. (33) Austin Hill, Chevrolet
29. (48) Alex Bowman, Chevrolet
30. (97) Shane Van Gisbergen, Chevrolet
31. (2) Austin Cindric, Ford
32. (1) Ross Chastain, Chevrolet
33. (51) Cody Ware, Chevrolet
34. (88) Connor Zilisch, Chevrolet
35. (34) Todd Gilliland, Ford
36. (44) JJ Yeley, Chevrolet
37. (21) Josh Berry, Ford