The high-speed, 2-mile Michigan Worldwide Speedway really challenged NASCAR Cup Collection drivers within the Irish Hills, as they battled vehicles on the sting for 200 laps at 200 mph.
For the second consecutive week, Denny Hamlin placed on a masterclass efficiency, driving from the again to the entrance of the sector to win for the 63rd time within the Cup Collection. This victory tied Hamlin with Kyle Busch for ninth on the all-time wins record in a late-race blowout, with an 11.110-second margin of victory to honor his former Joe Gibbs Racing teammate.
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In addition to Hamlin, a few of his fellow opponents additionally survived the Michigan mayhem to earn respectable outcomes, whereas others will look to bounce again on Sunday within the Nice American Getaway 400 offered by VISITPA at Pocono Raceway (3 p.m. ET, Prime Video, HBO Max, MRN Radio, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio).
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THREE UP ⬆️
1. Workforce Penske
Began: Joey Logano, 18th; Ryan Blaney, nineteenth; Austin Cindric, thirty first
Completed: Joey Logano, seventh, Ryan Blaney, eighth; Austin Cindric, eleventh
What occurred: All three Workforce Penske Fords completed inside the highest 11 at Michigan. Whereas Ford didn’t lead a lap on the 2-mile observe for the primary time within the Irish Hills since June 1983, the Penske trio all averted the chaos and earned good outcomes for the Captain’s group. Logano earned his second prime 10 within the final three races, with Blaney selecting up his fourth prime 10 within the final 5 races and Cindric producing some momentum after two straight finishes of twenty sixth or worse.
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What’s subsequent: Within the historical past of Workforce Penske at Pocono, the group has collected eight Cup Collection victories on the “Difficult Triangle.” The group’s final Pocono win was in 2024 with Blaney’s No. 12 Ford. In final 12 months’s 400-miler in Pennsylvania, all three Penske drivers completed sixteenth or higher, so the outlook for the trio is constructive heading into the race weekend.
Joey Logano drives at Michigan.
2. Bubba Wallace, No. 23 23xI Racing Toyota
Began: thirteenth
Completed: third
What occurred: Regardless of practically getting taken out within the Lap 83 restart wreck, Wallace persevered his approach to a much-needed third-place end and gave to the youthful Carson Hocevar post-race. After three straight finishes of twenty second or worse, this might begin the kind of run Wallace must generate the momentum we noticed from the No. 23 staff at first of the 12 months.
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What’s subsequent: Wallace’s robust end result within the Irish Hills precipitated the No. 23 Toyota driver to maneuver up 4 spots within the Cup Collection standings to eleventh after a superb factors day. Pocono might be one other place the place Wallace can proceed stacking markers and put distance between himself and the provisional Chase cutline. In his six profession Pocono begins with 23XI, Wallace has completed 14th or higher 5 instances.
Bubba Wallace drives at Michigan.
3. Kyle Larson, No. 5 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet
Began: seventh
Completed: 4th
What occurred: Because the defending Cup Collection champion continues to journey his 13-month-long winless streak, Larson had a decent day within the Irish Hills and survived the carnage to select up a prime 5 on the 2-miler. This was Larson’s second prime 5 within the final 5 Cup Collection races. The No. 5 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet driver maintained sixth place within the Cup Collection standings.
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What’s subsequent: Though he has not visited Victory Lane but on the “Difficult Triangle,” Larson has 5 prime 10s in his final seven begins on the Pennsylvania observe. This might be one other observe for the No. 5 staff to construct on the momentum from Michigan and begin placing collectively extra constant runs.
Kyle Larson drives at Michigan.
THREE DOWN ⬇️
1. Tyler Reddick, No. 45 23XI Racing Toyota
Began: third
Completed: thirty fifth
What occurred: For the primary time this season, Reddick completed exterior the highest 15 and picked up his first DNF. The season-long factors chief was simply within the improper place on the improper time when he was taken out in a on Lap 83, ignited by an aggressive transfer from Carson Hocevar throughout a restart. Ty Gibbs was shoved into Reddick’s left rear, spinning the No. 45 23XI Racing Toyota, which then obtained hit by Austin Dillon.
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What’s subsequent: In eight profession Cup Collection begins at Pocono, Reddick has picked up 4 prime 10s, together with two runner-up finishes. The “Difficult Triangle” is a robust observe for the 23XI driver to keep up his lead atop the provisional Chase standings as he eyes the No. 1 seed later this summer time. With Denny Hamlin’s victory at Michigan and the No. 45 Toyota’s DNF, Reddick’s championship lead dropped to a 51-point benefit.
Tyler Reddick drives at Michigan.
2. Brad Keselowski, No. 6 RFK Racing Ford
Began: twenty sixth
Completed: thirty fourth
What occurred: Outdoors of successful the Daytona 500, successful at his house observe within the Cup Collection would most likely rank up there with the Michigan native’s most important accomplishments left to attain. Sadly, Keselowski must wait one other 12 months to hopefully grow to be the primary Michigan-born driver to win on the 2-mile observe. The RFK Racing driver’s race got here to an finish after contact with John Hunter Nemechek despatched the No. 6 Ford spinning into the skin wall in Flip 2.
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What’s subsequent: In his final 10 Cup Collection begins at Pocono, Keselowski has completed sixteenth or higher. The race-ending crash at Michigan dropped the RFK driver two spots to fifteenth within the Cup Collection standings. With the “Difficult Triangle” being a superb, constant observe for him, it might be the place the place Keselowski makes up misplaced floor and scores helpful factors to maneuver additional away from The Chase cutline.
Brad Keselowski drives at Michigan.
3. Connor Zilisch, No. 88 Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet
Began: thirty fourth
Completed: Thirty seventh
What occurred: When it rains, it pours. After a historic 10-win marketing campaign in final 12 months’s runner-up title effort within the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Elements Collection, many anticipated Zilisch to enter the Cup Collection at 19 years previous with lofty expectations. Many say the Cup Collection, no matter a younger prospect’s expertise, is without doubt one of the greatest steps up any driver can soak up motorsports. Zilisch is discovering that out the after two spins inside the first 10 laps at Michigan, with a into the within wall on the backstretch ending his day within the Irish Hills. The Trackhouse Racing driver’s Thirty seventh-place end result at Michigan was his third consecutive last-place end within the Cup Collection.
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What’s subsequent: Reflecting on final 12 months, Zilisch’s journey to Pocono produced a , scoring the O’Reilly Auto Elements Collection victory with JR Motorsports co-owner Dale Earnhardt Jr. sitting atop his pit field as crew chief. Given how troublesome Zilisch’s rookie season has been within the Cup Collection up thus far, Sunday presents an opportunity to place Michigan behind him earlier than a welcome return of two straight road-course races at San Diego and Sonoma within the following weeks.
Connor Zilisch seems to be on.
