NASCAR

NASCAR Cup Series Fans Experience Waves Of Rain, Postponement Of FireKeepers Casino 400 At Michigan International Speedway

By
Jeff Hawkins
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Jeff Hawkins Sports Editor

Jeff Hawkins is an award-winning sportswriter with more than three decades in the industry, in both print and digital media. He joined the Sportscasting team in 2021 following a decade of freelancing. He spent his early career as a reporter for various newspapers in Illinois, New York, Florida, North Carolina, and Michigan, with a particular emphasis as a beat reporter for the Chicago Blackhawks. Jeff earned his bachelor's degree in journalism from Oakland University. Over the course of his career he earned several sports writing awards, including two national awards from the Associated Press Sports Editors for column writing and news reporting. One of the five prized columns included a commentary on NASCAR's increasing corporate influences, particularly in northern racetracks — commentary which you might find Jeff building on as part of the Motorsports writing team at Sportscasting now.  

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Published18 Aug 2024

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mis rain delay after 51 laps (1)

NASCAR  Cup Series fans showed their mettle Sunday at Michigan International Speedway. 

Waiting through two rain delays that lasted nearly 2.5 hours, the attendees witnessed 51 of 200 laps before series officials postponed the race until Monday at 11 a.m. ET. 

After qualifying was rained out Saturday, Denny Hamlin earned the pole position and challenged for the lead until spinning out and sliding along the infield grass. He enters Monday P17. 

Chase Elliott, commemorating a team milestone, paced the field when the event was delayed. 

X (Twitter) users reacted to rain postponing the Cup Series event at MIS for a second straight year … 

The day’s events started out sunny enough … 

About 15 minutes later, however, the Cup machines rolled back to pit road. They were soon covered …

Recalling the sudden Y2K rainstorm at MIS … 

Getting ready for the end of the first wave of rain … 

When the rain finally stopped and the green flag initiated the start of Sunday’s event, Hendrick Motorsports’ Alan Gustafson earned a career milestone … 

Bubba Wallace made his move to get around Kyle Larson and Hamlin for the lead on Lap 36. Wallace will start Monday P3 … 

Hamlin lost control along Turn 4 on Lap 38 … 

Analyzing the reason for Hamlin spinning out while challenging for the lead … 

Through 51 laps, Larson appeared to have a dominant machine, leading 34 rotations … 

Till tomorrow … 

In the end, the message from this father to his son shows why sports should be cherished …