The Cup Series teams return to action this Sunday at Michigan International Speedway. This is the 15th race of the season, and it is the third race of the Prime Video schedule.
The trip to Michigan puts extra pressure on teams due to the track's location. It resides in Brooklyn, Michigan. This is in "the backyard" of the three OEMs -- Chevrolet, Ford, and Toyota. The pressure only increases as they battle for the Heritage Trophy that recognizes the winning manufacturer.
Cup Series at Michigan International Speedway information
Weather: The WeatherUnderground forecast calls for rain showers in the morning and cloudy skies in the afternoon. A high of 69 degrees and a 19% chance of rain at the start of the Cup Series race.
Green flag time: Detroit Lions safety Kerby Joseph will give the command to fire engines at 2:10 p.m. ET. The starter will wave the green flag at 2:19 p.m. ET.
Starting lineup: Practice and qualifying will take place on Saturday at 9:30 a.m. ET. Prime Video will provide coverage of the sessions.
Pre-race: The garage opens at 11 a.m. ET. Driver introductions will take place at 1:25 p.m. ET. Pre-race coverage begins on Prime Video at 1:30 p.m. ET. Race coverage continues on Prime Video at 2 p.m. ET.
The invocation will be at 2:01 p.m. ET. The Canadian anthem will be performed at 2:02 p.m. ET. The national anthem will be performed at 2:03 p.m. ET.
Stages: The race will consist of three stages. The first stage ends at Lap 45. The second stage ends at Lap 120. The scheduled end of the race is Lap 200.
Past winners: Multiple active Cup Series drivers have celebrated wins at Michigan International Speedway. Kyle Larson and Joey Logano lead the group with three wins each. Denny Hamlin is second with two wins. Kyle Busch, Ryan Blaney, Tyler Reddick, and Chris Buescher each have one win at the 2-mile track.
Interestingly, no driver born in the state of Michigan has ever won at their home track. Brad Keselowski has come the closest with three runner-up finishes.
Playoff picture: The Cup Series drivers have completed 14 points-paying races. Nine of these drivers have locked up spots in the playoffs with wins.
Daytona 500 winner William Byron leads the Cup Series standings. Larson is second in points with three wins and a series-high 23 playoff points. Christopher Bell is third in points with three wins. Hamlin is fourth with two wins.
Blaney, Logano, Ross Chastain, Austin Cindric, and Ross Chastain are the other drivers with wins this season. Busch is on the playoff cutline. He leads Ryan Preece by two points.