FireKeepers Casino 400

Michigan International Speedway is 2 miles of fast, sweeping D-shaped oval where momentum rules and horsepower matters. The 18-degree banking in the turns allows cars to run wide open through qualifying and much of the race, and the wide racing surface creates three and sometimes four grooves as tire wear builds over long green-flag runs. Michigan has been on the Cup schedule since 1969 and has long been known as a Ford stronghold — the Roush Racing teams of the early 2000s dominated this place, and Ford manufacturers have won more recent Michigan races than any other. David Pearson's 10 Michigan wins remain the all-time record, and Mark Martin's seven wins here cemented his reputation as a Michigan master. In the modern era, Kevin Harvick, Denny Hamlin, and Kyle Larson have all found victory lane at MIS. The 200-lap FireKeepers Casino 400 rewards drivers who can manage long green-flag stints, stretch fuel when necessary, and execute clean pit stops. Because the track is fast and the grooves are wide, side-by-side racing and long passes are common, making this one of the more watchable intermediate events of the season.