Rain Postpones NASCAR Cup Race at Michigan to Monday Finish, Blaney Wins Stage One

After the start time was pushed for rain, it was a stretch to think that NASCAR could get even half a race before darkness set in Brooklyn, Michigan, on Sunday for the FireKeepers Casino 400. The race will resume tomorrow at 11:00 AM EST and will be aired on USA Network.

This is the second year in a row that the Cup race at Michigan has been postponed to a Monday finish due to weather. Last year, Chris Buescher prevailed to win his second straight at the track.

The race was red-flagged 52 laps in, shortly after the completion of stage one. Since rain canceled practice and qualifying on Saturday, drivers were lined up by their regular season points standings, with Denny Hamlin and Tyler Reddick starting on the front row.

Kyle Larson took the lead on the opening lap after starting on the outside of the second row.

Hamlin and Larson were battling for the lead, entering turn one on lap 36; while they were side-drafting, Bubba Wallace took the chance to run low, slingshot past the duo, and take the lead.

Three laps later, Hamlin, hungry to get back to the lead, was chasing down Wallace, who races for Hamlin's 23XI Racing, when he found himself directly behind the No. 23 exiting the corner. Hamlin lost all traction and had to fight to stay out of the wall, turning himself around and spinning into the infield.

Hamlin's spin set up the only yellow flag of stage one, 40 laps in and five laps before the stage end. Eight drivers stayed out on older tires to try and maximize stage points as the leaders pitted.

Ryan Blaney was the biggest benefactor as he inherited the lead and led the five laps leading into the stage break, claiming one playoff point. Hot behind was Chase Elliott, who restarted 8th after taking tires and fuel at the caution.

The seven drivers that stayed out at the first caution came to pit at the competition caution, pushing Elliott and Martin Truex Jr. to the front two positions.

While the drivers ran seven more laps under yellow, as the sky darkened, they were sent down the pitlane to cover the cars, hoping to restart and battle until the halfway mark or complete darkness.

At 6:10 PM local time, with another cell mounting near the raceway, NASCAR made the official call. This is the second race this year that will be finished on a Monday, the other being opening weekend with the Daytona 500. Byron would go on to win on Monday's delayed Daytona 500.

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