Rain has been throwing a wrench into NASCAR’s plans at Michigan all weekend lengthy, and Sunday was no totally different.
After a two-hour delay, the race lastly obtained underway with Denny Hamlin main the sector. Kyle Larson shortly charged to the purpose, main many of the stage. After a number of laps of making an attempt to get alongside, he lastly obtained below the Hendrick Motorsports driver with 11 laps to go within the stage.
As soon as side-by-side, all of the momentum stalled, permitting Bubba Wallace to rocket previous each drivers. Hamlin ultimately cleared Larson and set his sights on the No. 23 23XI Racing Toyota he co-owns.
Whereas Hamlin seemed for a manner round Wallace, he obtained a bit too excessive on the exit of Flip 4 within the wake of the main automobile. On Lap 38 of the 45-lap opening stage, Hamlin spun and slid by means of the infield grass, forcing the primary warning flag of the race.
“Sorry about that (crew chief) Chris (Gabehart),” radioed Hamlin. “Ought to have taken what I had.”
To pit or to not pit
The yellow flag set-up an fascinating struggle to the stage finish. A handful of drivers selected to remain out, aiming to gather as many stage factors as attainable. Amongst them have been bubble drivers Chris Buescher and Ty Gibbs.
A busy restart adopted below darkening skies with Ryan Blaney stealing the stage win. Chase Elliott was second, William Byron third, Wallace fourth and Buescher fifth. Kyle Busch, Brad Keselowski, Martin Truex Jr., Alex Bowman, and Ross Chastain rounded out the top-ten.
The factors scored helped to (momentarily) break a tie for the ultimate playoff spot between Buescher and Chastain. The RFK Racing driver now edges 5pts forward of the pilot of the No. 1 Trackhouse Chevrolet.
Those that stayed out for factors then filed down pit highway for contemporary tires and full load of gasoline. Elliott inherited the race lead. Sadly, Stage 2 by no means actually obtained underway because the rain lastly returned. The pink flag waved after 51 of 200 scheduled laps, forcing the occasion to be pushed to Monday simply after 6pm EST.
All 36 starters stay within the race and on the lead lap with the No. 9 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet of Elliott in management.
