FireKeepers Casino 400: 5 takeaways from NASCAR at Michigan
Did the FireKeepers Casino 400 make Kyle Larson the next big thing? Here’s what we learned from the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series race at Michigan.
Kyle Larson is once again atop the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series after Larson won Sunday’s FireKeepers Casino 400 at Michigan. It was a perfect way to celebrate Father’s Day for the No. 42 Chip Ganassi Racing driver, who had both his father and his son in attendance to see him capture the checkered flag.
But Sunday was also an interesting day for a number of drivers, including Chase Elliott, Martin Truex Jr. and Dale Earnhardt Jr. No matter where you wound up in the Michigan field, there was a story to tell, so let’s not waste any time getting into them.
Here’s what we took away from the FireKeepers Casino 400:
1) When Kyle Larson wins, he wins big
It’s not just that Larson is winning, but that he dominates. The FireKeepers Casino 400 was his second victory this year after the Auto Club 400 at Fontana. In both cases, not only did Larson win but he also captured the pole position and he led the most laps in the race. So not only can he get to Victory Lane, but he knows how to run the table on the way there.
2) Is Martin Truex Jr. the most consistent driver in NASCAR?
Larson took the checkered flag, but Martin Truex Jr. won both Stage 1 and Stage 2 at Michigan to remain the Cup Series leader in stage wins. Truex not only has two race victories of his own, but he’s led the most laps in two other events and obviously has adapted well to the Cup Series’ new stage plan. We joke often about Truex’s bad luck, but despite that he’s found a way to be so very consistent this season, and that’s something that deserves recognition too because it’s not easy to constantly run up front.
3) Ryan Blaney is a nice guy
Just one week after capturing his first Cup Series victory, Ryan Blaney was on hand at Michigan to give Kyle Larson an amazing push on the last restart to help seal Kyle Larson’s victory. It’s too bad that it didn’t work out well for him (see No. 5 below), but Blaney gets karma points for being the good guy that boosted Larson into Victory Lane.
4) Dale Earnhardt Jr.’s season is still good
It’s no secret that Dale Earnhardt Jr.’s season has been less than awesome, but Sunday looked up for him. He earned his third top 10 finish of the year in the FireKeepers Casino 400 and he got to wear that awesome bright green Mountain Dew fire suit. Let’s just hope that he also gets back to Victory Lane at some point in the next 11 races, because we want to see him win at least once more and punch his ticket to the Chase.
5) Sometimes, you really can’t catch a break
This week’s “well, that sucks” award goes to Danica Patrick, who finished dead last on Sunday just because her car was the one that ran out of room. On the next to last restart, Blaney fell back into the field and got crammed between a number of cars, causing contact that wound up with Patrick sliding across the track and being introduced to a wall. It’s the downside of any sport: sometimes you do everything you can, and then something comes along and rains on your parade anyway.
Next: Updated NASCAR standings after Michigan
The Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series heads to Sonoma next week for the Toyota/SaveMart 350. For the latest news and notes, follow the NASCAR category at FanSided here.