THE NASCAR Cup Series motors in Michigan this weekend for the first and only race at Michigan International Speedway this season.
There is one month left until 10-race playoff begins and 12 spots have been clinched, leaving winless drivers to fight for the remaining four spots. A win at Michigan or one of the next three tracks – Indianapolis, Watkins Glen and Daytona – guarantees a spot in the playoffs, which begin Sept. 3 at Darlington Raceway.
But, unless four different winless drivers take the checkered flag in the next four races, a few drivers could still qualify for the playoffs with points even without a win. For them, a win will be the goal, but maximizing points will also be a priority on Sunday. For drivers further back in the standings, points no longer count; the only thing that matters is winning.
PHOTO OF THE ELIMINAR:Who is in, who is in the bubble and who faces an unavoidable scenario

After a formerly winless driver Chris Buescher took the checkered flag last week at Richmond, will another bubble pilot follow in his footsteps on Sunday? Here’s everything you need to know to prepare for FireKeepers Casino 400:
What time does the Cup race start at Michigan?
The FireKeepers Casino 400 begins at 2:30 p.m. ET at Michigan International Speedway in Brooklyn, Michigan.
What TV channel is the Michigan Cup race on?
USA Network is broadcasting the FireKeepers Casino 400 and has a pre-race show at 2 p.m. ET, while Peacock will have a post-race show at 5:30 p.m. ET.
Will there be a live stream of the Cup race in Michigan?
The FireKeepers Casino 400 can be streamed live on the NBC Sports website and the NBC Sports app.
CALENDAR: How to watch NASCAR Cup Series races in 2023
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How many laps is the Cup race at Michigan?
The FireKeepers Casino 400 does 200 laps around the 2-mile track for a total of 400 miles. The race will consist of three segments (laps per stage) — Stage 1: 45 laps; Step 2: 75 rounds; Step 3: 80 rounds.
Who won the last race in Michigan?
Kevin Harvick won his sixth career race at MIS – the most among active drivers – after leading the final 38 laps before pulling away from Bubba Wallace by 2.903 seconds on August 7, 2022.
What is the programming of FireKeepers Casino 400?
(Car number in parentheses)
1. (20) Christophe Bell, Toyota
2. (1) Ross Chastain, Chevrolet
3. (54) Ty Gibbs, Toyota
4. (17) Chris Buescher, Ford
5. (19) Martin Truex Jr., Toyota
6. (22) Joey Logano, Ford
7. (24) William Byron, Chevrolet
8. (8) Kyle Busch, Chevrolet
9. (12) Ryan Blaney, Ford
10. (9) Chase Elliott, Chevrolet
11. (23) Bubba Wallace, Toyota
12. (6) Brad Keselowski, Ford
13. (11) Denny Hamlin, Toyota
14. (99) Daniel Suarez, Chevrolet
15. (45) Tyler Reddick, Toyota
16. (3) Austin Dillon, Chevrolet
17. (5) Kyle Larson, Chevrolet
18. (10) Aric Almirola, Ford
19. (14) Chase Briscoe, Ford
20. (48) Alex Bowman, Chevrolet
21. (2) Austin Cindric, Ford
22. (4) Kevin Harvick, Ford
23. (34) Michael McDowell, Ford
24. (16) A.J. Allmendinger, Chevrolet
25. (43) Erik Jones, Chevrolet
26. (31) Justin Haley, Chevrolet
27. (47) Ricky Stenhouse Jr., Chevrolet
28. (41) Ryan Preece, Ford
29. (21) Harrison Burton, Ford
30. (62) Austin Hill, Chevrolet
31. (7) Corey LaJoie, Chevrolet
32. (38) Todd Gilliland, Ford
33. (51) Cole Custer, Ford
34. (77) Ty Dillon, Chevrolet
35. (42) Josh Berry, Chevrolet
36. (15) J. J. Yeley, Ford
37. (78) Josh Bilicki, Chevrolet
