NASCAR: Saturday Michigan Notebook

By Holy Cain, NASCAR Wire Service

Michigan’s Cup Drivers Look to Break Through at Home Track

Michigan is the home state for three current NASCAR Cup Series competitors – Roush Fenway Keselowski Racing’s Brad Keselowski, Legacy Motor Club’s Erik Jones and Spire Motorsports’ Carson Hocevar – and all are looking for their first victory at Michigan International Speedway in Sunday’s FireKeepers Casino 400 (3 p.m. ET on Prime Video, MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio).

When it comes to competing there, the 2012 series champ Keselowski and another former champion, Hendrick Motorsports’ Chase Elliott have the most runner-up finishes (three) without a win among active drivers.

The owner-driver of the No. 6 RFK Racing Ford has 16 top-10s in 28 Michigan races – including four of the last five series visits. His second-place runs came in 2020, 2018 and his championship 2012 season. He does own a pair of NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series victories at the track, winning in back-to-back seasons (2009-10).

And his RFK team has the most wins (14) historically of any organization at Michigan.

“When we go, it’s a win that would really mean a lot for me to get,” Keselowski, 42, the Rochester Hills-native noting that he still has a lot of family in the area. “Michigan now has those three fulltime Cup drivers, so really well-covered.”

Smiling when reminded he’s the only champion among the group, Keselowski grinned and said, “I’ve just got to be a champion in that [Michigan] race.”

Bell Ready To Remedy Michigan Struggles

Joe Gibbs Racing’s Christopher Bell is considered a perennial NASCAR Cup Series championship contender – finishing fifth or better in the title chase five of the last six seasons. He’s earned 13 wins and claimed top-10 finishes in nearly half of his starts – 113 top-10s in 230 races.

However, the lone race track the 31-year-old Oklahoman hasn’t earned a NASCAR Cup Series top-10? Michigan International Speedway.

The driver of the No. 20 JGR Toyota has a best finish of 13th at Michigan – twice, including 2023 when he started from pole position. He’s led only 37 laps in seven starts and crashed out in two of the last four races there.

But. … he finished sixth in Saturday’s NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series race at Michigan, sweeping both stages and leading 37 laps. And he’s very optimistic about improving his NASCAR Cup Series fortunes at the big track.

“Michigan, on paper, that’s my worst track, but I’m always super-fast and competitive there,” Bell said smiling at the irony. “I’m very much looking forward to going there. I’m sad we’re only going there once a year, but I’m looking forward to trying to get a good result there. It’s a fun race track. I have a lot of fun racing there.”

Erik Jones Sees Progress

Legacy Motor Club driver Erik Jones isn’t just enthused about racing this weekend because it’s in his home state, but because he seriously thinks the team’s progress this season could result in a trophy soon. Perhaps even Sunday.

The 30-year-old from Byron, Michigan – a half-hour drive from the Michigan track – has improved on his race finishes in the famous No. 43 Toyota four of the last five races. His best showing in 2026 are a pair of 10th-place finishes. And he’s finished 11th or better in three of the last four Michigan races. Jones’ best showing at the track is third in his 2017 rookie season.

“I think we are in a better spot,” Jones said Saturday about his Michigan expectations. “It’s funny, I looked at the points position at this point last year, and we aren’t a whole lot different, but I think as a group we are running consistently better.

“We’ve had a great stretch here for a month of showing up each week and having good cars and running well. A couple of execution things have kept us from a few better finishes, and some strange strategies have kept us from some stage points, especially last week in Nashville.

“I think overall, we are in a better spot. I think there are so many little things that we can do better still, which is frustrating but good. To have performance like we are currently having and know there are little things that we need to work on and improve, there is value in that.

“For me, yeah, I’ve been happy with the direction, happy with my team.”

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