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NASCAR / NASCAR Cup Series Fans Respond To FireKeepers Casino 400 Action At Michigan International Speedway

NASCAR Cup Series Fans Respond To FireKeepers Casino 400 Action At Michigan International Speedway

Jeff Hawkins Written by Sports EditorJeff Hawkins
Updated –
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On baby watch for a second straight week, NASCAR Cup Series driver Denny Hamlin continues moving forward. 

As a family man, Hamlin is expecting the birth of his third child. 

As a driver, Hamlin rallied with just enough fuel to claim Sunday’s FireKeepers Casino 400, his third career trip to Victory Lane at Michigan International Speedway and first since Aug. 21, 2011.  

In classic Hamlin form, when he emerged from his winning machine to taunt Michigan college football fans with a rendition of Ohio State’s “O-S-U” chant.  

Now, Hamlin returns to his baby watch.

X (Twitter) s responded to Hamlin’s third win of the season …

Breaking Dodge Ram news early Sunday … 

One hundred and seven NASCAR Cup Series races ago at MIS … 

Y2K threats, for sure … 

Green flag at MIS’ two-mile D-shaped oval …

Executing the first lead change on Lap 12, Byron challenged pole-sitter Chase Briscoe for the lead and cleared him at the end of the backstretch … 

For 12 rotations, beginning on Lap 24, Chris Buescher pursued Byron for several laps, finally overtaking the No. 24 Chevrolet and leading to his first stage win of the season … 

Ryan Blaney assumed the lead by going outside and clearing Hamlin along Turns 1 and 2 on Lap 53. Blaney obviously likes having plenty of room around him …  

 Some social media s this week debated if Chase Elliott deserved to retain his Hendrick Motorsports seat next season. On Lap 57, the No. 9 Chevrolet driver ed Blaney between Turns 1 and 2 … 

Down but not out.  Hamlin attempted a to Kyle Larson on Lap 58, but his move underneath the 2021 Cup champion falters. Hamlin saved the No. 11 Toyota, but fell from P6 to P11 … 

A red flag was presented on Lap 68, following an incident sparked by Cole Custer during a four-wide situation racing for P27. Alex Bowman was collected and struck the wall head-on, while Daniel Suarez also spun out …

Byron secured the Stage 2 win and paced Carson Hocevar at the start of the third stage … 

Byron didn’t hold the final-stage advantage for long, but did get it back. By Lap 160 Hocevar was informed he’s four laps short on fuel, forcing the No. 71 into fuel-saving measures. By Lap 182, Hocevar lost the lead back to Hamlin because of a flat left rear tire. Meanwhile, Hamlin continued charging through the field, ing Ty Gibbs for P3 … 

Four laps from the finish, Hamlin started challenging Byron with an inside move, but Byron maintained the lead along the backstretch. On the next rotation, Hamlin cleared Byron, who was forced to pit with no fuel …

  

Now, it’s off to Mexico. Safe travels to all the primary NASCAR haulers who are scheduled for an overnight trip, Michigan to the Southern border by Tuesday … 

Jeff Hawkins Written by Sports EditorJeff Hawkins
Jeff Hawkins is an award-winning sportswriter with more than four decades in the industry, in both print and digital media. He ed the Sportscasting team in 2021 following a decade of freelancing. He spent his early career as a reporter for various newspapers in Illinois, New York, Florida, North Carolina, and Michigan, with a particular emphasis as a beat reporter for the Chicago Blackhawks. Jeff earned his bachelor's degree in journalism from Oakland University. Over the course of his career he earned several sports writing awards, including two national awards from the Associated Press Sports Editors for column writing and news reporting. One of the five prized columns included a commentary on NASCAR's increasing corporate influences, particularly in northern racetracks — commentary which you might find Jeff building on as part of the Motorsports writing team at Sportscasting now.  
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