NASCAR: 2024 Michigan qualifying updates, full starting lineup

As a die-hard NASCAR enthusiast with years of racing experiences under my belt, I can’t help but feel a rush of adrenaline every time I see the Michigan International Speedway on the calendar. This 2.0-mile oval track has always been a favorite among drivers and fans alike for its challenging layout and high-speed action.

Once again for a fourth straight season, Michigan International Speedway appears just once on the NASCAR Cup Series calendar.

As a dedicated NASCAR fan and someone who has followed the sport for over two decades, I can attest to the significance of this year’s FireKeepers Casino 400. With only six races remaining in the regular season, it represents the 24th out of 26 events on the schedule, making it a critical race for drivers looking to secure a spot in the postseason. The 12 drivers who have already locked their positions are undoubtedly feeling relieved, but the other competitors are still fighting tooth and nail for those final four slots. This race could very well be a deciding factor in determining which drivers join the elite group competing for the championship. I’ve seen seasons change dramatically in just one race, so the tension is palpable as we approach this important event.

The sequence for Sunday’s 200-lap race on the four-bend, 2.0-mile (3.219-kilometer) Brooklyn, Michigan track was decided using a four-factor formula that NASCAR has been employing since 2020. More details about this measurement are available here.

Since NASCAR’s last visit to Michigan in August, there have been two modifications made to the qualifying procedure.

In summary, drivers who don’t make it past their initial groups will no longer be compared against all other non-advancing drivers. Instead, those from the first group will start from the outside lane (row six, position 12), and those from the second group will start from the inside lane (row six, position 11).

Lately, it’s been exciting to see that NASCAR has switched up the qualifying process for the pole position. Now, the quickest racer overall earns the pole position and decides their starting lane. Meanwhile, the swiftest driver in the other group secures the opposite lane on the front row.

From my perspective as an enthusiast, the quicker drivers from the initial pack set the pace for the outer lane in the rankings that follow, while the speedsters from the subsequent group establish the hierarchy within the inner lane.

NASCAR at Michigan: Full starting lineup

Check back for a full starting lineup

Group A

1. Here’s a list of drivers and their respective race cars for the upcoming event:

Group A – Advanced

Group B

A.J. Allmendinger, No. 16 Kaulig Racing Chevrolet

John Hunter Nemechek, No. 42 Legacy Motor Club Toyota

Corey LaJoie, No. 7 Spire Motorsports Chevrolet

Justin Haley, No. 51 Rick Ware Racing Ford

Zane Smith, No. 71 Spire Motorsports Chevrolet

Noah Gragson, No. 10 Stewart-Haas Racing Ford

Austin Cindric, No. 2 Team Penske Ford

Chase Briscoe, No. 14 Stewart-Haas Racing Ford

Ty Gibbs, No. 54 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota

Michael McDowell, No. 34 Front Row Motorsports Ford

Brad Keselowski, No. 6 RFK Racing Ford

Kyle Busch, No. 8 Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet

Carson Hocevar, No. 77 Spire Motorsports Chevrolet

William Byron, No. 24 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet

Ross Chastain, No. 1 Trackhouse Racing Team Chevrolet

Bubba Wallace, No. 23 23XI Racing Toyota

Christopher Bell, No. 20 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota

Denny Hamlin, No. 11 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota

Group B – Advanced

Listen to USA Network at 2:30 PM Eastern Time this Sunday, August 18th, for the live telecast of the FireKeepers Casino 400 from Michigan International Speedway. Last year’s victor is Chris Buescher, driving for RFK Racing. Why not sign up for a free trial of FuboTV today and catch all the action?

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