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NASCAR is headed to Michigan International Speedway this weekend for a doubleheader of Cup Series races. The FireKeepers Casino 400 is set run on Saturday at 4:00 p.m. ET and will air on NBC Sports Network. A day later, the Consumers Energy 400 will run at 4:30 p.m. ET, also airing on NBC Sports Network.
NASCAR will not be running qualifying events for any of its races the remainder of the season due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Instead, random draw connected to owner points will determine the starting lineup for each race.
The starting grid for the FireKeepers Casino 400 is determined by random draws that account for where each driver stands in the points race. Here’s how the starting order for Saturday’s race will be determined.
- Positions 1-12: Random draw from charter teams in those positions in owner points
- Positions 13-24: Random draw from charter teams in those positions in owner points
- Positions 25-36: Random draw from charter teams in those positions in owner points
- Positions 37-40: Open teams in order of owners points
Sunday’s Consumers Energy 400 race order will be determined by inverting the top 20 finishers at Saturday’s race, with the rest of the field from 21st on back filled out based on those finishers on Saturday. Pit-stall selection for Saturday is based on the finishing order from last Sunday’s race at New Hampshire Motor Speedway.
Kevin Harvick has been the perennial favorite for a while and has the best odds to win. He’s +400 on DraftKings Sportsbook and has eight straight top five finishes under his belt. He’s won two of his last six races at Michigan. Harvick is trailed by Denny Hamlin (+600) and Joey Logano (+700). Logano claimed the pole and Hamlin is joining him on the front row. Hamlin finished second in his last race at New Hampshire and has cracked the top five in three of his last four races. He has two career wins at Michigan. Logano’s three wins at Michigan match Harvick’s total.
Here’s a look at the full starting lineup for the FireKeepers Casino 400.
2020 FireKeepers Casino 400 starting lineup
| Starting spot | Driver | Car # | Team |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starting spot | Driver | Car # | Team |
| 1 | Joey Logano | 22 | Team Penske |
| 2 | Denny Hamlin | 11 | Joe Gibbs Racing |
| 3 | Kevin Harvick | 4 | Stewart-Haas Racing |
| 4 | Aric Almirola | 10 | Stewart-Haas Racing |
| 5 | Brad Keselowski | 2 | Team Penske |
| 6 | Alex Bowman | 88 | Hendrick Motorsports |
| 7 | Kyle Busch | 18 | Joe Gibbs Racing |
| 8 | Chase Elliott | 9 | Hendrick Motorsports |
| 9 | Clint Bowyer | 14 | Stewart-Haas Racing |
| 10 | Kurt Busch | 1 | Chip Ganassi Racing |
| 11 | Ryan Blaney | 12 | Team Penske |
| 12 | Martin Truex Jr. | 19 | Joe Gibbs Racing |
| 13 | Ryan Newman | 6 | Roush Fenway Racing |
| 14 | Tyler Reddick | 8 | Richard Childress Racing |
| 15 | Matt DiBenedetto | 21 | Wood Brothers Racing |
| 16 | Cole Custer | 41 | Stewart-Haas Racing |
| 17 | Jimmie Johnson | 48 | Hendrick Motorsports |
| 18 | Austin Dillon | 3 | Richard Childress Racing |
| 19 | William Byron | 24 | Hendrick Motorsports |
| 20 | Matt Kenseth | 42 | Chip Ganassi Racing |
| 21 | Michael McDowell | 34 | Front Row Motorsports |
| 22 | Chris Buescher | 17 | Roush Fenway Racing |
| 23 | Erik Jones | 20 | Joe Gibbs Racing |
| 24 | Bubba Wallace | 43 | Richard Petty Motorsports |
| 25 | Quin Houff | 0 | StarCom Racing |
| 26 | JJ Yeley | 27 | Rick Ware Racing |
| 27 | Brennan Poole | 15 | Premium Motorsports |
| 28 | James Davison | 51 | Petty Ware Raicng |
| 29 | Christopher Bell | 95 | Leavine Family Racing |
| 30 | Reed Sorenson | 74 | Spire Motorsports |
| 31 | John Hunter Nemechek | 38 | Front Row Motorsports |
| 32 | Ricky Stenhouse Jr. | 47 | JTG Daugherty Racing |
| 33 | Garrett Smithley | 53 | Rick Ware Racing |
| 34 | Ty Dillon | 13 | Germain Racing |
| 35 | Ryan Preece | 37 | JTG Daugherty Racing |
| 36 | Corey LaJoie | 32 | Go Fas Racing |
| 37 | Daniel Suarez | 96 | Gaunt Brothers Racing |
| 38 | Timmy Hill | 66 | Motorsports Business Management |
| 39 | Joey Gase | 7 | Tommy Baldwin Racing |