Another day, another NASCAR race. This time, we’re looking towards the FireKeepers Casino 400 in the Irish Hills, and boy, oh boy, the stakes couldn’t be higher. Kevin Harvick, that familiar face in the No. 4 Stewart-Haas Racing Ford, is looking to keep Ford’s win streak alive. But let’s be clear; it ain’t about charity. No, Harvick is in it for his own skin.
Now, don’t get me wrong, the old boy doesn’t need a win. He’s sitting pretty with a 182-point cushion over 17th-place Ty Gibbs in the race for a berth in the NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs. A decent run on Sunday and Harvick could well clinch a position in the postseason on points alone. But the man wants more, and who can blame him?
Remember that 65-race drought he ended last year at Michigan International Speedway? Harvick’s proven he knows how to take a Ford to victory lane at MIS. In fact, he’s won four of the last five Michigan races and five of the last seven, so he knows a thing or two about winning in the Irish Hills.
I’ve heard him say, “Michigan is one of those places where you don’t want to miss the center of the corner… You want to be on the throttle at the center of the corner and get that good exit speed to make the straightaway as long as you can.” In other words, it’s about finesse, not just power. But still, isn’t it always about power when it comes to NASCAR?
Speaking of power, it seems everyone’s got a different agenda for the FireKeepers Casino 400. Take Ty Gibbs, for instance. The lad needs a win at Michigan, like a fish needs water. Currently, in 17th place, Gibbs is on thin ice, and a victory on the 2.0-mile track might just save him from a cold dip in the lake of playoff elimination.
Then there’s Trackhouse Racing’s Daniel Suarez. The man’s been in freefall with finishes of 36th at Pocono and 33rd at Richmond. Now 19th in the standings, Suarez needs more than a miracle to claw his way back into a playoff-eligible position.
All this drama, and we’re still four races away from setting the playoff field. After Michigan, the Cup Series races on two road courses—at Indianapolis Motor Speedway and Watkins Glen—before heading for the cutoff race at Daytona. What a time to be alive, folks.
Keep your eyes on the Irish Hills this weekend, folks. The FireKeepers Casino 400 is more than just another race. It’s a battlefield where dreams are realized or crushed under the weight of roaring engines. As always, I’ll be here, grumbling about the state of the race and offering my two cents. Stay tuned.