June 9, 2019 | By Lee Spencer

Rain delays FireKeepers 400 at Michigan International Speedway

BROOKLYN, Mich.—Mother Nature won at Michigan International Speedway on Sunday.

NASCAR made an attempt to start the FireKeepers Casino 400 until sprinkles pounded the race cars on the parade laps forcing the drivers to return to pit road. The race has been rescheduled for 5 p.m. on Monday, weather permitting.

Joey Logano will start from the pole for the 200 lap, 400-mile Monster Energy NASCAR Cup race. He’s encouraged about having the first pit stall at the two-mile track which has one preferred lane.

“There will be times I am sure strategy will change things up,” Logano said. “There will be two-tires, four-tires, no-tires and everything will get mixed up at some point but I think being in that first pit stall is going to lessen that risk of getting back there and getting stuck.

“If you can kind of keep yourself up there I think it will be important for tomorrow's race.”

The first two stages will be 60 laps with 80 circuits to decide the final segment. Clint Bowyer is the defending winner of the race. He’ll start fifth.

“Obviously, that was one of the best two moments of the season last year,” said Bowyer of his second of two wins. “To carry Gene Haas’s own car and paint scheme to victory with all of the Ford folks there and a lot of their employees and customers watching from the stands and on television was something special in my career.”

“Last year was fun,” he said, “so let’s do it again.”

Kurt Busch and Kyle Larson lead current drivers with most wins at Michigan. Both of the Chip Ganassi Racing drivers have three victories at the track—and both drivers are still seeking their first wins of 2019. Busch appeared more optimistic with his car than his teammate.

“I struggled with practice yesterday,” Larson said on Saturday after qualifying 22nd. “Just trying to find a comfortable balance. In the final run, I felt like we made it a little more comfortable. We’ll see. It’s going to be different, but I don’t really know if you can look at stats just because it’s so different now.”