Michigan FireKeepers Casino 400 Front Runner Rankings

Joey Logano
Michigan Fantasy Outlook – At Michigan, I’m going to view Joey Logano as a top ten contender. Michigan is Ford country, and Logano’s typically run well. That said, I think he’s a bottom half of the top ten driver at best. This year at high-speed intermediate tracks, Logano’s typically been around 10th place good and for the season minus Kansas where he crashed while running just outside the top ten his average finish is 11.3.
Michigan Track History – Joey Logano is a three-time winner at Michigan who’s run well. In 15 of the last 19 races at MIS, he’s finished in the top ten. Last year, Logano was just OK. In the race, Logano finished 7th in Stage #2, had a 14.7 average running position and then finished 14th. In terms of speed stats, Logano ranked 16th for Speed Late In A Run and had the 18th best Total Speed Ranking. In 2022, Logano was solid. In the race, Logano finished 9th in Stage #1, finished 10th in Stage #2, had a 9.5 average running position and then finished 4th when the checkered flag waved. To close out the race, the #22 was at its best. In terms of speed stats, Logano had the 11th best Total Speed Ranking. In 2021, it looked like Logano would get another top ten, but he finished an asterisk mark 33rd after getting collected in late carnage. With 15 to go he was running in 5th, but then the next lap he crashed in a restart wreck. In the race, Logano had the 9th best Green Flag Speed and the 9th best Total Speed Ranking. In the two races prior to that, Logano had results of 5th and 8th.

Ty Gibbs
Michigan Fantasy Outlook – At Michigan, look for Ty Gibbs to be a top ten contender but he’s risky. Gibbs is 2 for 2 at finishing right around tenth at MIS over his two previous starts (10.5) and he’s been fast at high-speed intermediates this year, having the 3rd best Track Type Total Speed Ranking. In 2024 at these venues minus Kansas where he made a late unexpected pit stop, Gibbs has an 8.0 average finish and an 8.4 average running position. One attribute I don’t like about Gibbs is that the results column has been brutal over the last few months and in 7 of the last 8 races heading into the weekend he’s finished outside the top 15.
Michigan Track History – At Michigan, Ty Gibbs has been sporty with both of his Cup starts being in the Next Gen era. Over the last two races, Gibbs has a 10.5 average finish with his Next Gen Speed Ranking being the 13th best. Last year, Gibbs started 3rd, finished 3rd in Stage #1, finished about 14th in Stage #2, had a 12.7 average running position and then finished 11th overall. In terms of speed stats, Gibbs ranked 6th for Speed Late In A Run and had the 16th best Total Speed Ranking. In 2022 in what was just his third Cup start, Gibbs got his first top ten and finished 10th. Additionally, Gibbs had a 14th place average running position, ranked as the 7th Fastest Driver Late In A Run and then ranked 10th for Green Flag Speed and Total Speed Rankings.

Alex Bowman
Michigan Fantasy Outlook – At Michigan, look for Alex Bowman to be a top ten contender. In the Next Gen, Bowman’s 2 for 2 at being top ten good “Performance Wise” and his Next Gen Speed Ranking ranks 14th. This year at high-speed intermediate tracks where there’s correlation, Bowman has the 10th best Total Speed Ranking and over the last two races he’s come home with results of 7th (Kansas) and 9th (Charlotte).
Michigan Track History – Over the last seven Michigan races, Bowman has three top tens and then four results of 16th or worse. In the Next Gen, Bowman’s 2 for 2 at being top ten good, “Performance Wise.” Last year, Bowman finished 33rd but you can get out an asterisk mark for that result. In the race, Bowman finished 7th in Stage #1, finished 5th in Stage #2, led 19 laps but then at the start of the last Stage, Bowman crashed while running in the mid-teens (pit strategy shuffled him back). In terms of Total Speed Rankings, Bowman ranked 13th. In 2022, Bowman started 30th, finished 8th in Stage #2 and then finished 9th overall. Additionally, Bowman had the 13th best Green Flag Speed and a 14th place average running position. In 2021, Bowman finished 16th, had a 12.9 average running position and had the 11th best Total Speed Ranking. Bowman just kind of fell back late. With 10 to go he was in 7th, and then with 6 to go he was in 11th.

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