Jim Foose – Speedway Action Magazine
If you were anywhere near the Irish Hills last weekend, you felt it. The low, guttural rumble of 37 stock cars tearing through the sweeping corners of Michigan International Speedway wasn’t just another Sunday drive—it was a statement. The FireKeepers Casino 400 delivered everything a racing fan could ask for, and it answered a question NASCAR executives need to be asking themselves: Why isn’t Michigan hosting a Chase race?
For years, the NASCAR Cup Series Chase (historically known as the Playoffs) have featured a rotation of short tracks, intermediate speedways, road courses, and superspeedways to test a champion’s ultimate mettle. Yet, one of the most uniquely challenging tracks on the circuit continues to sit squarely in the regular-season stretch. After the phenomenal success of this past weekend’s event, the case for a playoff date at MIS has never been stronger.
The Fans Are Showing Up in Droves
Let’s start with the undeniable reality of this past weekend: the people want this. On Sunday, June 7, track officials proudly announced that every single one of the speedway’s 56,000 grandstand seats was filled. It was the first true grandstand sellout the track has seen in over a decade, signaling a massive resurgence of energy in one of the sport’s most historic venues.
But the dedication of the Midwestern fan base goes far deeper than a Sunday ticket. The infield camping areas completely sold out in November of last year—a full seven months before the green flag even waved. It marked the fifth consecutive year that MIS camping spaces reached maximum capacity. This isn’t a passive audience; it’s a ravenous, dedicated community that turns race weekend into a multi-day festival. Playoff races thrive on electric atmospheres, and a sold-out Michigan crowd brings the kind of palpable, high-stakes energy that perfectly matches the intensity of the postseason.
The Quality of the Racing is Undeniable
You can have all the fans in the world, but if the on-track product is a parade, it doesn’t belong in the playoffs. Thankfully, Michigan delivered an absolute thriller.
We watched veteran Denny Hamlin pull off an unbelievable last-to-first masterclass. After pre-race adjustments forced his No. 11 Toyota to start at the rear of the 37-car field, Hamlin spent 200 laps carving through traffic, dealing with the dirty air, and meticulously working his way to the front to claim the checkered flag. The race required patience, aggressive strategic calls, and raw speed. It was a perfect display of the high-stakes, pressure-cooker racing that defines a championship run.
The Unique Challenge of the 2-Mile Oval
NASCAR prides itself on crowning a champion who can conquer every type of track, but the current playoff schedule is missing the distinct test of a high-banked, 2-mile D-shaped oval. Michigan isn’t quite a superspeedway like Daytona or Talladega, where the draft dictates everything, and it isn’t a cookie-cutter 1.5-mile intermediate track. It exists in its own beautifully chaotic middle ground.
At two miles in length with sweeping 18-degree banked corners, MIS is a terrifyingly fast facility. Drivers are forced to manage extreme entry speeds while searching for grip across multiple racing grooves. The long straightaways heavily reward aerodynamic efficiency and horsepower, while the wide-sweeping turns demand flawless car balance and tire management. Drivers have to aggressively work the draft down the front stretch and then have the mechanical grip to make the pass stick in the corners.
A playoff race at Michigan would force crew chiefs to choose between trimming the car out for straightaway speed or adding downforce to survive the long runs. It’s a cerebral, high-speed chess match that heavily penalizes mistakes—exactly the kind of crucible that playoff contenders should have to survive.
Give Michigan the Date
NASCAR has done a brilliant job of evolving its schedule in recent years, proving they aren’t afraid to shake up the status quo. It’s time to look at Brooklyn, Michigan.
The fans have proven they will buy out the grandstands and pack the campgrounds months in advance. The track has proven it can deliver thrilling, dramatic, and unpredictable racing. And the 2-mile layout offers a unique aerodynamic and mechanical challenge that perfectly fits the gauntlet of the NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs.
The Irish Hills are calling. It’s time for NASCAR to answer and give Michigan the Chase race it truly deserves.
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