High-speed action, that’s what Michigan International Speedway presents whenever the NASCAR Cup Series visits the Irish Hills. The 2025 running of the FireKeepers Casino 400 did not disappoint. From William Byron controlling most of the race, to home state driver Carson Hocevar once again putting his name on the list of when, not if. Those drivers just didn’t have enough to stop Denny Hamlin from “beating your favorite driver”. Hamlin got the last laugh on Sunday afternoon.
Chevy Flexes Power, But Denny Hamlin Stands Tall in Irish Hills
A pumped-up MIS crowd was treated to high-level racing as Chase Briscoe led the field to green for the third straight race.
We're racing in the Irish Hills!
The green flag is out at @MISpeedway on @PrimeVideo! pic.twitter.com/9JJMUOTOCd
— NASCAR (@NASCAR) June 8, 2025
Byron Means Business
Briscoe held the lead for the race’s first 11 laps before William Byron put his No. 24 Chevrolet out front. He showcased some impressive speed, which seems to be for the famed 24 car every week.
Move @WilliamByron to the lead! pic.twitter.com/K6bnqA407N
— NASCAR (@NASCAR) June 8, 2025
For a track that proves hard to pass, especially at the front, passes for the lead were great to see. There was another pass for the lead with 13 laps remaining in the opening stage that saw Chris Buescher, the 2023 winner of this race, put his No. 17 out front.
He would hold off Byron and Denny Hamlin for the stage one win.
He knows what it takes to get the job done at @MISpeedway.
A strong start to the day for @Chris_Buescher! pic.twitter.com/eodBA67IlM
— NASCAR (@NASCAR) June 8, 2025
Stage Two Gets Unhinged
Stage Two saw plenty of different drivers at the front, as another prominent Chevy driver found himself at the front. That was Chase Elliott, who had some real speed once he was in clean air. He put his No. 9 car out front by passing last week’s winner, Ryan Blaney.
New leader: @chaseelliott! pic.twitter.com/Cw8neiVBp3
— NASCAR (@NASCAR) June 8, 2025
Elliott would hold the lead for 19 laps, while other drivers went through some rough patches. The day turned very ugly for his teammate Alex Bowman on Lap 67.
Bowman was having a rough day once again as it was, having lost any hope for track position. While he was back in the danger zone, things got really bad, as Cole Custer and Austin Cindric made contact. It forced Bowman into an ugly sight. He went head-on into the outside wall at full speed. Boy, was it a scary sight, much like Corey Lajoie’s flip in this race in 2024, until he climbed from the car and went to the ambulance, but it wasn’t a good-looking sight, as the car was destroyed.
The red flag is out at @MISpeedway after this incident involving multiple cars.@Alex_Bowman exited the No. 48 under his own power. pic.twitter.com/hP4HV8rbKN
— NASCAR (@NASCAR) June 8, 2025
The wreck forced an 11-minute red flag for cleanup. Bowman told the media he was okay, but it was a hard hit. He was shaken, as he’s had a lot of hard hits lately.
” I would like to stop hitting s**t,” Bowman said.
Chevy’s Strong Day Once Again Fails to Pay Off
Stage two saw Byron score another important playoff point. It also saw Carson Hocevar put himself into the thick of the race win contention for the third-straight race.
Fuel mileage is top-of-mind with the laps winding down.
Less than 30 to go at @MISpeedway! pic.twitter.com/eNl7L23dqP
— NASCAR (@NASCAR) June 8, 2025
Despite Byron and Hocevar leading a majority of the final stanza of the race, their days turned sour late in the going. First, it was Hocevar who hit the wall after cutting a tire, and it forced him to pit.
Byron had the lead in the final 10 laps, but he had Denny Hamlin running him down. Not to mention the race turned into a fuel mileage duel. That happens all the time at Michigan. Byron fought and fought, but Hamlin eventually took the lead with five to go.
It seemed like Byron was going to once again just come up short of a win at the 2-mile oval. He, however, had to settle for a 28th-place finish after he ran out of fuel and had to pit with three to go.
Opening the door for Hamlin to score win number three of the season, as he saved enough fuel to beat Chris Buescher and Ty Gibbs.
Denny gets it done at @MISpeedway! pic.twitter.com/Ju16gklU3m
— NASCAR (@NASCAR) June 8, 2025
Another year, another empty weekend at MIS for Chevrolet.
Welcome Back Heel-Hamlin
Hamlin has played nicely during the 2025 season, following his wins at Martinsville and Darlington. That changed following this win. Hamlin broke out his famous go-to punchline following the race while speaking with Prime’s Kim Coon.
” Daddy, I’m sorry I beat your favorite driver, folks,” Hamlin said. ” All of Em.”
He did it again. 🤭 pic.twitter.com/iEuki6SsBY
— NASCAR (@NASCAR) June 8, 2025
If that wasn’t enough, he broke out an O.H.I.O pose, I suppose taunting Michigan Wolverine fans in attendance at the Brooklyn, Michigan track. Quite the troll job from NASCAR’s Biggest Heel, other than Joey Logano, maybe.
Never change, @dennyhamlin. 😂 pic.twitter.com/BJFwUrBtd6
— NASCAR (@NASCAR) June 8, 2025
MIS was certainly exciting, but it might fail in comparison with the next race in Mexico City. Who knows what’s going to happen south of the border?
Read Next: Denny Hamlin Steals the Goodyear 400, As Byron and Blaney Both Leave Empty Handed
Main Photo: Chris Graythen, Getty Images
Recording Date: 6/8/2025
