NASCAR: Looking back at the last five Michigan races

As the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series heads back to Michigan International Speedway, it’s time to take a look back at the last five races at the track.

The Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series heads back to the Irish Hills of southeastern Michigan for the Consumers Energy 400 at Michigan International Speedway. This is the second and final stop at Michigan in the 2018 season.

The teams are in for a high-speed 400 miles at Michigan, where all of the manufacturers will be looking for a win in the home state of General Motors and Ford. As we look ahead to Sunday’s Cup Series race, it’s time to take a look back at the last five races at Michigan International Speedway.

June 2016

Joey Logano led the field to green and battled Martin Truex Jr. for the lead. Truex Jr. spun out on lap 46, bringing out the first caution flag. On lap 54, Kyle Busch had engine trouble, bringing out another caution flag.

Cautions bred cautions, and on the ensuing restart, Dale Earnhardt Jr. was clipped by Chris Buescher, putting him in the wall after he came across the nose of A.J. Allmendinger. Jimmie Johnson took the lead on lap 99 until Jeffery Earnhardt brought out another cation flag. Joey Logano and Chase Elliott battled for the win throughout the rest of the race. After Denny Hamlin blew a tire, Logano beat out Elliott to win.

August 2016

This race was marked by a driver getting his first career Cup Series win. Logano ran out front until Harvick took the lead on lap 26. Johnson took the lead on lap 71 during a round of green flag pit stops. Shortly after Elliott took the lead on lap 118, a caution flag period for debris began on lap 119. Kyle Larson took the lead until he pitted on lap 156. A caution flag came out with 13 laps to go. Larson beat out Brad Keselowski and Elliott on the final restart to win his first career Cup Series race.

June 2017

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The June 2017 installment at Michigan was another back and forth battle between Larson and Truex Jr. The two drivers went back and forth all race long. Truex Jr. won the first two stages. After Ryan Sieg spun out in front of Truex Jr. while Truex Jr. was leading the race, Larson took over. He held off Elliott’s late push to win.

August 2017

Last August’s race at Michigan was a dandy. Keselowski dominated early and proceeded to win stage one. He began to fade and Truex Jr. dominated stages two and three. A late caution flag came out on lap 196 as a result of an incident involving Paul Menard and Michael McDowell. Larson put a bold move on the field and charged to the front to lead the final two laps and steal the win away from Truex Jr.

June 2018

The most recent showdown in Michigan proved to be a dominant one for the cars at Stewart-Haas Racing. Stage one was won by young gun Ryan Blaney of Team Penske, but the Stewart-Haas Fords took over from there. Kevin Harvick dominated stage two and picked up another stage win and added more playoff points to his already impressive total.

The rain was on the way and the intensity picked up. Clint Bowyer took two tires on his final pit stop and proceeded to hold off teammate Harvick to pick up the victory as the rain came. With Kurt Busch finishing in third place, Stewart-Haas Racing recorded a 1-2-3 finish.

If the previous five races at Michigan International Speedway have been any indication, expect Sunday’s race to come down to the wire. The NASCAR Cup Series playoffs are quickly approaching and time is running out. Will it be one of the “big three”, or will it be a young gun getting another win? Find out Sunday by tuning in to NBC Sports Network at 2:30 p.m. ET for the live broadcast of the Consumers Energy 400.