The NASCAR Cup Series returns to Michigan International Speedway this Sunday for the FireKeepers Casino 400, marking the 15th race in the 2025 season. A total of 36 cars are on the preliminary entry list, all full-time teams and drivers, filling the grid with no open or part-time entries this week. With the Cup Series allowing up to 40 cars to start, no driver or team will be sent home following qualifying, promising an action-packed 400-mile battle on the fast, wide two-mile oval.
Michigan remains a marquee stop on the Cup calendar and stands as the only two-mile superspeedway in 2025 after the demolition of Auto Club Speedway. The track’s sweeping corners and long straightaways provide drivers a unique challenge and fans a high-speed spectacle. This weekend, the series’ stars will push hard as the season hits its midpoint and playoff positioning grows critical.
Ryan Blaney Aims to Build on Nashville Momentum
One of the key storylines heading into Michigan is defending race winner Ryan Blaney, who captured last weekend’s race at Nashville Superspeedway in dominant fashion. Blaney will pilot the No. 12 Menards / Knauf Ford Mustang Dark Horse for Team Penske, carrying the momentum from his recent victory into a track where speed and track position are paramount.
Blaney’s strong performance last week reinforced his status as one of the Cup Series’ elite competitors this season. With experienced crew chief Jonathan Hassler on the pit box, Blaney’s team has shown it can consistently make the right calls on strategy and adjustments, which will be essential on Michigan’s high-speed surface.
Alongside Blaney, Team Penske fields two other potent entries: Joey Logano in the No. 22 Hunt Brothers Pizza Ford and Brad Keselowski in the No. 6 BuildSubmarines.com Ford for RFK Racing, adding further strength to a team aiming for multiple wins and playoff success.
Star-Studded Lineup Highlights Competitive Depth
The FireKeepers Casino 400 will showcase a lineup filled with Cup Series veterans, championship contenders, and rising stars, making for an intense competition throughout the field.
Hendrick Motorsports brings its full slate of four cars: Kyle Larson (#5 HendrickCars.com Chevrolet), Chase Elliott (#9 UniFirst Chevrolet), William Byron (#24 Raptor Chevrolet), and Alex Bowman (#48 Ally Financial Chevrolet). Each driver has demonstrated speed and racecraft that could propel them to victory on Michigan’s fast layout.
| No. | Car # | Driver |
| 1 | 1 | Ross Chastain |
| 2 | 2 | Austin Cindric |
| 3 | 3 | Austin Dillon |
| 4 | 4 | Noah Gragson |
| 5 | 5 | Kyle Larson |
| 6 | 6 | Brad Keselowski |
| 7 | 7 | Justin Haley |
| 8 | 8 | Kyle Busch |
| 9 | 9 | Chase Elliott |
| 10 | 10 | Ty Dillon |
| 11 | 11 | Denny Hamlin |
| 12 | 12 | Ryan Blaney |
| 13 | 16 | AJ Allmendinger |
| 14 | 17 | Chris Buescher |
| 15 | 19 | Chase Briscoe |
| 16 | 20 | Christopher Bell |
| 17 | 21 | Josh Berry |
| 18 | 22 | Joey Logano |
| 19 | 23 | Bubba Wallace |
| 20 | 24 | William Byron |
| 21 | 34 | Todd Gilliland |
| 22 | 35 | Riley Herbst |
| 23 | 38 | Zane Smith |
| 24 | 41 | Cole Custer |
| 25 | 42 | John Hunter Nemechek |
| 26 | 43 | Erik Jones |
| 27 | 45 | Tyler Reddick |
| 28 | 47 | Ricky Stenhouse, Jr. |
| 29 | 48 | Alex Bowman |
| 30 | 51 | Cody Ware |
| 31 | 54 | Ty Gibbs |
| 32 | 60 | Ryan Preece |
| 33 | 71 | Michael McDowell |
| 34 | 77 | Carson Hocevar |
| 35 | 88 | Shane Van Gisbergen |
| 36 | 99 | Daniel Suarez |
Joe Gibbs Racing also enters four strong contenders, including Denny Hamlin (#11 Yahoo! Toyota), Christopher Bell (#20 Rheem Toyota), Chase Briscoe (#19 Bass Pro Shops Toyota), and promising young talent Ty Gibbs (#54 Toyota). JGR’s combination of experience and youth gives them a formidable presence.
Adding to the star power, Ross Chastain (#1 Busch Light Apple Chevrolet) and Shane Van Gisbergen (#88 Safety Culture Chevrolet) represent Trackhouse Racing, a team that continues to rise in competitiveness with a fresh approach and aggressive driving style.
Several other notable names include Bubba Wallace (#23 Columbia Toyota) and Tyler Reddick (#45 Mobil 1 Toyota) for 23XI Racing, as well as Michael McDowell (#71 Chevrolet) and Carson Hocevar (#77 Chevrolet) driving for Spire Motorsports.
Michigan’s Unique Challenges Demand Precision and Strategy
Michigan International Speedway’s wide racing surface allows for multiple grooves, which can produce high-speed drafting battles and thrilling passes. However, tire wear and fuel strategy play critical roles in deciding the race outcome.
Crew chiefs will be tested this weekend as they balance aggressive pit strategy against the risk of losing track position. With 400 miles to cover and caution flags a possibility, teams that can adapt to changing conditions will gain an advantage.
This race also offers a vital opportunity for drivers on the playoff bubble or chasing points to solidify their standing. The large field size and competitive depth mean every lap and pit stop could be pivotal.
News in Brief: NASCAR Cup Series Entry List for Michigan
The FireKeepers Casino 400 at Michigan International Speedway promises a thrilling Sunday showdown with 36 full-time NASCAR Cup Series contenders battling for supremacy. From Ryan Blaney’s bid to extend his winning streak to Hendrick Motorsports and Joe Gibbs Racing’s powerhouse lineups, the race is set to deliver drama, speed, and strategy on one of NASCAR’s fastest tracks.
As the 2025 season progresses beyond its midpoint, performances at Michigan will shape playoff hopes and highlight emerging rivalries. Fans can expect a captivating race where every pass and pit stop could decide the race winner — a true test of driver skill and team execution under pressure.
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