As excitement builds for the 2025 FireKeepers Casino 400 at Michigan International Speedway, Kevin Harvick predicts Joey Logano to win Michigan NASCAR Cup race, citing Team Penske‘s advantage with Ford cars. This forecast comes just days before Sunday’s crucial NASCAR Cup Series contest, with Harvick offering his comments during his recent podcast.
Harvick Leads Predictions for FireKeepers Casino 400
During the latest ‘Kevin Harvick’s Happy Hour’ podcast, the 2014 NASCAR Cup Series champion, now a commentator, discussed potential outcomes for this weekend’s race with his co-hosts Kaitlyn Vincie and Mamba Smith. Each host made their pick for who would take the checkered flag at Michigan, referencing both past performance and team strength.
Harvick threw his support behind Joey Logano, a Team Penske driver, emphasizing his belief that Ford vehicles are likely to dominate at Michigan International Speedway. Harvick’s view reflects Ford’s historic strength on this track and Logano’s consistent results there.
“I’m going to take Logano [Joey], okay? I just don’t think you’re going to beat the Fords this weekend. I think you’re going to have a Ford, so I just I like his experience.” Harvick said while picking the driver to win the 2025 FireKeepers Casino 400 [53:41 onwards]. —Kevin Harvick, Commentator
In contrast, Kaitlyn Vincie initially favored William Byron, referencing his previous performance at Michigan. However, after further discussion about Hendrick Motorsports statistics on the podcast, Vincie expressed some doubts about her pick.
“I was going with William Byron because he had a decent showing there last race, but after you shared the Hendrick stats, I’m like maybe that wasn’t my wisest choice,” Vincie said. —Kaitlyn Vincie, Co-host
Meanwhile, Mamba Smith highlighted RFK Racing as a potential dark horse, choosing Ryan Preece as his contender for a breakout victory based on recent promising showings on similar tracks.
“I’m going with I talked about him a little bit earlier, RFK. I really want to go with Carson because it’s a home track for him, but I’m going to go with RFK. I’m going to go with Ryan Preece. They seem to have some, like, real big smoke speed at some of these mile and a half and they’ve been kind of knocking on the door for some better finishes.” —Mamba Smith, Co-host
Joey Logano’s Track Record at Michigan International Speedway
Joey Logano enters the Michigan Cup race supported by Harvick’s confidence and a notable history at the venue. Logano has achieved three wins and eight top-five finishes at Michigan International Speedway, adding up to 18 top-10s in 28 starts at the two-mile oval. The Ford driver’s proven results at this track, coupled with Harvick’s insight on the manufacturer’s edge, have placed Logano as a clear favorite in this weekend’s lineup.
So far in the 2025 NASCAR Cup Series season, Logano, driving the #22 Team Penske Ford, has claimed a win, secured two top-five and four top-10 results, and led 302 laps, maintaining an average finish of 16.28. Presently, he stands eighth in the Cup Series points standings with 380 points, further cementing his role as a likely frontrunner for another victory.
What to Expect When the Green Flag Drops
The anticipation around Kevin Harvick’s prediction, along with the varying picks from Vincie and Smith, will add layers of intrigue to Sunday’s FireKeepers Casino 400. With Joey Logano’s strong history at Michigan International Speedway, Ford’s reputable performance on the track, and Team Penske’s competitive pedigree, the race promises a fierce battle among top contenders.
Fans can watch the FireKeepers Casino 400 broadcast on Prime Video starting at 2 p.m. Eastern Time. Those preferring audio coverage can tune into MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio for updates from Michigan International Speedway as the 2025 NASCAR Cup Series continues to unfold.
