Toyota eyes a third straight Michigan victory
Toyota has turned the Irish Hills into its personal playground, securing back-to-back wins with Tyler Reddick in 2024 and Denny Hamlin in 2025. Now, Chevrolet and Ford are desperate to reclaim their backyard at the 2-mile Michigan International Speedway in Sunday’s FireKeepers Casino 400. It is a massive task, but the local pride of drivers like Carson Hocevar and Brad Keselowski—both Michigan natives chasing their first home-track win—adds a wild layer of pressure to the weekend.
Hamlin, the 45-year-old pilot of the No. 11 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota, arrives as the defending winner and pole-sitter. Despite a flat left-rear tire in practice forcing him to start from the rear, his record of eight straight top-10 finishes at this track makes him an undeniable machine. If he can replicate his recent comeback drive from Nashville, he remains the man to beat.
Meanwhile, the pressure is on for Chevrolet to end a drought dating back to 2017. Spire Motorsports driver Carson Hocevar is one to watch; he is hunting for his second career win after qualifying on the front row. Brad Keselowski, representing RFK Racing in the No. 6 Ford, is also eager to break his streak of near-misses at home, having finished runner-up three times in his career. With the field set, we are about to see if Toyota’s grip on Michigan is truly unbreakable.
