NASCAR Cup Series

Pixar Animation Studios have churned out many of the best animated films of the last 20 years. Cars, however, is not one of them.

Michigan native Erik Jones is hoping the math adds up in his favor this week with the NASCAR Cup Series rookie coming off a career-best finish and getting to compete in front of his home state fans.

While the No. 00 Haas Automation Ford Mustang is piloted by a relatively fresh face in the NASCAR XFINITY Series, it was a tenacious veteran whose heroics in the early 1980s made the No. 00 synonymous with winning.

Michigan International Speedway is Roush Fenway owner Jack Roush’s ‘home track.’ Located about an hour drive from Roush Industries in Livonia, Michigan has been one of the organization’s most successful tracks, earning a total of 23 victories across the three major NASCAR touring series.

Country music duo Thompson Square will serve as the grand marshal for the FireKeepers Casino 400 on June 18 at Michigan International Speedway.

Leavine Family Racing (LFR) and Michael McDowell are looking to extend their streak of Top-25 finishes at Michigan International Speedway (MIS), fresh off their best qualifying effort of the season at Pocono Raceway.

PURE MICHIGAN: Camry drivers have won five times in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series (MENCS) at Michigan International Speedway. In August 2015, Matt Kenseth drove his Joe Gibbs Racing No. 20 Camry to victory lane at Michigan, allowing Toyota to claim the coveted Heritage Trophy which debuted in 2013 and goes to the winning manufacturer of each Cup race. Camry drivers Denny Hamlin (June 2010 and June 2011), Kyle Busch (August 2011) and former Toyota driver Brian Vickers (August 2009) have also visited victory lane at the two-mile oval.

Darrell "Bubba" Wallace Jr. made his first Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series start last weekend while filling in for the injured Aric Almirola. In his first run with the No. 43 team, Wallace had some issues with pit road that hindered a good finish at Pocono Raceway. He'll use his lessons from last weekend and bring them to a Michigan International Speedway (MIS).

“I’m in total amazement I didn’t even have a bruise from last weekend’s crash at Pocono. I’m looking forward to Michigan. It’s a fast track, speeds are crazy high, and all but once we have figured out how to lose that race in every way. Father’s Day weekend is always special – especially now since I am a dad. My father Gary is usually at the racetracks every weekend and it is always the intention to try and get a win for the dads. I’m thankful for all he sacrificed to allow me to follow my dream." Jimmie Johnson on racing at Michigan

"Michigan (International Speedway) is very similar to Auto Club (Speedway), in that you have multiple line options to run," Buescher said. "I really like running at Michigan. You can move around the racetrack and find things that work, and it's just a fun and enjoyable racetrack. Being able to choose your line on the apron is a really unique aspect of the track."