Clint Bowyer capitalized on a two-tire stop to take the lead and eventual win Sunday, winning the rain-shortened Firekeepers 400 at Michigan International Speedway.
It’s the second victory of the season for Bowyer’s No. 14 Ford, which also won at Martinsville Speedway.
Bowyer was the first lead-lap car to exit the pits under yellow after the second stage ended on Lap 120. He took the lead on Lap 124 when Kasey Kahne pitted from first.
MORE: Race results
MORE: Points standings
Bowyer then held off teammate Kevin Harvick (whose No. 4 Ford was on four tires) on a Lap 126 restart.
The caution flag flew for a final time when Ricky Stenhouse Jr. spun after contact with Kahne on Lap 129. NASCAR red-flagged the race on Lap 133 of a scheduled 200 as rain and mist covered the 2-mile oval. The race’s results were deemed official a few minutes later.
It was the second weather delay of the afternoon. The race started at 4:45 p.m., two and half hours after its original green-flag time because of persistent showers.
Harvick finished second, and Kurt Busch was third to make it a 1-2-3 sweep for Stewart-Haas Racing.
Stage 1 winner: Ryan Blaney
Stage 2 winner: Kevin Harvick
Who had a good day: Ryan Blaney (eighth) led 15 laps for his second top 10 in seven starts at Michigan. … Kurt Busch (third) scored his third top five this season and his first at Michigan since winning there in 2015. … Kyle Busch (fourth) earned his best Michigan showing in five years.
Who had a bad day: The first Cup start of Garrett Smithley’s career ended early after mechanical problems at the green flag. … David Ragan finished a season-worst 38th after contact with Bubba Wallace. … Kyle Larson finished 28th after spinning in his bid for a fourth consecutive victory at Michigan.
Notable: Fords took seven of the top eight spots. … With seven wins through 15 of 36 races, Stewart-Haas Racing already has tied its high for a season. … Bowyer has won twice in 10 races since ending a 190-race winless drought.
Quotable: “I was able to just get by (Harvick) because he left me room and was courteous and a good teammate,” Bowyer said about the last restart. “I tried to give him enough room but just enough that I was going to try to stay in front of him and take the air off him. That is the only thing you can really do in that situation.”
Next: Toyota/Save Mart 350, 3 p.m. ET, June 24 at Sonoma Raceway. TV: FS1