NASCAR at Michigan live updates: Kevin Harvick, Martin Truex Jr. chase first checkered flag of season at FireKeepers Casino 400

On Sunday, NASCAR turns its attention to Michigan International Speedway in Brooklyn for the FireKeepers Casino 400. There are now just four races left in the season before the playoffs, so the pressure is on drivers without a win this season.

Among those drivers are Kevin Harvick and Martin Truex Jr., who are both on the bubble (Truex is in, Harvick is out heading into Sunday). With that in mind expect aggressive races from them. Truex is starting seventh whereas Harvick is starting 16th.

At the top of the standings, everyone is still chasing Chase Elliott, who has four wins on the season. This year has seen a whopping 14 different winners, so despite Truex’s high spot in the standings, the only way to guarantee a playoff spot in 2022 is to win.

Ryan Blaney also hasn’t won a race this season, although he has a bit more cushion than Truex does in the standings.

It should be a tense race as the season winds down. The Sporting News will be tracking the FireKeepers Casino 400 throughout the race below.

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NASCAR at Michigan live updates, highlights from FireKeepers Casino 400 at Michigan International Speedway

(All times Eastern.)

5:37 p.m. — Kyle Larson in second place is talking about what his next move is going to be as he tries to catch up to Chastain. Nearly a third through the second stage, Bell has dropped to third and Noah Gragson is a new addition to the top five.

5:29 p.m. — Chastain has moved into first with the top four all within one second of each other.

5:25 p.m. — Ty Gibbs and Ross Chastain will be in row one coming out of caution, and Corey LaJoie will be in second place.

5:17 p.m. — We enter another caution with the first stage in the rear view. Good start for Bell.

STAGE WINNER: He stays out. He picks up a NASCAR Playoff point.@CBellRacing takes the opening stage of the #FireKeepersCasino400! pic.twitter.com/FrUWkrnHKJ

— NASCAR (@NASCAR) August 7, 2022

5:16 p.m. — Bell takes the first stage by over a second over Hamlin. Erik Jones, Martine Truex Jr., Chris Buescher make up the rest of the top five.

5:15 p.m. — Down within the last three laps, Bell still leads with two laps in the first stage.

5:11 p.m. — Under 10 laps to go in the first stage as Bell looks for his stage win.

5:10 p.m. — Back to the race itself: Christopher Bell is in first coming out of the restart with Denny Hamlin close behind him. Erik Jones is over a second behind and Martin Truex Jr. is about 2.5 seconds back.

5:09 p.m. — Fallout from the crash on Busch’s car.

Kyle Busch car … pic.twitter.com/odnnpUtKxI

— Bob Pockrass (@bobpockrass) August 7, 2022

5:06 p.m. — Tempered from Kyle Busch after the race, he didn’t blame other drivers, but he was clearly extremely frustrated. Said his frustration is “infinity” on a scale of 1-10.

5:02 p.m. — No hard feeling from Cindric on the course, he says 45 (Ty Gibbs) apologized but it wasn’t all his fault. Just a bad situation on the restart all around.

5 p.m. — Austin Cindric definitely took the worst of that spin.

A brutal hit for Austin Cindric to end his day early. #NASCAR

📺 : @USA_Network pic.twitter.com/uKU4SnDqGS

— NASCAR on NBC (@NASCARonNBC) August 7, 2022

4:55 p.m. — Kyle Busch’s day ends early in a big crash that also affected Cindric, Almirola, and Yeley. Tough ending as they all spun out and hit the wall.

4:51 p.m. — Bubba Wallace still holds the lead after 20 laps into the competition caution. Tyler Reddick is pulling in behind him in second place.

4:36 p.m. — There’s our green flag and we’re underway! Barring rain, plenty of time to get a race in before sunset.

4:25 p.m. — Some friendly local faces give the call at MIS, MSU’s Mel Tucker and Tom Izzo join for the start your engines call.

.@MSU_Athletics fans, this one’s for you! @Coach_mtucker and Tom Izzo get the engines fired in Michigan! pic.twitter.com/R2MPiwCOm1

— NASCAR (@NASCAR) August 7, 2022

4:20 p.m. — Engines are fired, green flag incoming.

Engines fired. stages 45-75-80, 7 sets, fuel 44-47 … competition caution Lap 25. No cars to the rear. Sundown 8:49p ET.

— Bob Pockrass (@bobpockrass) August 7, 2022

4:16 p.m. — Nearly underway!

🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸

It’s almost go time from @MISpeedway! (📺: USA) pic.twitter.com/XgfmtxjSI5

— NASCAR (@NASCAR) August 7, 2022

4:12 p.m. — Command will come at 4:15 p.m.

Command to start engines 4:15.

— Bob Pockrass (@bobpockrass) August 7, 2022

4:08 p.m. — At this point, all that remains to be seen is when we’ll get a call for drivers to start their engines.

NASCAR will now do the invocation and the anthem at 4:05 and then will finish drying track. No time set yet for engines to be fired. https://t.co/Dv6XqdOMyv

— Bob Pockrass (@bobpockrass) August 7, 2022

3:57 p.m. — It looks like things are on track for a 4:15 invocation, as the covers remain off.

Covers off the cars and drying continues. Invocation scheduled for 4:15. pic.twitter.com/FyBlDhsGc3

— Bob Pockrass (@bobpockrass) August 7, 2022

3:44 p.m. — Car covers are coming off, so we may see things start to ramp up soon.

3:41 p.m. — There are still some trickles of rain but NASCAR is now hoping for 4:15 ceremonies and a start shortly after.

NASCAR is shooting for 4:15 invocation and anthem and then a start soon afterward.

— Bob Pockrass (@bobpockrass) August 7, 2022

3:25 p.m. — NASCAR’s jet dryers are still at work on the course, and we don’t yet have an estimated start time.

3 p.m. — Welcome to Michigan International Speedway! There’s some concern around the start of this race, as they’re in the process of drying the track after a rainy morning. Without lights, they’ll need to get at least 100 laps in. But the track will take a while to dry off.

Rain has stopped around much of the track. No estimate for race start. Likely will take at least 90 minutes to dry (depends on wind/sun) but also possible for more rain. Race would take 2.5-3 hrs. Sundown 8:49p ET. No lights. Lap 100 or later would be an official race if it rains pic.twitter.com/74nB9ds0Sb

— Bob Pockrass (@bobpockrass) August 7, 2022

NASCAR start time today

• Race: FireKeepers Casino 400 at MIS
• Date: Sunday, Aug. 7
• Start time: 3 p.m. ET

The FireKeepers Casino 400 at the Brickyard is scheduled to begin at 3 p.m. ET on Sunday, Aug. 7, but the green flag is expected to be waved at 3:17 p.m. ET.

What channel is NASCAR on?

• TV channel: NBC (U.S.) | TSN5 (Canada)
• Live stream: Peacock, fuboTV
• Radio: MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio

Sunday’s race will be broadcast on USA Network. Canadian viewers can follow the action on TSN5.

NASCAR Hall of Famer Dale Earnhardt Jr. will handle the lap-by-lap call as he leads USA’s “Racing Team.” Cup Series veteran Jeff Burton  and Daytona 500-winning crew chief Steve Letarte will provide analysis.

Cord-cutters can check out the race on Peacock or fuboTV, which offers a free trial.

Starting lineup for Michigan race

Here is the starting lineup for the FireKeepers 400 at Michigan International Speedway. Bubba Wallace of 23XI Racing took the pole Saturday, while Joe Gibbs Racing holds spots two and three. Team Penske rounds out the top five in the final two spots.