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USA Today via Reuters

USA Today via Reuters

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  Debate

Debate

Is Michigan International Speedway cursed, or just unlucky with all this rain ruining NASCAR events?

Mother Nature gave us respite for over a month. The sun appeared after a drenched series of weekends topped off by the slippery Chicago Street Race. Pocono, Indianapolis, the Olympic weekends, and most recently Richmond – the weather gods offered respite to all these Sundays. However, the NASCAR Cup Series is potentially returning to a rain-splattered tale at Michigan International Speedway.

The 2-mile oval is no stranger to the whims of rain-heavy clouds. Past years have witnessed rain delays pushing playing spoilsport with the race timings, as racers strove to maintain control in the haphazard, slippery conditions. So, it is more like a ‘not again’ scenario.

Michigan International Speedway and it’s ‘rain’ problem

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When NASCAR fans are not bashing the authorities for higher horsepower or other technical issues, they are bashing the weather for being unruly. Tropical storm Debby spared Richmond Raceway last weekend, so fans had a different topic to spar about – Austin Dillon’s controversial bump-and-run finish. This time around, rain is again becoming the focus topic for Michigan International Speedway. Especially, because the racetrack has had a history with the weather.

RaceWeather updated the gloomy situation that will set in from Friday. “It looks like another rainy#NASCAR weekend at @MISpeedway. Rain is in the forecast for all three days, with Saturday most likely seeing the most rain.” Moreover, it’s predicted that scattered showers and thunderstorms will engulf most of Friday due to an upper-level trough, which will persist through Saturday. Then on Sunday, a weak upper-level shortwave trough would make for isolated showers, with precipitation chances at 60%.

 

What’s your perspective on:

Is Michigan International Speedway cursed, or just unlucky with all this rain ruining NASCAR events?

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This echoes the fate of Michigan International Speedway in the past two years. Both in 2022 and 2023, rain doused the FireKeepers Casino 400 race. But last year’s race was spectacular – it marked the 9th time Fords dominated the Michigan track. Chris Buescher edged Martin Truex Jr by 0.152 seconds to cross the finish line first. RFK Racing teammate and co-owner, Brad Keselowski, finished fourth. So will Ford shine again this year?

Maybe the incoming rain would again help a Ford car reach Victory Lane. For now, fans are crestfallen upon learning about Mother Nature’s plans at Michigan International Speedway.

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The sport’s association with Michigan International Speedway goes back to 1968. The track’s speed is renowned; It is the fastest track in NASCAR due to its wide, sweeping corners, long straightaways, and lack of a restrictor plate requirement. However, a significant change in 2021 shifted the focus to weather. The Cup Series stripped down its two-race schedule to just the Fall date. So some fans believe that the continuing inclement weather is a sign of revenge against this action. “Weather has a grudge on mis.”

One person aptly called out NASCAR to shift back the Michigan race to sunnier days. At least then, the weather curse could be lifted with a practical purpose. They commented: “its time for nascar to put the michigan race back to june, weather is always no joke here in august and always a threat and has been these last couple years.” Another fan predicted that the heavier shower on Saturday is bound to have an impact on Xfinity. “I bet xfinity is Sunday morning.”

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Another fan took a jibe at Kyle Larson’s ‘Double’ attempt earlier this year. A four-hour delay at the Indy 500 had caused Larson to miss out on the Coke 600, and now, Michigan looks bleak too. “Excellent, @KyleLarsonRacin keep racing High Limit this weekend!” Michigan has also seen rain before 2021, as the 2018 spring race in Michigan saw a rain delay after 133 laps. So one fan commented: “The Michigan classic!”

Evidently, ripples of gloominess are shaking up the NASCAR community. With isolated showers predicted on Sunday, let us see how far Mother Nature can affect the Cup race.

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