The start of Stage 2 was almost the end of the race for Denny Hamlin. He had to take evasive maneuvers to stay out of the wall. Starting P2 after Stage 1 in the NASCAR Cup Series race at Michigan, Hamlin had to focus and get his elbows up to save his car.

Denny Hamlin's long-time partner and fiancée, Jordan Fish, is over 40 weeks pregnant with their third child. The two were expecting their baby in early June but have been waiting for over a week, and with the Michigan race scheduled this Sunday (June 8), Fish is hoping to hold off labor until the Cup event is over.

A recent decision by a federal appellant panel could lead to 23XI Racing becoming an open team in the next few weeks.

Front Row Motorsports and 23XI Racing were dealt a huge blow in their fight against NASCAR this week. Last December, a U.S. District Court had ruled that the organizations could continue participating in the 2025 Cup Series season as chartered teams despite the antitrust lawsuit they filed against the racing promotion.

Denny Hamlin excels at Michigan International Speedway while Kyle Larson struggles in the Next Gen era, ahead of the FireKeepers Casino 400.