Cup Series Recap: 2021 FireKeepers Casino 400 (Michigan International Speedway)
Ryan Blaney clinched victory after a dynamic race, finishing with an ARP of 9.49 and a GR of 2.53. Despite Kyle Larson's domination, late-race shifts favored Blaney. William Byron made significant strides to finish second.
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What follows is an AI-generated commentary based on the race results and statistics. I find it useful to glance at. You can view more statistics at the Lap Raptor race page for this race. For more data, head over there.
Ryan Blaney secured a win after starting in third place, finishing with an average running position (ARP) of 9.49. His gain rating (GR) was 2.53, reflecting a solid performance throughout the race. With a late-race bonanza of lead changes and positioning shifts, Blaney managed to clinch the top spot in the final laps. William Byron, who started in 18th place, made significant progress to finish in second with an ARP of 8.54 and a GR of 4.49. His performance in the latter part of the race helped him secure a strong finish despite a scattered early run.
Kyle Larson dominated much of the race, leading a large portion of the laps. He started on pole, maintained control through numerous stints but eventually finished third. With an ARP of 3.32 and a GR of 4.75, Larson's consistent speed was evident, but a wild sequence of events in the closing laps shifted his position. Kurt Busch finished fourth after starting in sixth place, maintaining an ARP of 7.84 and a GR of 2.58. Both drivers ensured their presence at the front for the majority of the race.
Several drivers experienced notable fluctuations due to various incidents and late cautions. Brad Keselowski, initially starting 20th, climbed to a ninth-place finish with an ARP of 11.54, aided partly by the high GR of 3.59. An incident that caused Joey Logano to drop to 33rd impacted his ARP heavily, invalidating his race with a rough GR-LR balance. Austin Dillon and Joey Gase dealt with accidents that took them out of contention, but overall, the race presented a strategic challenge that reshaped the leaderboard frequently.