Michigan International Speedway 2025 NASCAR Track Profile

[Editor’s note: The following article is from Athlon Sports’ 2025 Racing Annual magazine. Order your copy online today, or buy one at retail racks and newsstands nationwide.]

Michigan International Speedway, nestled in the beautiful Irish Hills, has long been an important track on the NASCAR schedule given its proximity to Detroit, the traditional automotive home of America. The 2-mile oval produces some the highest speeds on the circuit, while the width of the track provides multiple lanes with which to play.

Last season, Tyler Reddick beat William Byron by just 0.168 seconds in August to secure the win. That Toyota triumph broke a stretch of nine straight Ford victories. More than half of those came at the hands of Kevin Harvick, though, so his recent retirement has opened Michigan up to other manufacturers and contenders.

Kyle Larson and Joey Logano have the most wins among active drivers with three, and Denny Hamlin is the only other with multiple triumphs (2). But none of those three have cashed in at Michigan in the 2020s. Hamlin and Brad Keselowski are the only drivers to get multiple top 5s here in the three Next Gen races, and Hamlin is the only driver to score a top 10 in each, giving him the series’ best average finish (5.0).

Chris Buescher has led the most laps among active drivers (53) in the three Next Gen races, earning a win in 2023. Another driver to watch? Ty Gibbs. He finished 10th and 11th in his first two starts before improving to third in 2024.

And if you’re looking for a hometown hero, Michigan native Erik Jones could be a darkhorse. He notched top 10s in 2022 and ’23 and was 16th last year in a season where his No. 43 team was at its worst. Should Legacy Motor Club make gains in 2025, Jones will be a player at Michigan.

Michigan International Speedway track info

Site: Brooklyn, Michigan

Laps: 2-mile D-shaped oval

Banking/Turns: 18 degrees

Banking/Frontstretch: 12 degrees

Banking/Backstretch: 5 degrees

2025 Date: June 8

Distance: 200 laps, 400 miles

2024 winner

Tyler Reddick

Scouting report

With the closure of Auto Club Speedway in California, Michigan Speedway is a one-of-a-kind, 2-mile track in the spirit of the also long-closed Texas World Speedway. Its infield experience is also one of the best in the sport – a more generally wholesome, but equally-fun equivalent to Talladega. Its proximity to Detroit and the home of American automobile manufacturing is a big deal, too. The winning manufacturer representative takes the Michigan Heritage Trophy back to their headquarters every year, as well.