FireKeepers Casino 400 Predictions
There are just four races to go until the NASCAR playoffs and 12 drivers have won races, clinching 75% of the 16 postseason spots. That means a win for any eligible full-time drivers would clinch a playoff berth. Which drivers could contend for the checkered flag in Sunday’s FireKeepers Casino 400?
FireKeepers Casino 400 Event Info
What: FireKeepers Casino 400
When: Sunday, 2:30 p.m. ET
Where: Michigan International Speedway
Watch: USA
FireKeepers Casino 400 Betting Odds
Christopher Bell is the current favorite at +650 odds, followed by Denny Hamlin at +700 and William Byron at +750. Kyle Larson and Martin Truex Jr. are both +800, respectively, followed by Kyle Busch at +850. Ryan Blaney, meanwhile, is +900, followed by Brad Keselowski and Chase Elliott at +1200, respectively, then Ross Chastain at +1300. Joey Logano, Tyler Reddick and Kevin Harvick are all +1400, respectively, followed by Chris Buescher and Bubba Wallce at +2200, respectively. Both Ty Gibbs and Alex Bowman are +2600, respectively.
FireKeepers Casino 400 Betting Predictions
OPTION 1: Kevin Harvick (+1400)
Harvick is winless this season, but he’s rolling into a track that has treated him right recently. “Happy”Harvick, in his final Cup Series season, has won four of the last five Michigan races, including winning by nearly three seconds over Bubba Wallace last August. Overall, Harvick is a 6-time Michigan winner, fourth-most all-time. The 47-year-old is trying to pick up a win in his final Cup season and while we haven’t seen a winner that old in the Cup Series since 50-year-old Mark Martin won five times in 2009, I still like Harvick’s chances today.
OPTION 2: Brad Keselowski (+1200)
Both Harvick and Keselowski are former Cup Series champions that are still looking to lock up their spots. Even though they should both be good on points barring a slew of new winners, I still think we’ll see their best efforts today in Michigan. In his last eight starts at Michigan, Keselowski has five top-10 finishes, including runner-up performances in 2018 and 2020. Harvick has had more overall success here, but Keselowski should be in the mix.
OPTION 3: Chase Elliott (+1200)
Elliott hasn’t missed the playoffs in any of his seven full seasons on the Cup Series circuit, which is the fourth-longest active playoff streak behind only Harvick’s 13, Kyle Busch’s 10 and Hamlin’s nine. Elliott’s average finish at Michigan is 7.6 and was the runner-up here three consecutive times in 2016 (x2) and 2017. While he’s never won here, this is a track he seems to like and he needs a solid finish if he’s going to keep his playoff streak alive.