LifeLock 400 Free Picks
The only good news coming out of Michigan lately is that the Sprint Cup Series rolls into Michigan International Speedway this week for the LifeLock 400.
Michigan International Speedway is known for giving us some pretty boring races with long green runs, very little passing and with the way the COT has run on tracks like Michigan this year, we might be in for a real snooze fest this Sunday.
When handicapping this race, all you have to do is look at the cars from Roush Fenway Racing. They have won at least one Michigan race a season for the last seven years and have won five straight California races, which is almost identical to Michigan International Speedway.
Carl Edwards 6/1
We normally stay away from drivers with such low odds, but with the way Edwards has looked the last few weeks as well as the way he has dominated this track, we think even at these odds he’s the best bet on the board. In nine starts at Michigan, Edwards has only finished outside the top 10 once, with two wins and an average finish of 6.6. Only one other driver has an average finish under 10, which shows you just how dominant Edwards has been here.
Matt Kenseth 12/1
Matt Kenseth would have been our top play this week if not for his teammate getting the top spot, but at 12/1 we think a bet on him to knock off his teammate offers tremendous value. Kenseth won earlier this year at California, which is very similar to Michigan and this type of track has always been one that he has excelled on. In 19 starts here, Kenseth has nine top fives, 13 top 10s and is the only other driver with an average finish under 10.
We also think fellow Roush Fenway Racing teammate Greg Biffle at 7/1 deserves a long look and wouldn’t shock us if he won this week. But making three bets with two drivers under 10/1 just doesn’t make a lot of sense.
Live Longshot
Kasey Kahne 18/1
If not for Dale Earnhardt Jr. gambling last year, Kahne would have won this race for the second time in three years and while this team has under-performed all year, Michigan could be just the track to get him and his team out of the slump they’ve been in since Daytona. Last week we thought Kahne would have the new Dodge engine, which he didn’t, but we double checked this week and can say for sure he will have it under the hood this week.
2009 NASCAR LifeLock 400 Race Information
Race Date: Sunday June 14, 2009
Location: Michigan International Speedway – Brooklyn, Michigan
Pre-Race: 1:30PM ET
Green Flag: Approx. 2:00PM ET
TV Coverage: TNT & TNT HD
Radio Coverage: MRN (Motor Racing Network)
Track Type: D-Shaped Oval
Capacity: 137,243
Posted: 6/10/09 10:15PM ET
