Hiram Moreno
The twenty-third race of this NASCAR Cup Series season is just days away, with the FireKeepers Casino 400 marking the final stages before heading into the playoffs. The drivers will have time to prepare for the date at the Michigan International Speedway in Brooklyn, Michigan, which is scheduled for August 7.
The circuit, which consists of 156 laps for a total of 502.1 kilometers, will bring together the talented drivers who will try to take the victory, especially Ryan Blaney, reigning champion after finishing first in 2021. Will he be able to keep the crown? Here at JefeBet we will review who might be able to dethrone him.
Betting Preview for the FireKeepers Casino 400 at Michigan International Speedway NASCAR Cup Series Race on July 24 2022
Where: Michigan International Speedway, Brooklyn, Michigan
When: Sunday, August 7, 2022, 3:00 PM ET.
Favorites
Ryan Blaney (Odds 7/1)
It is impossible not to consider the champion as one of the candidates to win again. And not only did he win in the last edition of this race, but he has also been in the top 5 in two of the last four times he has visited this circuit.
However, it’s impossible to overlook that Blaney hasn’t been having his best moment in recent weeks, placing #33 in the M&M’s Fan Appreciation 400 and #26 in the Verizon 200 over the past weekend.
Chase Elliott (Odds 9/1)
The Verizon 200 saw the current 2022 NASCAR Cup Series points leader Chase Elliott’s hot streak come to an end, as his #17 finish in the race ended a streak of five consecutive top 3 finishes .
Notwithstanding, Elliott has been one of the most consistent drivers throughout the year (not for nothing he leads in points). Besides, whatever race is disputed it’s a race in which he starts among the favorites, and here in the FireKeepers Casino 400 will be no exception, although he has not been able to go beyond the eighth position in the last five years at this track.
Kevin Harvick (Odds 9/1)
Ruling out Kevin Harvick at Michigan would also be far-fetched. After all, Harvick is the second-highest winner in this race with a total of four victories, and is just one away from tying David Pearson’s record of five.
Of those four wins, three came between 2018 and 2020, although he finished 14th in 2021, but he’s sure to make waves again once he shows up at Michigan International Speedway.
Sleeper Picks
Denny Hamlin (Odds 15/1)
Denny Hamlin’s track record at this circuit suggests that the driver could pull off an upset, considering that he has been in the top 5 in the last three editions of the race, including a pair of second place finishes.
Hamlin has also been having standout performances in recent weeks, with his fourteenth-place finish in the Verizon 200 being preceded by a first-place finish in the M&M’s Fan Appreciation 400, although he ended up being disqualified in post-race inspections.
Tyler Reddick (Odds 16/1)
Tyler Reddick might not be considered a favorite for this race, but the fact that he won the Verizon 200, and with that win being preceded by a second place finish at Pocono, makes him, along with Elliott, the hottest driver in the 2022 NASCAR Cup Series at the moment.
Will this be enough? It should be remembered that Reddick has not finished in the top 20 in his two previous appearances on the circuit, so it will be a battle between history and present.
Black Horse
Kyle Larson (Odds 20/1)
Larson was on the podium in the 2021 edition of this FireKeepers 400 and had a fairly consistent performance, finishing second in stage one and third in stage two.
While his #35th place finish last week, Kyle Larson had top-five finishes in the previous five races, and is capable of pulling off an upset at this track.
JefeBet Prediction
Sometimes experience trumps current events, and while Kevin Harvick has yet to win a race this 2022, there is no better opportunity to do so than at this track. In addition, the motivation to place himself as one of the top winners will also drive him to want to be the first to pass the checkered flag, so he will be our choice for this weekend.
