FireKeepers Casino 400 Preview and Best Bet
NASCAR Cup Series: FireKeepers Casino 400
Sunday, August 22, 2021 at 3 p.m. ET at Michigan International Speedway in Brooklyn, Michigan
Race Info
NASCAR's Cup Series continues this Sunday with the FireKeepers Casino 400.
For this racing event, drivers must complete a total of 200 laps.
As has been the case in almost every NASCAR Cup Series race this season, there will be a total of three stages for this race.
Stage 1 requires 60 laps. Stage 2 ends with the completion of lap 120. The final 80 laps belong to Stage 3.
As in previous weeks, an entry list has been published so that everybody knows who will participate in this event barring any unforeseen circumstances. 37 drivers/teams are listed.
Since this is a familiar track for NASCAR Cup Series competitors, there will be neither qualifying nor practice for this race.
With no qualifying round taking place, a predetermined formula will determine which driver will start in what position.
Typically, the starting lineup gets released on Wednesday morning.
Track Info
After an unusually high number of road courses, drivers return to a track.
Michigan's track is unique in a fun way in that it is the fastest one in the NASCAR Cup Series circuit.
One feature that allows it to be fast is its long straightaways. When a straightaway is long, drivers can build up more speed without having to press the brake pedal in order to navigate a turn while handling the car properly.
Moreover, the corners are wide, such that drivers can speed through them with less hindrance from competitive traffic.
Michigan's international speedway also benefits from a nice level of banking, which allows drivers to accumulate more speed especially as they round the corners.
On this track, the turns are banked at 18 degrees each, the start and finish at a positively high 12 degrees, and the backstretch at five degrees.
Compared to other NASCAR Cup Series tracks, the level of banking on the front- and backstretch is worth highlighting as uniquely high.
As you might expect from my description of the track, each lap is two miles long.
So in completing 200 laps, drivers will have accumulated 400 miles.
Drivers To Avoid
Be sure to avoid investing in Alex Bowman at all costs.
One might say that this point is trivially true -- Alex Bowman isn't exactly the first guy you think of to win a race.
But he is worth fading in match-up betting opportunities because Michigan's course is one of his worst in terms of average finishing position.
His average finishing position in Michigan is 25.45, more than five spots worse than his average starting position.
He's never finished better than 10th at this course and he's finished 30th or worse in five of 11 career races here.
A lot of big upsets have happened this season. But this is a course where the more household names perform more strongly.
Two of the more well-known drivers who have recently been on the short end of the stick in Michigan are Chase Elliott and Brad Keselowski, both of whom pale in comparison to guys like Kevin Harvick in terms of recent finishing positions at this track.
My Guy
I like Kyle Larson. Larson ranks number one this season because he's been exceptionally fast.
At a fast course, I carry the most faith in the fastest guy.
Larson ranked third last year and will perform better this year since he is performing more and most strongly this season.
He won again two weeks ago and he is the top candidate to win again on Sunday.
Best Bet: Kyle Larson To Win (Odds TBA)
NASCAR Cup Series: FireKeepers Casino 400
Sunday, August 22, 2021 at 3 p.m. ET at Michigan International Speedway in Brooklyn, Michigan
Race Info
NASCAR's Cup Series continues this Sunday with the FireKeepers Casino 400.
For this racing event, drivers must complete a total of 200 laps.
As has been the case in almost every NASCAR Cup Series race this season, there will be a total of three stages for this race.
Stage 1 requires 60 laps. Stage 2 ends with the completion of lap 120. The final 80 laps belong to Stage 3.
As in previous weeks, an entry list has been published so that everybody knows who will participate in this event barring any unforeseen circumstances. 37 drivers/teams are listed.
Since this is a familiar track for NASCAR Cup Series competitors, there will be neither qualifying nor practice for this race.
With no qualifying round taking place, a predetermined formula will determine which driver will start in what position.
Typically, the starting lineup gets released on Wednesday morning.
Track Info
After an unusually high number of road courses, drivers return to a track.
Michigan's track is unique in a fun way in that it is the fastest one in the NASCAR Cup Series circuit.
One feature that allows it to be fast is its long straightaways. When a straightaway is long, drivers can build up more speed without having to press the brake pedal in order to navigate a turn while handling the car properly.
Moreover, the corners are wide, such that drivers can speed through them with less hindrance from competitive traffic.
Michigan's international speedway also benefits from a nice level of banking, which allows drivers to accumulate more speed especially as they round the corners.
On this track, the turns are banked at 18 degrees each, the start and finish at a positively high 12 degrees, and the backstretch at five degrees.
Compared to other NASCAR Cup Series tracks, the level of banking on the front- and backstretch is worth highlighting as uniquely high.
As you might expect from my description of the track, each lap is two miles long.
So in completing 200 laps, drivers will have accumulated 400 miles.
Drivers To Avoid
Be sure to avoid investing in Alex Bowman at all costs.
One might say that this point is trivially true -- Alex Bowman isn't exactly the first guy you think of to win a race.
But he is worth fading in match-up betting opportunities because Michigan's course is one of his worst in terms of average finishing position.
His average finishing position in Michigan is 25.45, more than five spots worse than his average starting position.
He's never finished better than 10th at this course and he's finished 30th or worse in five of 11 career races here.
A lot of big upsets have happened this season. But this is a course where the more household names perform more strongly.
Two of the more well-known drivers who have recently been on the short end of the stick in Michigan are Chase Elliott and Brad Keselowski, both of whom pale in comparison to guys like Kevin Harvick in terms of recent finishing positions at this track.
My Guy
I like Kyle Larson. Larson ranks number one this season because he's been exceptionally fast.
At a fast course, I carry the most faith in the fastest guy.
Larson ranked third last year and will perform better this year since he is performing more and most strongly this season.
He won again two weeks ago and he is the top candidate to win again on Sunday.
Best Bet: Kyle Larson To Win (Odds TBA)
