Verizon 200 at the Brickyard Race Preview and Pick
NASCAR Cup Series: Verizon 200 at the Brickyard
Sunday, July 31, 2022 at 2:30 p.m. ET (NBC) at Indianapolis Motor Speedway Road Course in Indianapolis, Indiana
Last Week's Race
The M&M's Fan Appreciation 400 at Pocono Raceway in Pennsylvania took place last week.
For all to see, Denny Hamlin finished first, and Kyle Busch finished second.
However, the race results are subject to post-race inspection.
Hamlin and Busch both failed this inspection and were consequently disqualified from the race.
The third-place finisher thus became the winner of the race.
This finisher, this winner, was no other than Chase Elliott who collected his fourth win of the season, his second win in his last three races, and his third win in his last five races.
His consistent success has positioned him now even more strongly atop the standings.
He leads the NASCAR Cup Series playoff standings with 787 points, which is 105 more than second-place, Ross Chastain.
Chastain was actually in second-place last week with 16 laps to go.
However, Hamlin forced him into the wall, leaving him to finish a dismal and misleadingly awful 34th.
Race Info
This week, the Verizon 200 at the Brickyard takes place in Indianapolis' road course.
For this race, drivers must complete a total of 82 laps.
As is almost always the case, there will be three stages for this event.
Stage 1 consists in the first 15 laps.
Stage 2 requires drivers to complete 20 more laps.
Stage 3 consists in the last 47 laps.
Entry List
As is typically the case, the entry list for the upcoming race has been published by the middle of the week.
A couple more than usual, 38 teams/drivers for 40 possible spots are posted on this entry list.
So, barring any unforeseen circumstances, we already know which drivers will participate in this race.
We may expect all of the usual suspects.
Starting Lineup
The starting lineup gets determined via qualifying.
For this race, qualifying will take place the morning before the race.
Qualifying starts on Saturday at 10:30 a.m. ET and finishes an hour later.
It will be two-group, multi-vehicle, and two rounds.
A two-group practice session will precede qualifying directly.
Practice will be from 9:30 a.m. ET to 10:30 a.m. ET.
Track Info
The Indianapolis Motor Speedway features a road course that is on the NASCAR Cup Series circuit for a second time.
This track is made of asphalt and brick.
Every lap is 2.439 miles and has 14 turns.
So, in completing 82 laps, drivers will nearly have accumulated miles.
Drivers I Dislike
For your NASCAR Picks, it is easy to back Elliott because of his superb form.
But it is so hard and rare in NASCAR to win back-to-back races.
This history must deter us from investing in Elliott to win, although he remains a solid candidate in match-up betting opportunities also because of his well-known reputation on road courses.
I also dislike Denny Hamlin because he has failed to finish in the top 15 in any of his last three races at a road course.
My Guy
Only one other driver, a hopeless long-shot Cole Custer, has as strong a history as Tyler Reddick does in qualifying at road races this year.
Reddick also won the last road race, which took place on July 3 at Road America.
He has finished top-five in three of his last four road races.
His excellent history on road courses makes him likely to build off his second-place finish last week.
For the above reasons, I recommend riding Reddick to win this week's race.
Best Bet: Tyler Reddick Outright (Odds TBA at Bovada)
NASCAR Cup Series: Verizon 200 at the Brickyard
Sunday, July 31, 2022 at 2:30 p.m. ET (NBC) at Indianapolis Motor Speedway Road Course in Indianapolis, Indiana
Last Week's Race
The M&M's Fan Appreciation 400 at Pocono Raceway in Pennsylvania took place last week.
For all to see, Denny Hamlin finished first, and Kyle Busch finished second.
However, the race results are subject to post-race inspection.
Hamlin and Busch both failed this inspection and were consequently disqualified from the race.
The third-place finisher thus became the winner of the race.
This finisher, this winner, was no other than Chase Elliott who collected his fourth win of the season, his second win in his last three races, and his third win in his last five races.
His consistent success has positioned him now even more strongly atop the standings.
He leads the NASCAR Cup Series playoff standings with 787 points, which is 105 more than second-place, Ross Chastain.
Chastain was actually in second-place last week with 16 laps to go.
However, Hamlin forced him into the wall, leaving him to finish a dismal and misleadingly awful 34th.
Race Info
This week, the Verizon 200 at the Brickyard takes place in Indianapolis' road course.
For this race, drivers must complete a total of 82 laps.
As is almost always the case, there will be three stages for this event.
Stage 1 consists in the first 15 laps.
Stage 2 requires drivers to complete 20 more laps.
Stage 3 consists in the last 47 laps.
Entry List
As is typically the case, the entry list for the upcoming race has been published by the middle of the week.
A couple more than usual, 38 teams/drivers for 40 possible spots are posted on this entry list.
So, barring any unforeseen circumstances, we already know which drivers will participate in this race.
We may expect all of the usual suspects.
Starting Lineup
The starting lineup gets determined via qualifying.
For this race, qualifying will take place the morning before the race.
Qualifying starts on Saturday at 10:30 a.m. ET and finishes an hour later.
It will be two-group, multi-vehicle, and two rounds.
A two-group practice session will precede qualifying directly.
Practice will be from 9:30 a.m. ET to 10:30 a.m. ET.
Track Info
The Indianapolis Motor Speedway features a road course that is on the NASCAR Cup Series circuit for a second time.
This track is made of asphalt and brick.
Every lap is 2.439 miles and has 14 turns.
So, in completing 82 laps, drivers will nearly have accumulated miles.
Drivers I Dislike
For your NASCAR Picks, it is easy to back Elliott because of his superb form.
But it is so hard and rare in NASCAR to win back-to-back races.
This history must deter us from investing in Elliott to win, although he remains a solid candidate in match-up betting opportunities also because of his well-known reputation on road courses.
I also dislike Denny Hamlin because he has failed to finish in the top 15 in any of his last three races at a road course.
My Guy
Only one other driver, a hopeless long-shot Cole Custer, has as strong a history as Tyler Reddick does in qualifying at road races this year.
Reddick also won the last road race, which took place on July 3 at Road America.
He has finished top-five in three of his last four road races.
His excellent history on road courses makes him likely to build off his second-place finish last week.
For the above reasons, I recommend riding Reddick to win this week's race.
Best Bet: Tyler Reddick Outright (Odds TBA at Bovada)
