Quicken Loans 400 Race Picks
NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Betting Preview
Date and Time: Sunday June 15th, 2014. 1:16PM Eastern
Where: Michigan International Speedway
TV: TNT
By: NASCAR Wagers, NASCAR Handicapping Service
If you enjoy any type of NASCAR racing, make sure you watch tune in for the Quicken Loans 400 at Michigan International Speedway. When the green flag drops at shortly after 1:00pm (EST), Sprint Cup drivers will drop the hammer on 850 horsepower at NASCAR’s fastest track with tight racing at speeds averaging over 200mph. This will be thrilling white knuckle racing at speeds rarely seen in NASCAR making it a must-see event. Let’s take a look our preview and Quicken Loans 400 race picks:
The first thing any bettor should know heading into the weekend’s race if you have not kept up with our articles this week, is that Chevrolet engines have a huge advantage in horsepower. Chevrolet flexed their muscles last week at Pocono even though Brad Keselowski nearly upset the Chevrolet brigade. This week the advantage seems more skewed as Chevrolet has dominated every practice session and even captured 6 of the top 8 spots in qualifying. Needless to say, our roster for tomorrow’s race will heavily loaded with Chevrolet horsepower.
Our newsletter pick Kevin Harvick has been very strong this weekend and has been bet down to half of his value when picked him on Monday at +700. Harvick has been one of the most dominate cars all season and he finished 2nd at Kansas in a track that shares the same tire compunds along with similar horsepower focus. Jeff Gordon was the winner of the Kansas race earlier this season and he has been right with Harvick on the speed charts this week. Gordon is running the same chassis that finished 13th at Fontana and 7th at Charlotte. However, we think Gordon may be the prime contender to sneak out a victory while most of the garage is raving about the #4 car. We added Gordon to our roster as soon as odds were released after Saturday’s practices at +800 at CarbonSports.ag. Odds are still not posted at many other sportsbooks so having a book that produces early lines is priceless in the world of NASCAR betting.
Outside of Gordon and Harvick, there are plenty of other Chevrolet drivers that could make some noise on Sunday. All Hendrick Motorsports and Stewart-Haas Racing drivers were strong in practices. Both teams were really impressive last week and that momentum could easily carry over especially with the horsepower advantage. Hendrick Motorsports looks really comfortable with Jimmie Johnson, Dale Earnhardt Jr, and Kasey Kahne. Kahne posted his best finish of the year (3rd) at Kansas and appears to have another fast ride. Michigan is one of Junior’s best tracks. Meanwhile Johnson may have never won at Michigan, but who can really count out the #48 especially when he has shown speed throughout the weekend.
A few other drivers to keep your eye on include Brad Keselowski, Kyle Larson, and possibly Clint Bowyer. Keselowski has posted two straight 2nd place finishes and has been knocking hard on the door of victory lane. Remember Keselowski was in position to win last week despite Chevrolet’s horsepower advantage until a piece of trash ruined those plans. For the young Larson, we picked the kid in our early week picks preview to finish in the top 3 at +650. Larson topped the charts in final practice and this is a place he can contend. Larson finished 2nd at Auto Club Speedway this season which many consider a sister track to Michigan and though he is a rookie; he is still capable of pulling out a upset. Also Clint Bowyer is a guy that has quietly put together some strong finishes in recent weeks and has a solid resume at Michigan finishing inside the top 8 in each of his last 6 races. At 25-1, Bowyer has some value especially if you want to put him in a H2H or Top 3 finish type wager.
While I am sure there will be a few surprises, we feel confident we can bounce back after a horrific stroke of luck in last night’s Truck Series race. Sunday’s race will not only be a great opportunity to bounce back but it should be one hell of a race when these cars start dancing at 200mph. Take a look at our full betting card for the Quicken Loans 400.
Sprint All-Star Race Picks
Kevin Harvick +700(1 unit): Newsletter pick, starting on the pole, finished top 4 in all 3 practice sessions, fastest 10 lap consecutive average, running 2nd place Kansas chassis.
Jeff Gordon +800(1 unit): 2nd fastest 10 lap consecutive average in final practice, starting 2nd, chassis most recently finished 7th at Charlotte, Gordon also won earlier this year at Kansas which is often compared to Michigan since the repave.
Kyle Larson +2500(1 unit): finished 2nd at Auto Club Speedway, fastest in final practice, starting 12th after not making it out on track for final round of knockout qualifying, excellent place for the rookie to pick up his first win.
Kasey Kahne +1500(1 unit): fastest in first practice, 5th in final practice, finished 3rd earlier this season at Kansas, running 11th place Charlotte chassis.
Top 3 Finish
Tony Stewart +350
Kyle Larson +650
H2H Bets
Tony Stewart -120 over Matt Kenseth (5 units)
Paul Menard -150 over Austin Dillon (2 units)
Clint Bowyer -115 over Greg Biffle (3 units)
Kasey Kahne -120 over Joey Logano (5 units)
Added: Kurt Busch -120 over Carl Edwards (5 units)
