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The NASCAR Cup Sequence is again on the famed Indianapolis Motor Speedway for Sunday’s Brickyard 400, the primary race on Indy’s oval circuit since Kevin Harvick pulled out a victory in 2020.
Harvick is not lively within the Cup Sequence — actually, solely three earlier Brickyard 400 winners are in Sunday’s subject and considered one of them is the semi-retired Jimmie Johnson.
This race might be a little bit of a wild card, so let us take a look at three drivers to look at — a favourite, contender and a darkish horse — in addition to one identify who most likely will not be kissing the yard of bricks.
Favourite: Ryan Blaney (+750, per DraftKings as of Friday afternoon)
Maybe one of the best ways to foretell who will run up entrance at Indy is to have a look at who ran up entrance final weekend at Pocono, an analogous lengthy, flat oval. It was Blaney who received there and he is arguably the most popular driver within the collection.
Blaney hasn’t had a lot success on the Brickyard, with just one top-10 end (a seventh-place end in 2019) and 26 laps led in six begins, however he is a much-improved driver from what he was 4 years in the past. At +750, he could also be your greatest guess.
Contender: Brad Keselowski (+750)
Additionally at +750 is Keselowski, tied with Blaney for the third-highest odds behind solely traditional suspects Denny Hamlin and Kyle Larson. Keselowski is likely one of the two full-time drivers within the subject with a earlier Brickyard win (taking the checkered flag in 2018) and he was sturdy at Pocono, main 20 laps and ending seventh.
Keselowski could appear a bit dangerous at that value, however maybe the oddsmakers are onto one thing. The 2012 Cup Sequence champion is at the moment having fun with his greatest season in a number of years and might be an element Sunday.
Darkish horse: Bubba Wallace (+2800)
Arguably nobody within the Cup Sequence subject wants a win in a worse manner than Wallace, who sits as the primary driver outdoors the playoff grid at 27 factors behind Ross Chastain. Indy could also be his greatest alternative within the 5 remaining races earlier than the playoffs start. In Wallace’s previous two races on the oval, he completed third and ninth.
Wallace, who can be quietly using a sizzling streak with a mean end of tenth prior to now three weeks, appears undervalued at +2800. It might take technique for him to contend for the win, however he is certain to be quick Sunday.
Keep away from: Kyle Larson (+600)
Larson has been the category of the sphere in 2024, however he has hit a miniature stoop (by his requirements) over the previous few weeks (no laps led in his previous 4 races and back-to-back finishes outdoors the highest 10). Larson’s document at Indy’s oval additionally is not stellar, with solely 10 laps led in six begins and no finishes higher than 14th since 2016.
It is price noting that none of these earlier Brickyard begins got here with Hendrick Motorsports, Larson’s present staff. He additionally has newer expertise on the oval than some other driver within the subject after operating the Indianapolis 500 in Could. Larson may simply nonetheless be a menace this weekend, however given his lack of velocity at Pocono, you may be higher off spending your cash elsewhere.
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