The Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series will make its way to Michigan for the second and final time this season for the Pure Michigan 400 this week. The regular season is winding down and with only four races left before the Chase the urgency will ramp up once again this weekend at Michigan International Speedway. 13 different drivers have won this event multiple times and this week there will be a handful of different drivers hoping that they can put themselves in position to challenge for a spot in the playoff with a victory.
Details
Event: Pure Michigan 400
Category: Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series
Date: Sunday August 13th – 3:00 PM ET
Location: Michigan International Speedway
While there are still spots up for grab as we count down towards the Chase, there is no doubt about who the sports betting favorite is to win it all this season. Martin Truex Jr. is coming off his fourth win of the season at Watkins Glen last week and he is in cruise control heading in to the final stretch. Truex is still among the sports betting favorites to win again this week but he will have some tough competition heading in to this Michigan race.
Past Five Winners
2016: Kyle Larson
2015: Matt Kenseth
2014: Jeff Gordon
2013: Joey Logano
2012: Greg Biffle
What To Know About The Track
Michigan International Speedway is one of the faster tracks on the NASCAR circuit. Track position will not be as important this week as drivers can make their way through the field if they have a fast enough car. The track has multiple grooves for drivers to be able to pass. The Pure Michigan 400is one of the quicker races on the schedule so the urgency will definitely be ramped up once again this Sunday.
The Field
Truex has been absolutely on fire this season and there is no reason to expect him to slow down this weekend. Truex finished in the top-10 in the first Michigan race of the season and he should be in the mix once again on Sunday. Meanwhile, one of the drivers chasing him in the standings will be hoping he can rediscover the magic he showed earlier in the year at this track. Kyle Larson won the FireKeepers Casino 400 at Michigan earlier in the season and could use another victory this week. Kyle Busch and Kevin Harvick have heated up of late and they are also worth keeping an eye on this weekend. Meanwhile, Chase Elliott, Joey Logano, Denny Hamlin and Jamie McMurray all placed in the top-five at Michigan in the first MENCS race here earlier this season.
A Good Matchup To Bet: Chase Elliott over Jimmie Johnson
Elliott has been excellent at Michigan in his career so it makes sense to pit him against the struggling Johnson this week. The driver of the No. 48 Chevrolet hasn’t placed higher than 10th since he won at Dover at the beginning of June. Johnson’s poor stretch includes three straight results of 27th or worse. While he is overdue for a better result, he will have a tough time catching Elliott if the latter performs to his potential this weekend. Elliott has placed second in each of his three-career starts at Michigan. There is a very good chance he finishes ahead of Johnson while contending for the outright win in this week’s Pure Michigan 400.
Top-Five Pick: Kyle Larson
Larson is going through his worst stretch of the season. That might actually be a good thing from a value perspective when it comes to betting on him this week. Larson won the first Michigan race this year and he won last year’s Pure Michigan 400 as well. No driver has been as dominant at Michigan as Larson over the past couple of years so this weekend will mark the perfect opportunity for him to get back on track. Larson is overdue for a strong performance this week so look for him to bounce back with a top-five finish while contending for the outright victory at the Pure Michigan 400.
Odds To Win 2017 Pure Michigan 400
Kyle Busch +400
Martin Truex Jr +400
Kyle Larson +500
Kevin Harvick +1000
Chase Elliott +1000
Denny Hamlin +1500
Matt Kenseth +1500
Brad Keselowski +1800
Jimmie Johnson +1800
Joey Logano +2000
Ryan Blaney +2500
Jamie McMurray +3000
Erik Jones +3000
Clint Bowyer +4000
Kurt Busch +5000
Daniel Suarez +6000
Dale Earnhardt Jr +6000
Kasey Kahne +7500
Ryan Newman +10000
Field +2000
Click here to get all of the latest NASCAR betting lines at BetDSI including head-to-head matchups, props and odds to win each NASCAR and NASCAR Xfinity tournament!
