The NASCAR Monster Energy Cup Series will remain out west when the drivers compete at Phoenix Raceway in the Ticket Guardian 500. The race is scheduled to get underway on Sunday, March 11th at 3:30 p.m. EST. It also can be viewed on FOX for your early afternoon racing fix.
2018 NASCAR champion Martin Truex Jr. will start out front because of his efforts during qualifying on Friday. Five times the pole sitter has gone on to win at IMS Raceway. Veteran speedster Ryan Newman took the checkered flag out in front here in 2017. Kevin Harvick, who has already claimed victory twice this season will start in the 10th position. He has won in the Valley of the Sun eight times throughout his career.
Kyle Larson
Kyle Larson has to be considered one of the favorites when he rolls out onto the pavement this Sunday. Not only has he shown the speed at the 1.5-mile tracks but also drives well at IMS Raceway. Last year, Larson guided his Credit One Bank Chevrolet to a runner-up finish. He will be starting right next to Martin Truex Jr. for the beginning of the Ticket Guardian 500 this weekend. The youngster only has an average finish of 15.7 around this oval but managed another solid performance in 2016. In that affair, he steered his hotrod to a third-place result.
Martin Truex Jr.
When deciding who you want to put on your fantasy racing list, Martin Truex Jr. has to be considered first. Yes, it is true that he has never won at this venue. Nevertheless, he did win a series-high nine times on 1.5-mile ovals last season. He proved that he has the speed once again by placing his car on the pole for the start of the Ticket Guardian 500. The defending champion started in the 14th position last year and finished off the day at Phoenix Raceway in 11th in 2017.
Kevin Harvick
Kevin Harvick is out to a fast start in 2018. He dominated two weeks in a row at Atalanta International Speedway and Las Vegas. In fact, he also made it look so easy that Vegas has him as the favorite to win his third race in a row. That is something the Harvick has never done in his successful career. If there ever was a place for him to do it it would be here at Phoenix Raceway. The savvy driver also has won eight times here. He didn’t qualify poorly but will start back in 10th when the green flag is dropped on Sunday. Last year, he started in the 23rd position and finished out the day with a solid sixth-placed effort.
Chase Elliott
Chase Elliott, NASCAR’s fans new favorite driver, has a really good shot at picking up his first NASCAR Monster Energy Cup Series victory in the Ticket Guardian 500. Overall, he has an average finish of 7.8 in his four starts in the desert. He has been speedy in all of the practices heading into the race. He also qualified in the third position for the start of the event. In last years race, he finished in second. Obviously, he and his team brought the same speed back with them for this year’s Ticket Guardian 500.
Odds to win the Ticket Guardian 500:
Kevin Harvick +200
Kyle Busch +550
Kyle Larson +750
Martin Truex Jr. +850
Brad Keselowski +850
Denny Hamlin +950
Chase Elliott +950
Joey Logano +1350
Ryan Blaney +2000
Erik Jones +2250
Jimmie Johnson +2750
Alex Bowman +4400
Clint Bowyer +4400
Kurt Busch +4400
Aric Almirola +4400
Ryan Newman +5500
Jamie McMurray +8800
Daniel Suarez +8800
Ricky Stenhouse Jr. +10000
Paul Menard +10000
Austin Dillon +20000
William Byron +20000
Darrell Wallace Jr. +30000
Kasey Kahne +50000
Trevor Bayne +50000
Ty Dillon +50000
Chris Buescher +100000
Michael McDowell +100000
AJ Allmendinger +100000
Head on over to BetDSI Sportsbook to get your action in for the Ticket Guardian 500 on Sunday.
