2024 NASCAR Cup Series FireKeepers Casino 400 Preview
Photo: NASCAR.com
After a controversy filled week, the NASCAR Cup Series will make their only appearance to a 2 mile oval in Michigan Speedway. Coverage of the ‘FireKeepers Casino 400’ begins at 2:30PM EST on USA.
Last year’s race started on a Sunday, but ended on a Monday due to rain. Chris Buescher got the better of Martin Truex Jr, making the winning pass with twelve laps to go. It was Buescher’s second win of the season in back-to-back races.
Best Bets for Cup
|
Best Bets for Cup |
Denny Hamlin +575 | Top 5 -130 | Top 10 -400
Denny Hamlin enters this weekend as the co-favorite, alongside Kyle Larson. Hamlin has finished inside the Top 5 in the last four Cup races at Michigan, along with seven Top 10s in his last eight starts at the 2 mile oval. After last weekend’s fiasco, Hamlin would love nothing more than to leave Richmond in the rear view mirror with his third career win at Michigan, with his last win coming in 2011.
Kyle Larson +575 | Top 5 -130 | Top 10 -400
Kyle Larson enters this weekend as the co-favorite alongside Denny Hamlin. This track sits in Larson’s mind as the track where he won his first Cup race in 2016, and then proceeding to sweep the 2017 races as well. Since joining Hendrick Motorsports in 2021, Larson’s finished no worse than 7th. Larson will look to keep his points lead as the regular season dwindles to an end.
Tyler Reddick +850 | Top 5 +100 | Top 10 -300
Tyler Reddick continues to impress even after the two week break, finishing 3rd at Richmond last weekend, closing the regular season points gap to just five points behind Kyle Larson. While his best finish at Michigan in the Cup Series was 18th in his rookie year, it doesn’t hide the fact that Reddick and 23XI Racing are clicking on all cylinders. Expect them to be contenders again this Sunday.
Martin Truex Jr +900 | Top 5 +125 | Top 10 -250
Martin Truex Jr came so close to winning last year’s race, losing the lead with 12 laps to go to Chris Buescher. Truex Jr has finished inside the Top 10 in his last seven Michigan races dating back to 2019. In that seven race span, he’s gathered five Top 5 finishes. After blowing up last weekend at Richmond, Truex Jr will look to rebound with a trip to victory lane.
Chris Buescher +1600 | Top 5 +200 | Top 10 -170
Chris Buescher was able to pull off the pass on Martin Truex Jr last year, earning his first win at Michigan. Buescher is in need of a good run to stay inside the Playoffs, as he’s currently in via a tiebreaker over Ross Chastain. He’s finished outside the Top 10 in his last four races, but expect things to turn around for the #17 RFK Ford Mustang on Sunday.
Bubba Wallace +2200 | Top 5 +275 | Top 10 -125
Bubba Wallace has matched his Top 5 total from 2022 and 2023 after earning his fifth Top 5 finish of the season last weekend. He’s finished inside the Top 10 in four of ihs last five Cup races. Bubba finished 2nd at Michigan in 2022, his best finish at the track and was so close to scoring the win over Kevin Harvick, maybe this Sunday will be the one where he reaches victory lane.
Erik Jones +12500 | Top 5 +1200 | Top 10 +375
Erik Jones has only one Top 10 on the season and that was at Daytona. Since then, it’s been a long season for the #43 LEGACY Camry. But, he has finished inside the Top 10 in his last two starts at Michigan, and had three Top 10 finishes in six starts at Auto Club. Something about the two mile ovals that suit Jones, looking for one last push at salvaging the season.