NASCAR Sunday - The Eckel Three Pick the FireKeepers Casino 400 in Michigan, Logano, Busch, Harvick, Elliott, Blaney, Hamlin
Can Michigan native Brad Keselowski win for the first time in the 100th race in his state?
Will Kevin Harvick finally find victory lane in 2019? Can last year’s winner Clint Bowyer repeat?
Is this the race where a driver outside of the “top six’’ wins a race?
Or will points and wins leader Kyle Busch continue to dominate this season?
Michigan Speedway hosts its 100th race with the FireKeepers Casino 400 Sunday (2 p.m., FS1)
Keselowski, who is fourth in overall points and tied for second with three wins, has never won in Michigan. His best finish was a second in 2018 (second race) and in 2012. Last year he finished sixth.
Harvick is fifth in the overall point standings with 500, but has yet to get the checkered flag. He finished in the top 10 nine times and the top five, five times. He has to get a win sooner or later, right?
Bowyer beat Harvick, who finished second, here last year. The oddsmaker don’t think he’ll do it again. He’s 20-1 to do so. The last repeat winner at Michigan was Denny Hamlin in 2010-11. Before that it was Davey Allison in 1991-92.
Only six drivers have won a race this season. Busch has four, Martin Truex and Keselowski have three, Hamlin has two and Joey Logano and Chase Elliott have one. Is it time for someone else?
Busch has been hot right from the start of the season. He leads in total points (568), wins (four), top 10 finishes (13) and top five finishes (eight). This has been his year and you can never leave him out of the mix.
So here are Sunday’s selections with help, of course, from experts Scott “Tobacco Road’’ Baker and Mike “Left Turn’’ Sweeney:
Joey Logano (10-1): He earned the pole position. He’s also won in 2016 and finished third here in 2017 that’s enough to convince me and LT to pick him.
Kevin Harvick (5-1): Both TR and LT used him as their second choice. He’s going to be in the mix and maybe this is the week. He’s certainly due.
Kyle Busch (3-1): He’s the favorite − of course he is − but TR isn’t about to bet against him. I agree.
Chase Elliott (10-1): In six starts in Michigan he’s been in the top 10 all six times. Maybe he finally gets to Victory Lane here. It wouldn’t be a shock.
Longshot Play: Ryan Blaney (20-1).
Longshot Play II: Denny Hamlin (16-1).
The Picks:
Eckel – Joey Logano
Baker − Kyle Busch
Sweeney – Joey Logano