Goodyear 400, Darlington, S.C., 3:30 p.m. TV: FS1
Kyle Busch finally got to Victory Lane last week in Kansas, ending a long losing streak and becoming the 10th different driver to win in 11 races this season.
Sunday NASCAR heads to one of the oldest and best tracks in the country when the Goodyear 400 takes place in Darlington, one of two races scheduled there this season.
Will current points leader Denny Hamlin win for the first time this season, making it 11 winners in 12 weeks? Will last year’s point leader Kevin Harvick do the same? Or what about a first win of the season for last year’s Cup Champion Chase Elliott?
Here’s what The Eckel 4, which as always includes Scott “Tobacco Road’’ Baker, Mike “Left Turn and heading home’’ Sweeney and Barry “Dr. NASCAR’’ Davis think of Sunday’s race.
Kyle Larson (4-1): “Tobacco Road’’ and “Left Turn’’ rarely agree on anything, except that Larson will win for the second time this year and for the first time at Darlington. In six starts here, Larson has been top 10 five times and top five three times. So maybe he’s due. He’s the favorite for a reason.
Kevin Harvick (7-1): It’s not been a good year for the driver who dominated the 2020 regular season. Last week’s second-place finish might be the start of something, however. At least the Dr. thinks so. Harvick does have three wins here, including both races here last year. And in the last 10 Darlington races he’s been in the top five, nine times.
Denny Hamlin (11-2): He’s going to win sooner or later, right? He has eight top fives in 11 races this season without a trip to Victory Lane. That has to end. And this would be a good spot since he has three wins here in his career.
Brad Keselowski (8-1): Keselowski, who does have a win this season and almost stole last week’s race in Kansas before finishing third, will start on the pole. He’s won here before and has three to fives in five races.
Longshot Plays: Tyler Reddick (40-1); Ryan Blaney (16-1)