NASCAR: 5 drivers most likely to win the FireKeepers Casino 400

NASCAR is set for its lone trip to Michigan International Speedway this season for Sunday afternoon’s FireKeepers Casino 400.

Michigan International Speedway used to host two NASCAR Cup Series races per season, but that changed after the 2020 campaign, ending a 47-year run that had gone back to 1974.

In 2021 and 2022, the four-turn, 2.0-mile (3.219-kilometer) Brooklyn, Michigan oval hosted just one race, and that is what it is set to do again this year, with Sunday afternoon’s FireKeepers Casino 400 marking its lone appearance on the 2023 schedule.

Whether the track has hosted one race or two, however, has not stopped the dominance of Stewart-Haas Racing’s Kevin Harvick. Harvick entered last year’s race at the track, the first at the venue of the Next Gen era, on a nearly two-year win drought, and he still found victory lane.

Kevin Harvick is now a six-time winner at the track, and he has won five of the last seven NASCAR Cup Series races there.

Since 2018, the only season during which he did not win at Michigan International Speedway is 2021, when Team Penske’s Ryan Blaney found victory lane.

Since June 2018, the only other winners at the track are Clint Bowyer (June 2018) and Joey Logano (June 2019). As a result, Ford find themselves riding an eight-race winning streak in Michigan heading into the weekend.

Ford have not had the best of seasons in 2023, but they experienced somewhat of a resurgence this past weekend at Richmond Raceway, taking the win with RFK Racing’s Chris Buescher and four of the top six spots overall.

Will Ford find victory lane for a ninth straight Michigan race in this weekend’s 200-lap FireKeepers Casino 400?

FanDuel Sportsbook is now offering fans an instant $100 just for betting $5 and lists Hendrick Motorsports’ Kyle Larson, a Chevrolet driver, as the +600 favorite to find victory lane.

It is no surprise to see Larson as the favorite to win at a venue where he won three races in a row back in 2016 and 2017, but it is somewhat surprising to see the top Ford driver only listed at +700. Having said that, it is no surprise that that Ford driver is Harvick, given his recent history at the track.

The top Toyota driver is Joe Gibbs Racing’s Denny Hamlin, who has reeled off five straight top six finishes at the track. He is also riding a hot streak, having won at Pocono Raceway and finished in second place at Richmond Raceway. He surprisingly hasn’t won at Michigan International Speedway since 2011.

Odds and availability remain subject to change, so lock in your $100 before it’s too late!

Michigan International Speedway is scheduled to host the FireKeepers Casino 400 this Sunday, August 6 beginning at 2:30 p.m. ET. USA Network is set to provide live coverage. Start a free trial of FuboTV now and don’t miss any of the action!