It’s time for some high-octane, mind-blowing NASCAR action this coming weekend when the best stock car drivers take the Michigan International Speedway for the 2016 FireKeepers Casino 400. It’s going to be one hell of a race with the likes of Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Carl Edwards in the hunt for more titles. But some up-and-comers could also bite such as the likes of Austin Dillon and Kyle Larson.
It’s very difficult to pick a NASCAR race alone, but here are a couple of experts giving their tips for Sunday’s race. Read on as we take a look at what they have to say heading into Michigan. For more on the FireKeepers Casino 400, check out what’s in store with our complete race preview.
Experts Picks and Predictions for the 2016 FireKeepers Casino 400
IFantasyRace.com
Expert
Picks
Ryan Rantz
Kyle Larson, Austin Dillon, Ryan Newman
Ryan Rantz of IFantasyRace.com gives us three front runner picks heading into the FireKeepers Casino 400 this coming Sunday. He’s pegging a pair of young guns Kyle Larson and Austin Dillon to have a great shot at winning the race, while veteran Ryan Newman should be a strong contender as well.
Larson is due a strong showing at Michigan with a good track record of a 12.7 average finish and a 13.3 average running position. Last August, the Chip Ganassi Racing product used a high-downforce package to help him finish 13th despite starting deep at 34th.
Dillon has been an ace on intermediate tracks this year. He’s already had big performances at Auto Club with top 10 potential before pit road problems had him out of the picture. At Kansas, the Richard Childress representative raced his way to a sixth place finish. A high-downforce package had Dillon gave him a strong showing last August at the Michigan International Speedway as he finished fourth and led 19 laps.
Newman has a good track record at Michigan, finishing between eighth and 18th in each of his last eight races. He had his biggest showing at the MIS last fall, finishing eighth after NASCAR used a high-downforce rules package. The 17-year-pro has been strong at intermediate tracks this year. At Kansas—considered to be a mini-Michigan—Newman finished seventh and earned the seventh best driver rating. He finished 14th in another Michigan-like track, Auto Club.
Fantasy Racing Cheat Sheet
Expert
Picks
Jeff Gutowski
Dale Earnhardt Jr., Kurt Busch, Carl Edwards
Jeff Gutowski of Fantasy Racing Cheat Sheet is high on Dale Earnhardt Jr. as the best driver heading into the Michigan International Speedway. Earnhardt almost won the race at Pocono last week, and his team knows the necessary adjustments they need in order to dominate intermediate tracks. He’s been good at Michigan-like tracks, running the high line and carrying his speed out of the corners. If Earnhardt can stay out of trouble on pit road, then he’ll have an excellent shot at picking up his first win of the season.
However, Gutowski does offer some alternatives to win the race. Kurt Busch has been sensational with three races at MIS and is carrying plenty of momentum from last week’s win at Pocono. Carl Edwards should also be a strong contender with two wins, nine top fives and 16 top 10s in only 23 starts at Michigan. Edwards has already won two races this year; a third is not too far-fetched when he takes the road at the MIS.
