The NASCAR Monstery Energy Cup Series is coming off a thrilling weekend, one that saw Martin Truex Jr. even up Kyle Busch’s current record for the most wins this season. Are we going to see either of those guys dominate at the Chicagoland Speedway on Sunday? Or will one of the sleepers (or even longshot) mentioned below take the event?
You can’t escape Kyle Busch’s name this season. That is very much the case this season, and will likely be for the rest of it. Busch can enjoy being the center of discussion heading into another race after he finished with a strong second place in Sonoma last week. While he didn’t win that event, he extended his top 5 finish streak to five races, a stretch that includes his victory at Pocono earlier this month. Busch won the last time he raced at Speedway, topping the field during the 2018 The Overton’s 400. He has two wins with five top 5s in 14 career races in Joliet.
Martin Truex Jr.
Truex Jr. has successfully tied Busch for the most wins so far this season after copping his fourth victory of the year by triumphing in last weekend’s race at Sonoma Speedway. Truex has been especially hot of late. Save for a 35th-place finish at Pocono on Jun. 2, all of Truex’s races since the All-Star Race has seen him finish inside the top three. Prior to the Sonoma race, Truex went third overall at the Michigan International Speedway. Truex should be quite a tasty bet for wagerers who know that he’s got two wins over his last three races in Sonoma.
SLEEPERS
Kyle Larson
Larson is still searching for his first win of the season, and is only 15th on the current NASCAR Monster Energy standings, but he’s quite a driver whenever he’s in Joliet. Larson has five career races at the Chicagoland Speedway and finished outside of the top seven just once. That was when he ended up 18th during the 2016 The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 400. Last year, he was the runner-up at The Overton’s 400. Prior to that, he was fifth at The Tales of the Turtles 400 in 2017. Among all drivers, Larson owns the best average finish at the Chicagoland Speedway with a 7.00 clip.
Ryan Newman
Newman is teetering on the edge of the playoff picture, as he only leads Jimmie Johnson by a point to make it to the cutoff if the postseason were to start today. Newman has yet to win a race this season, but he’s certainly trending towards the right direction. After finishing eighth in Michigan, Newman went on to improve on by ending up seventh in Sonoma. That pair of performances should give him the momentum at the upcoming Camping World 400 race in Joliet, where he’s tasted victory before, albeit one that happened way back in 2003.
LONG SHOT
Daniel Suarez
Suarez is inside the playoff picture but he’s far from safe. A win in Joliet this coming weekend will be a huge boost to his points total, though. He only has two races in his career at the Chicagoland Speedway, but both were top-12 finishes. He’s also silently made some headway of late, with two top-eight finishes over his last three races.
Writer’s Prediction
Kyle Larson wins his first race of the season, as he emerges as the victor at Chicagoland Speedway.
