Heading into Michigan International Speedway for the second time this season, NASCAR\u2019s Sprint Cup series is just four more races away from the start of this year\u2019s Chase to the title. <\/p>\n
NASCAR Sprint Cup- Pure Michigan 400 Preview and Prediction<\/strong>
\nRace: Pure Michigan 400 at Michigan International Speedway<\/strong>
\nDate: Sunday, August 17, 2014<\/strong>
\nTime: 1 p.m. (ET)<\/strong>
\nBroadcast: ESPN<\/strong>
\nBovada<\/strong><\/a><\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote>\nThis Sunday\u2019s Pure Michigan 400 is slated to get underway at 1 p.m. and the race will be broadcast nationally on ESPN.<\/p>\n
AJ Allmendinger threw a wrench into the Race to the Chase by winning last week\u2019s road course race at Watkins Glen as a huge longshot. Marcos Ambrose drove his way to a second-place finish and Kurt Busch finished third.<\/p>\n
The following is a look at my top favorite, contender and longshot to win this Sunday\u2019s race based on odds provided by Sportsbook.<\/p>\n
The Favorite (odd of less than 10\/1)<\/strong><\/h3>\n
Kevin Harvick<\/strong> is in excellent position for the Chase with two previous Sprint Cup victories and the seventh spot in the standings with 645 total points.<\/p>\n
The No. 4 car has also been one of the most consistent teams out there with four additional top-five finishes and 899 laps led in the first 22 point races.
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\nThe main reason I love his +600 odds to win this week is his consistency at this track over the past two years. Coming into this week\u2019s race, Harvick has finished second in his last three Sprint Cup races at Michigan which makes me think he is due for a win this time around.\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\nThe Contender (odds from 10\/1 to 19\/1)<\/strong><\/h3>\n
Consistency and Kyle Busch<\/strong> do not always go hand-in-hand, but he remains one of the best and most competitive drivers in the Sprint Cup series. That is why at +1500 odds to win this week I am jumping all over this pick as my top contender for Sunday\u2019s race.<\/p>\n
The No. 18 car should also be in the Chase with a previous victory at Fontana and 615 total points, which is good enough for eighth-pace in this week\u2019s Sprint Cup standings.<\/p>\n
Busch\u2019s recent performance at Michigan does explain the elevated odds, but to his credit, he won this race in 2011 and he finished four in the first race at Michigan in 2013.<\/p>\n
The Longshot (odds 20\/1 or greater)<\/strong><\/h3>\n
Moving down the list you start finding longer odds for a number of second-tier drivers that have been able to make an impact on Sprint Cup standings this year. One of the names that stood out heading into this Sunday\u2019s was Ryan Newman<\/strong> at +3000.<\/p>\n
He is currently tied for eighth-place in the standings with 645 points, but he knows that he needs a win to guarantee a spot in this year\u2019s Chase.<\/p>\n
The No. 31 car came close a couple of times so far with two top-five finishes.<\/p>\n
Newman could only manage a 13th<\/sup>-place finish in last year\u2019s race and a 15th<\/sup>-place finish earlier this year at Michigan; however he does have two Sprint Cup victories at this track with back-to-back wins in 2003 and 2004.<\/p>\n
Odds from\u00a0Bovada<\/a><\/strong><\/h3>\n