TOP 5 DRIVERS TO WATCH: MICHIGAN INT SPEEDWAY
The #5 driver is coming off a big second place finish at Pocano, #88 Dale Earnhardt Jr. Jr. has done pretty well here lately, where half of his last eight races were Top 5’s. All of his last four were Top 10’s. He has 33 starts, two wins, and eight Top 5’s. He seems to have found the right touch and he should keep his luck here in the Irish Hills.
The #4 driver is the most recent winner here, #20 Matt Kenseth. Matt has 33 starts, three wins, and 14 Top 5’s. He took his Toyota to victory lane last August. He is rated #4 for me on tracks like this and he is fourth hottest over the last six weeks. Oh, and he finished 4th here in this race last year.
My #3 driver is my #1 rated driver on tracks like this, #22 Joey Logano. Joey has 14 starts, one win, and three Top 5’s. His last six races were all Top 10 and his three Top 5’s came in this stretch. Joey is not sitting on a win so look for him to gamble on pit strategy towards the end of this race. The most over-used phrase of the weekend will be “track position.”
My #2 driver to watch grew up here in Michigan, #2 Brad Keselowski. This is Brad’s home track, but he has struggled a little bit here. He has 13 starts, no wins, and just three Top 5’s. His three Top 5’s came in the last nine races though, and all nine were Top 15’s. Brad should take every bit of that Penske power and have a huge finish.
My #1 driver is the top driver this year in points, #4 Kevin Harvick. Kevin is #1 in points, #5 hottest, and #2 on tracks like. Kevin has 30 starts, one win, and just eight Top 5’s. But here is the more important stat – five of his last six finishes here were second places finishes. In total he’s been the bridesmaid five times. Never count Kevin Harvick out on a downforce track. I think he’s ready to be the bride.
Monday look for our preview of the Toyota/Save Mart 350 from Sonoma.
June 10, 2016
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