The countdown to the 10-race playoff in NASCAR’s Monster Energy Sprint Cup Series later this season continues this week with a return trip to Michigan International Speedway for the running of the Pure Michigan 400 this Sunday afternoon. Race time is set for 3 p.m. (ET) and sports bettors can catch all the action on NBC Sports Network.
Martin Truex Jr. posted his fourth Cup Series point race victory of the season last Sunday with his win on the road course at Watkins Glen. Matt Kenseth made a strong run at the top spot by taking second and Daniel Suarez was also in the mix in third place. Kyle Larson was my top-valued pick at +1400 betting odds, but he faded to 23rd after starting from the second spot in the field.
The following is a look at a few of the top favorites to win this Sunday’s race at Michigan along with my top value pick based on betting odds provided by 5Dimes
Pure Michigan 400 Race Favorites
Kyle Busch did not win his first Cup Series event this season until his recent victory at Pocono, but the fact that the No. 18 Toyota is second in the current Cup Series standings with 765 points is one of the big reasons why he is one of two +450 favorites to win this race. This team has been right in the mix all year long with another seven runs inside the top five to go along with that lone checkered flag and Busch looks like he is just getting warmed up for a strong run towards this year’s title. He placed seventh in the first race at Michigan this year and his last victory here came in 2011.
The other +450 favorite to win is Martin Truex Jr. He has become a fixture at the top of 5Dimes’ NASCAR futures board this season with his four victories and series-leading 881 points in the standings in what has easily been the most successful run in his NASCAR career. The No. 78 Toyota followed up a third-place finish at Pocono with last week’s trip to Victory Lane and this team has now finished third or better in four of its last five point-race events. When it comes to this week’s venue, Truex placed a competitive sixth in the first race this season. However, this has not been one of his favorite tracks over the course of his career with an average finishing position of 16.0.
Rounding out this week’s trio of favorites at +550 odds to win is another familiar face this season. Kyle Larson is currently third in the standings with 759 total points on the strength of two victories and another seven races in which he ended up in second place. His last three runs behind the wheel of the No. 42 Chevrolet have been forgettable with finishes outside the top 20 drivers, but given that he will be going for the season sweep this Sunday at Michigan adds quite a bit of value to his betting odds. Larson also won this race last season after finishing third in the first race here in 2016.
