2014 DAV 200 Odds, Free Picks and Predictions: Favorites, Sleepers and Drivers to Avoid: While there has been plenty of drama and excitement surrounding the Cup Series title, the only battle that has been going on in the Nationwide Series lately is the battle for second place. Rookie Chase Elliott has built up a comfortable lead as the series heads to Phoenix International Raceway Saturday for the penultimate race of the 2014 season. Saturday’s race will also be a companion race with the Cup Series event, and while there are some big names pulling double duty, the field isn’t as loaded with Cup drivers as many companion events tend to be. With that in mind, here is a closer look at the drivers with the best chance of taking the checkered flag in Phoenix.
The Favorites
He has made Phoenix his personal playground in the Nationwide Series, and Kyle Busch will be trying for a four-peat at the track this weekend. In addition to his three straight wins at PIR, Busch has amassed seven total wins at the track. Busch has also led 466 laps at Phoenix during his three-race winning streak while the next-closest driver has led just 41 laps. Talk about dominance.
Although he hasn’t won at Phoenix, Brad Keselowski has still compiled an impressive record at the track. He has eight top-five finishes in his last 11 starts at Phoenix, including a third-place finish earlier this year. Meanwhile, Keselowski has been runner-up in three of the last six races at the track. Throw in the fact he is easily one of the two most-accomplished drivers in the field this weekend, and he should be a frontrunner from the drop of the green flag.
The Contenders
While he actually struggled a bit at Phoenix in his rookie season, Kyle Larson showed plenty of muscle when the series visited the track in March. He started ninth and finished fourth in the March event at Phoenix, and based on the improvement he has made overall as a driver this season, Larson should be even more of a factor Saturday than he was earlier this year.
He is busy steamrolling to a series championship, and Chase Elliott can actually clinch the title this weekend if he just maintains his current lead in the standings. Needless to say, he is no ordinary rookie driver. Elliott finished ninth in his Phoenix debut back in March, and considering he has emerged as the best series regular over recent months, his return trip to the track should yield an even better result.
It has been an unspectacular year for Trevor Bayne thus far, but he has a chance to make some noise this weekend at Phoenix. After all, he has reeled off five straight top-10s at the track, and he has actually finished seventh or better in all five starts during the stretch. Among the series regulars, Bayne might be the safest bet to be in the mix Saturday.
The Sleeper
It was recently announced that Elliott Sadler will be leaving his current team to join Roush Fenway Racing in 2015, but he could leave his old team on a high note. He has finished eighth or better in four of his last five starts at the track, including a win in 2012 and a sixth-place finish earlier this year. Don’t write off Sadler just because he and his team are parting ways at the end of the year.
Big Name to Avoid
In many ways, Brian Scott has enjoyed a breakout year in 2014, but there is nothing in his past results at Phoenix that suggests he can contend for a win this weekend. Granted, his 14.8 average finish at the track isn’t bad, but in 10 starts, he has never finished better than eighth. Scott finished 13th at Phoenix last fall and 11th earlier this year, and sneaking into the bottom half of the top 10 is probably the best-case scenario for Scott this weekend.
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