2014 Nationwide Children’s Hospital 200 Odds, Free Picks and Predictions: Favorites, Sleepers and Drivers to Avoid: What a difference a week makes. Last weekend at Watkins Glen International, the Nationwide Series race was loaded with Cup drivers pulling double duty. The opposite will be true this weekend at the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course when the Cup drivers will be too bust at Michigan International Speedway to double dip. Without the big names in the field, the opportunity is open for the series regulars to reach victory lane, and the fact that Saturday’s race is a road course event opens the door for some road course specialists to strike. With that in mind, here is a closer look at the drivers could pick up the win this weekend.
The Favorites
Although he has yet to win a road race, Sam Hornish Jr. has been one of the best in the business at road courses in the Nationwide Series lately. Since last season, he has three top-five finishes in four road course starts, and earlier this year, he led the most laps at Road America. In fact, no series regular has led more laps at road courses since 2012 than Hornish. With the Cup drivers sitting this one out, Hornish has a golden opportunity notch his first road course win.
He has been one of the steadiest performers at the road courses among the series regulars, and dating back to last year, Elliott Sadler has five top-10s in five road course events. He has also scored more points than any other driver at the road courses during the same span. Sadler always seems to find a way to be near the front when it matters in road races, and in a weaker field, he should be one of the top contenders. He finished sixth at Mid-Ohio last year, and he should be a major factor again this weekend.
Open-wheel driver Alex Tagliani made his Nationwide Series debut earlier this year at Road America, piloting the Team Penske No. 22 machine to the pole and eventually a second-place finish. Tagliani also led the second-most laps of any driver at Road America and would likely have won if not for a rash of late cautions that forced him to make a pit stop for fuel. Tagliani will be back in the No. 22 this weekend, and with strong equipment and plenty of talent, he could seal the deal this weekend.
The Dark Horses
Rookie Chase Elliott has scored all three of wins on larger ovals this year, but he has quietly been solid at road courses, as well. He finished fourth at Road America early in the year, and sixth at Watkins Glen last weekend in a field loaded with Cup drivers. Elliott is a special talent, and after contending in his first two road course starts, there is no reason to expect that to change this weekend.
Although he hasn’t been an elite road racer, Trevor Bayne has been solid at the road courses with the exception of Road America. He has finished 10th and 13th in his last two starts at Watkins Glen, and he finished ninth in his first start at Mid-Ohio last year. With a weaker field and another year of experience under his belt, Bayne could make the leap to being a legit contender this weekend.
Sleeper Special
After a slow start, rookie Ty Dillon has surged to third in the standings in recent weeks and is just 13 points out of the top spot. His hot streak included a solid showing at the road course at Watkins Glen last weekend when he started and finished eighth. As well as he has been running lately, Dillon can’t be counted out at any track, especially with the Cup drivers sitting out this weekend’s race.
Big Name to Avoid
While he is an experienced road racer in other series, Kenny Habul has struggled to make an impact in his forays into the Nationwide Series. Since 2012, he has a dismal 23.6 average finish in five road course starts. Granted, he will have great equipment to work with this weekend since he is driving the No. 20 for Joe Gibbs Racing, but he only managed a 14th-place finish when driving the No. 20 at Road America earlier this year.
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