2014 Quicken Loans 400 Odds, Free Picks and Predictions: Vegas Favorites and Drivers to Bet: The Sprint Cup Series heads to Michigan International Speedway for Sunday’s Quicken Loans 400, and while the 2.0-mile D-shaped oval has always been one of the faster tracks on the schedule, it was the fastest in the series last year. With a smooth surface that was repaved in 2012, drivers averaged more than 203 mph during qualifying in 2013, and speeds aren’t likely to slow down this weekend. Meanwhile, the track’s wide racing surface provides plenty of room for drivers to mix it up so despite the high speeds, side-by-side racing happens with relative frequency. If you want to win at Michigan, you have to have the horsepower under the hood, but you also have to a car handling well enough in the corners to deal with the high speeds. With that in mind, here is a closer look at a few drivers that have what it takes to win at Michigan this weekend.
The Favorites
He is the defending winner of this weekend’s race, and Greg Biffle has actually notched two of his four wins at Michigan in his last three starts at the track. He also has a series-leading 3.8 average finish in his last four starts at MIS, and for his career, he ranks first in a number of categories, including driver rating, fastest laps run and average running position. Biffle has had a quiet year so far, but Michigan always seems to bring out his best.
No driver has been more consistent at Michigan in recent years than Carl Edwards. In fact, his 8.3 average finish at the track is best among active drivers. More importantly, Edwards is a two-time winner at MIS, and in 19 starts, he has eight top-five finishes. Meanwhile, he has only finished outside the top 12 at the track on two occasions so he is a safe bet to be in the mix Sunday and has already proven he can seal the deal.
A cut tire and an engine issue cost him two potential wins at Michigan last year, but there is no doubt that Dale Earnhardt Jr. has been bringing fast cars to the 2.0-mile oval the past couple of years. After all, he picked up a win and a fourth-place finish at the track in 2012, and in the last four races at MIS, no driver has led more laps than Junior. Expect him to have a car capable of winning this weekend.
The Dark Horses
Since moving to Team Penske last season, Joey Logano has been on fire at the 2.0-mile tracks. He posted a 4.3 average finish in three starts at 2.0-mile ovals in 2013, finishing ninth in the June race at Michigan and winning the August event. Logano heads into Sunday’s race at MIS with two wins under his belt already, and a third victory could be on tap at a track where he had a ton of success last year.
He threw away a win at Pocono last weekend with a late speeding penalty, but Tony Stewart could make amends this weekend at Michigan. He is a former winner MIS, and he has six top-10s in his last seven starts at the track. During the stretch, he has four finishes of sixth or better, including a fifth-place finish last June. Meanwhile, 42 of his 48 career Cup wins have come after May 31 so he is entering the portion of the schedule where he tends to dominate.
Although he tends to run hot and cold at Michigan, there is no denying Kyle Busch’s upside this weekend. In his last six races at the track, he has three top-four finishes, including a win. Granted, he also has three finishes outside the top 10, including two outside the top 30, but when you start talking about drivers that could get to victory lane this weekend, Busch is certainly on the short list.
Sleeper Special
Although he has missed the last four races at Michigan, counting out Brian Vickers when he makes his return to the track this weekend would be a big mistake. After all, he has seven straight top-15 finishes at MIS and has six top-10 finishes during the stretch, including a win. Michigan has always been one of his Vickers’ best tracks so his two-year layoff shouldn’t really slow him down.
Big Name to Avoid
There aren’t many tracks that can get the better of Jimmie Johnson, but Michigan has been one of them. Despite leading more laps than any driver at the track since 2005, he has never won a race at the track. From cut tires to running out of gas, bad luck just seems to find Johnson at MIS. In fact, he has a 20.2 average finish in the last 10 races at the track and has finished outside the top 20 six times during the stretch.
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