2014 Sprint Showdown Odds, Free Picks and Predictions: Favorites, Sleepers and Drivers to Avoid

2014 Sprint Showdown Odds, Free Picks and Predictions: Favorites, Sleepers and Drivers to Avoid: While 19 of the biggest names in NASCAR will be busy prepping for Saturday night’s Sprint All-Star Race, the rest of the series regulars will be fighting for two of the final three spots in the field during Friday night’s Sprint Showdown. The winner and second-place finisher of the 40-lap event will transfer over into the All-Star Race, and while one additional driver will also be voted in the All-Star Race by the fans, Friday night’s Sprint Showdown gives drivers a chance to race their way into the $1 million, winner-take-all All-Star event. With that in mind, here is a closer look at some drivers that have the best chance of advancing from the Sprint Showdown.

The Favorites

While he isn’t having the best season, Clint Bowyer is by far the most proven driver in the Sprint Showdown field. Not only has he finished as high as second in the Cup Series standings, but his eight Cup wins are more than the rest of the drivers in the field combined. Bowyer has also been strong at Charlotte since joining Michael Waltrip Racing, compiling an 8.3 average finish in four starts and winning at the track in 2012. I’ll be shocked if he doesn’t advance to the All-Star Race.

He may be a rookie, but Kyle Larson has the most top-five finishes and most top-10s this season of any driver in the Sprint Showdown field. Perhaps more importantly, he has been solid at 1.5-mile tracks this year. He has a 12.0 average finish in three starts at tracks with similar layouts to Charlotte, finishing fifth and 12th in his two most recent starts. Larson’s lack of experience hasn’t hurt him so far, and don’t expect it to start now.

The Dark Horses

It has been a rough year for sophomore Ricky Stenhouse Jr., but the fact that the Sprint Showdown is held at Charlotte Motor Speedway definitely plays to his strengths. After all, Stenhouse has three top-15 finishes in four career starts at the track, including a pair of top-15s last year. His record at Charlotte stacks up with the best drivers in the Sprint Showdown field this weekend, and Stenhouse should have a great shot at transferring to Saturday’s All-Star Race.

Although Charlotte hasn’t been his best track Paul Menard has had a few solid showing at the 1.5-mile ovals, including a pair of top-15s in his last four starts. More importantly, he has been one of the better drivers at 1.5-mile tracks in 2014. He has a 9.7 average finish in three starts, picking up two top-10s and finishing as high as third. Menard’s consistency at tracks like Charlotte makes him a safe bet to ben in the mix for a transfer spot.

He has been improving all year, and the Sprint Showdown couldn’t come at a better time for Aric Almirola. He has picked uptop-12 finishes in the last two races at 1.5-mile tracks, including an eighth-place run at Kansas last weekend. Meanwhile, Almirola does have two finishes of 16th or better in four starts at Charlotte in his career. He is enjoying one of the best stretches of his young career, and Almirola could parlay the momentum into a spot in the All-Star field.

Sleeper Special

It was only one race, but Danica Patrick heads into the Sprint Showdown on the heels of the best run of her Cup Series career. More importantly, her career-best seventh-place run came at Kansas track that has the same 1.5-mile layout and speedy surface as Charlotte Motor Speedway. Patrick reportedly sat down with Kevin Harvick for a little one-on-one coaching prior to her great run at Kansas, and whatever he taught her paid quick dividends. The advice could also make her a surprise contender Friday night.

Big Name to Avoid

While he has had several solid runs this year, A.J. Allmendinger has really struggled at the 1.5-mile tracks in his first full season with JTG Daugherty Racing. He has finished outside the top 15 in all three starts at tracks similar to Charlotte, and he finished outside the top 20 in his last two. Allmendinger is actually a former winner of the Sprint Showdown, but I just don’t think he has the equipment to contend this year.

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