2014 U.S. Cellular 250 Odds, Free Picks and Predictions: Favorites, Sleepers and Drivers to Avoid: While the Cup Series will be visiting Pocono Raceway Sunday afternoon, the Nationwide Series will be in action at Iowa Speedway Saturday night. As with most non-companion events, most of the Cup regulars are sitting this one out. In fact, Brad Keselowski is the only Cup Series driver slated to pull double duty this weekend. With fewer big names in the field than usual, Saturday’s race is a golden opportunity for several drivers that aren’t normally serious contenders to make a run at victory lane. With that in mind, here is a closer at the drivers that have the best shot of pulling out a win this weekend.
The Favorite
Not only is Brad Keselowski the only Cup Series regular in the field this weekend, but he is also the defending winner of this weekend’s race. In fact, he is a two-time winner at the track, and in four starts at Iowa, he has never finished worse than fourth. Meanwhile, Keselowski’s 2.3 average finish at the track is the best of any driver in the field this weekend and the second best in track history.
He is going for a season sweep at Iowa after a dominating victory at the track in May when he led 167 of the 250 laps, and Sam Hornish Jr. will be back behind the wheel of the Joe Gibbs Racing No. 54 that he piloted to victory lane. Hornish also finished second at Iowa last summer, and he has finished fourth or better in his last four starts at the track. He has the talent and equipment win at Iowa this weekend.
The Contenders
His 3.9 average finish at Iowa is the best of any series regular and the third best at the track overall, and in seven starts, Elliott Sadler has never finished worse than eighth. He is also a former winner at Iowa, and he has six top-five finishes, including four finishes of third or better. Sadler is a safe bet to be in the mix Saturday.
Rookie Chase Elliott made his debut at Iowa earlier this year, and he finished a strong fourth. Perhaps more importantly, his three victories this season are the most of any series regular and are tied with Kyle Busch for the most overall. Elliott has already shown on multiple occasions that he can get the better of some of the biggest names in NASCAR, and he should certainly be a threat with only one Cup driver in the field.
Although he is still looking for a win at Iowa, Regan Smith has been rock solid in three starts at the track. He has a 7.0 average finish and has never finished worse than 11th. In addition, Smith finished a career-best third at Iowa earlier this year, and he led the second-most laps of any driver in the race.
Sleeper Special
While he has underachieved a bit in 2014, Trevor Bayne could be hitting his stride at the right times to pull off an upset at Iowa. He has finished in the top 10 in the four races leading up to Saturday’s U.S. Cellular 250, and he has finished in the top 10 in his last three starts at Iowa. More importantly, Bayne is a former winner at Iowa so he shown he can seal the deal at the track.
Big Name to Avoid
He is coming off a big win at Indianapolis, but Ty Dillon could have a tough time making it back to victory lane this weekend at Iowa. He wasn’t terrible in his debut at the track earlier this year, but he only finished eighth in a field that really didn’t have any Cup drivers in it. Dillon will likely be a safe bet to compete for a top-10 this weekend, but he probably won’t be fighting for the win.
Odds to win the U.S. Cellular 250 – 2014 U.S. Cellular 250 – Iowa Speedway – Saturday, August 2
Brad Keselowski 3/2
Chase Elliott 9/2
Sam Hornish Jr. 11/2
Regan Smith 15/2
Elliott Sadler 9/1
Trevor Bayne 10/1
Ty Dillon 10/1
Brian Scott 14/1
Michael McDowell 16/1
Brandan Gaughan 28/1
Kenny Wallace 33/1
Field (Any Other Driver) 9/1
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