2018 Auto Club 400 Picks and Predictions: Auto Club 400 Favorites – Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series: The Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series makes a trip to Auto Club Speedway this weekend as the three-race West Coast swing comes to a close. The two-mile, D-shaped oval will host Sunday’s Auto Club 400, and the 200-lap event will be the first of three races at 2.0-mile tracks in 2018, with the other two coming at Michigan over the summer months.
It’s all about momentum and horsepower at tracks like Auto Club, and being able to maintain as much speed as possible down the long straightaways is crucial. You will drivers search all over the track’s wide surface for grip, but right up next to the wall tends to be a popular spot.
There have been a few surprise winners at Auto Club over the years, but for the most part, big names from powerhouse teams have flex their muscles. With that in mind, here is a closer look at my best bets among the favorites for Sunday’s Auto Club 400.
2018 Auto Club 400 Picks and Predictions: Auto Club 400 Favorites – Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series
Kyle Larson (4/1)
While Kevin Harvick has been the hottest driver in the series to start 2018, Larson has been the man to beat at 2.0-mile tracks like Auto Club. He led a race-high 110 laps on his way to the win in this race last year, and he went on to sweep all three races at the two-mile tracks in 2017. Larson has actually won four straight dating back to 2016 and has five straight finishes of third or better. You have to feel pretty comfortable putting some money down on him this weekend.
Martin Truex Jr. (4/1)
Although he has done a lot of his winning at the 1.5-mile ovals, Truex has also developed into an elite performer at the 2.0-mile tracks. He has led laps in all six races over the past two seasons, and he was one of the dominant drivers in 2017. Truex finished sixth or better in all three races at the 2.0-mile tracks, leading more than 50 laps in all three starts. History says Truex is one of the safest bets to be out front with a shot at the win this weekend.
Chase Elliott (15/1)
Elliott is my favorite value bet among the favorites, getting decidedly longer odds than the other top guys despite an incredible record at the 2.0-mile ovals. In six starts at two-mile ovals since joining the Cup Series, he has never finished outside the Top 10. No, he hasn’t won yet, but Elliott has a 5.0 average finish in those starts, logging three second-place finishes. If I’m looking for a big payout from one of the frontrunners, I’m putting my money on Elliott.
Joey Logano (15/1)
His Team Penske teammate, Brad Keselowski (10/1), also has an impressive record at Auto Club, but Logano has comparable stats and could win you more money for the same bet. He has a series-best eight Top 10s in the nine races at 2.0-mile tracks over the last three seasons, winning at Michigan and compiling a 5.3 average finish in three starts at Auto Club.
Denny Hamlin (18/1)
He’s a boom-or-bust pick, but if you want to try to hit a bigger payout without dipping into dark horses, Hamlin is your best bet. He’s shown Top 5 speed at every track so far this season, leading 20-plus laps in three of the four races. Hamlin also owns a pair of wins at Auto Club’s sister track, Michigan. These are bettor-friendly odds on a driver who has been one of the five-best to open 2018.
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