The NASCAR Cup Series will make the inaugural stop at the Nashville Superspeedway on Sunday afternoon for the Ally 400. Nashville is a 1.333-mile tri-oval cookie cutter track with a concrete racing surface. Sunday’s race will consist of 300 laps to make up the 400-mile advertised distance. Most of the drivers in the Cup Series currently have little or no experience at Nashville. Practice and single-car qualifying will take place for the Cup Series throughout the weekend.
Here are 5 drivers to consider for the Ally 400.
Kyle Larson +275- Larson comes into Sunday’s race sitting 2nd in the 2021 Cup Series standings with 11 top 10 finishes on the season including 9 top 5 finishes. Larson won at Las Vegas earlier on the 2021 NASCAR Cup Series schedule, leading 103 of the 267 laps. Larson led 132 of 267 laps at Kansas 6 races back in the Cup Series and a late race restart didn’t go his way finishing 19th. Sunday will mark Larson’s first trip to the Nashville Superspeedway in any of the NASCAR national series but he’s in the best car on the track currently.
Martin Truex Jr. +650- Truex currently holds down the 6th spot in the 2021 Cup Series point standings, tied with Kyle Larson with 3 victories on the season to date along with 9 top 10 finishes. Martin looking to rebound after the crazy crash at COTA one week ago. Truex has the 2nd best average driver rating of 106.8 over that last 44 races held on 1.5-mile intermediate ovals. Truex does have 5 starts in the Xfinity Series here at Nashville with 2 top 5 finishes. Be sure to consider Martin for the win Sunday afternoon.
Chase Elliott +700- Chase sitting 3rd in the 2021 Cup Series standings currently, has 10 top 10 finishes including 8 top 5 finishes and the victory at COTA back in May. Sunday will be the first time Elliott has competed in NASCAR competition at Nashville and the way he and team have performed recently should be no worry. Kansas Speedway can compare closely to Nashville and over the last 7 races at Kansas Speedway Chase has the best average finish of 6th. Chase will once again be in contention on Sunday.
Kyle Busch +900- Ryan down the list sitting 7th in the Cup Series standings heading into the event on Sunday afternoon with 10 top 10 finishes on the season including 6 top 5 finishes and a victory at Kansas. Kyle has 10 Xfinity starts at Nashville Superspeedway 5 top 10 finishes including 4 top 5s and a victory. Kyle also has 2 Truck Series starts at Nashville and won both races. Kyle has top 10 finishes in 4 of the last 5 races and no excuses the Ally 400 this coming weekend as the teams will have practice. Great price on Kyle heading into Sunday.
Brad Keselowski +1200- Brad comes in 10th in the Cup Series standings currently with 5 top 5 finishes on the season including a win. Brad has not cracked the top 10 in the last 5 Cup Series races. Good news for Brad is he has experience at the Nashville Superspeedway. Brad has 10 Xfinity starts at Nashville Superspeedway 7 top 10 finishes including 7 top 5s and 2 victories. Kyle also has 2 Truck Series starts at Nashville early in his career. With practice prior to Sunday’s Ally 400, look for Brad and the crew to get car tuned in and be in contention on Sunday.
AUTHOR: Jeff Jeter
