Photo by Stan Szeto-USA TODAY Sports
2021 Verizon 200
Sunday August 8 , 2021 3:00pm
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The NASCAR Cup Series will race the inaugural Verizon 200 Sunday afternoon on the Indianapolis Grand Prix Circuit. The Indianapolis road course is 2.439 miles in length and Sunday’s Cup Series event will consist of 82 total laps to make up the 200-mile advertised distance. Practice will take place on Saturday afternoon and on Sunday morning qualifying will take place to determine the field for the Verizon 200.
Here are 5 drivers to consider for the Verizon 200.
Chase Elliott +200- Chase sitting 6th in the 2021 Cup Series standings currently, has 13 top 10 finishes including 10 top 5 finishes and 2 victories on the season at Austin, TX and at Road America. Sunday will be the first time Elliott has competed in NASCAR competition on the Indy Grand Prix Circuit and has proven to be the best road racer over the last couple of years. Chase has 3 top 10 finishes over the last 4 Cup Series races, expect him to have a great day here at INDY on Sunday.
Kyle Larson +350- Larson comes into Sunday’s race leading the 2021 Cup Series standings with 16 top 10 finishes on the season including 12 top 5 finishes. Larson won the last road course race in the Cup Series at Watkins Glen one week ago leading 27 of the 90 laps. Larson finished 2nd at COTA on the season in addition to the victory at Sonoma and over the last 11 Cup Series road course races has the 3rd best average driver rating of 106.9. Great showing from Larson one week ago and will once again be fast again in the Verizon 200 on Sunday.
Martin Truex Jr. +600- Truex currently holds down the 7th spot in the 2021 Cup Series point standings, with 12 top 10 finishes including 8 top 5s and 3 wins. Truex finished 3rd at Sonoma back in June in the Cup Series race and over the last 13 Cup Series races held on road courses has the 2nd best average driver rating of 115.4. Although Truex hasn’t raced on the Indy Road Course in a Cup car, Truex can still have success especially finishing 9th at Road America back in July in the first Cup race. Truex led 34 of the 90 laps at Watkins Glen one week ago and look for him to be class of the field.
Christopher Bell +1800- Bell is the dark horse pick of the week and comes in 15th in the Cup Series standings currently with 4 top 5 finishes on the season including a win. Bell has 3 Xfinity starts at Road America and did win the race in 2019 after starting 12th. Bell won at the Daytona Road Course in February of 2021 in the Cup Series with a 2nd place effort at Road America in July and a 7th place finish at Watkins Glen last weekend. Solid price on Bell for Sunday’s Verizon 200, consider some action here.
A.J. Allmendinger +2000- Allmendinger will make the 4th Cup Series start on the 2021 season for Kaulig racing, coming up from the Xfinity Series on Sunday afternoon. All 3 Cup Series starts in 2021 have come on road courses for A.J. with a 7th at the Daytona Road Course and 5th place effort at COTA in Austin, TX. In 24 career Cup Series races on a road course, A.J. has 11 top 10 finishes including 4 top 5 finishes with 1 victory. Allmendinger and team will have to qualify on time to get in the race and confident they can do so. Nice longshot for Sunday’s Verizon 200.
Jeff’s Pick Martin Truex Jr. +600
AUTHOR: Jeff Jeter
Mitch's Take...
