2021 Firekeepers Casino 400: NASCAR CUP Picks, Predictions, Odds, Longshots

Kyle Larson +280- Larson comes into Sunday’s race starting from the pole position. Larson has an average driver rating of 86.0 over the last 4 races at Michigan with 1 top-10 finish. In 12 career Cup Series races at Michigan, Larson has been very successful with 6 top 10 finishes including 5 top 5 finishes and 3 wins. Larson picked up his first career Cup Series victory at Michigan in 2016. Larson’s talent of searching for the fastest lines throughout the race with track position added in will make him tough to beat on Sunday afternoon.

Kyle Busch +650- Kyle will roll off from the 7th position on Sunday afternoon out at Michigan for the Firekeepers Casino 400. Over the last 6 races at New Hampshire in the Cup Series, Busch has 6 top 10 finishes including 5 top 5 finishes with the 2nd best average finish of 4.50. In 32 Cup Series starts at Michigan, Kyle has 14 top 10 finishes including 9 top 5s and 1 win. Hard to believe that Kyle hasn’t picked up more victories at Michigan, especially as the team brings a top 5 car in most cases. Kyle coming at a little value here on Sunday.

Kevin Harvick +800- Harvick will take the green flag from the 8th starting spot for the Firekeepers Casino 400 on Sunday afternoon. Harvick has the best average finish of 2.17 and the best average driver rating 137.4 over the last 6 Cup Series races at Michigan. In 40 Cup Series starts at Michigan, Kevin has 21 top-10s including 15 top 5 finishes and 5 victories. Harvick still doesn’t have a win on the 2021 Cup Series circuit and Sunday is going to be one of if not the best opportunity for that win heading into the 2021 Playoffs.

Denny Hamlin +1100- Denny will share the 5th row with Alex Bowman and will start from the 9th spot for Sunday’s Firekeepers Casino 400. Denny has the 3rd best average finish over the last 6 Cup Series races held at Michigan of 6.83 with an average driver rating of 103.0. In 30 Cup Series starts at Michigan, Denny has 15 top 10 finishes including 9 top 5s and 2 wins. Denny has yet to pick up a win on the 2021 Cup Series circuit and Sunday might just be the spot to claim first victory of the season.

Christopher Bell +2200- Bell fires off from the 28th starting spot on Sunday afternoon for the Firekeepers Casino 400, after a disappointing 36th place finish on the Indy Road Course last Sunday. Bell’s only 2 Cup starts at Michigan came in 2020 for the now defunct Levine Family racing that had an alliance with Joe Gibbs. Bell finished 13th and 17th respectively in the 2020 Cup races at Michigan and despite finishing outside the top 10 in both races, had green flag speed in the top 10 of both races. Now in the better funded Gibbs car, Bell will have to be patient and navigate the field to get to the front. Expect the Gibbs team to be fast on Sunday, great longshot price on Bell.