NASCAR Betting Tips: Consumers Energy 400 Preview, Predictions & Picks

Jake Ernst had the winner of the Watkins Glen and now looks ahead to this Sunday’s Consumers Energy 400 NASCAR race and picks out the best bets in Michigan.

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We are coming off a big win from last week’s race at Watkins Glen (thanks to Chase Elliott) and are looking to continue adding to our winnings this week at Michigan.

The Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series has left Watkins Glen, NY and is now in Brooklyn, MI for the Consumers Energy 400 at Michigan International Speedway. The race will be at 3pm on Sunday, August 11th so be sure to get your bets in before that.

The last nine races in the cup series have produced nine different winners, which is incredibly rare and the likes of Jimmie Johnson, Erik Jones, William Byron, Kyle Larson are some of the drivers who could look to extend this streak but I believe it will end this week.

Although Joey Logano, the Team Penske driver of the #22 car and Kyle Larson, driver of the #42 Credit One Bank car have dominated this race in recent years (combining for five out of the last seven wins at Michigan), I am only picking one of these drivers to win on Sunday.

The bet: Kyle Larson to win at +1700 on FanDuel Sportsbook

Boy, this a tough pick for me. Larson has struggled mightily dating all the way back to 2017 but if there is ever a time for him to break his 68-race winless streak, this is the week. Out of Larson’s five career wins, three have come here at Michigan and what is even more impressive, is that they were back-to-back-to-back. Yes, in his four races at Michigan ranging from 2016 through 2017, Larson finished in the top-three all four times, with a third place finish and three consecutive wins.

What should really benefit Larson is the fact that NASCAR is adding PJ1, a resin that generates a sticky racing surface, adding grip and ultimately creating more racing lines. If you don’t already know, Larson typically races as close as physically possible to the wall and to much of his delight, this PJ1 is being added in the corners along the wall, right where Larson will likely be racing for much of the race.

I think FanDuel is underestimating the 27-year-old’s ability at Michigan and at +1700, I can’t justify any reason not wagering on him. He is already tied with Joey Logano on the active win list at Michigan (three wins) and he has done it in 10 fewer starts (Larson: 11, Logano: 21).

The bet: Kyle Busch to win at +500 on SugarHouse Sportsbook

You would probably think I’m lying if I told you that Busch has just one win in his 29 Cup Series starts at Michigan Speedway but you can fact-check for yourself, its true.

Now you are (for good reason) likely thinking, why would I bet on him if he has just one win here? To begin, the 34-year-old has always been a great driver but he hasn’t always showed this level of dominance that we’ve gotten accustomed to over the past few years.

Additionally, Busch has finished in the top-five in his last three starts at Michigan (5th, 3rd, 4th) and in the top-10 (10th, 7th,) in his last five overall. Sure, he’s winless here since 2011 but he has certainly proven that he is now a true competitor at Michigan and a real threat to win at virtually any track.

The bet: Martin Truex Jr. to win at +500 on FanDuel Sportsbook

In his 27 starts at Michigan, the veteran has failed to win a race but has displayed some major potential and is long overdue for a win. What must frustrate Truex is the fact that he has three runner-up finishes and three third-place finishes here but no wins to show for it.

The 39-year-old finished third last year at Michigan and in last week’s race at Watkins Glen, finished runner up to Chase Elliott. Truex is as consistent as they come but he is looking to be a consistent winner, not a consistent top-five finisher. Expect Truex to be strong on Sunday as I’m sure he wants to cross this track off his winless list.

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