The NASCAR Cup Series continues today with the 2021 FireKeepers Casino 400 at Michigan International Speedway. Read on below to see my prediction for who will win the race, as well as my top 10, dark horse, and driver to fade predictions.
Winner: Kyle Larson- Larson enters Michigan as a heavy favorite, with 3 wins and 5 top 5 showings here in 12 career starts. With 5 wins and 13 top 5’s already in 2021, Larson continues to show his talent week in and week out. I predict that Larson to continue to add to his winning ways and bring home the victory at MIS today!
Top 10: Kyle Busch- Like Larson, Kyle Busch brings a solid track record into MIS, with a win and 9 top 5’s here in 32 career starts. Busch has put together a solid stretch in recent years at MIS, with 8 consecutive top 10 runs and 5 top 5’s during that stretch. Busch has also been having a stellar season, with 2 wins and 11 top 5’a and counting. The Candy Man is a lock for a top 10 today.
Dark Horse: Austin Dillon- Dillon has quietly put together his most consistent season to date this year, with 6 top 10’s and 17 top 15 finishes. MIS has been one of Dillon’s better tracks throughout his career, with 2 top 5’s, 5 top 10’s, and 9 top 15 showings in 17 career starts. A win is unlikely, but I believe Dillon will continue his consistent season and bring home another top 15 finish.
Driver to Fade: Michael McDowell- The Cinderella Story of 2021, McDowell and MIS have never seen eye to eye, with 0 top 20 finishes in 14 career starts, with a best finish of 22nd coming in 2019. McDowell has also gone cold the past few races, with 5 consecutive finishes outside the top 20. I predict that McDowell will leave MIS today still searching for that first top 20 finish here.