¡VAMOS! The Cup Series drivers head south of the border to Mexico City’s Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez road course. Today’s race marks the first points paying race outside of the United States since 1958. The altitude is high, the braking zones are tight, and the stakes are even higher with 11 races to go until the playoffs. This will not look like your standard open-wheel grand prix race. There will be sheet metal flying and tempers rising. Welcome to stock car warfare that is gritty, unforgiving, and unapologetically American. Welcome to NASCAR.
Driver to Fade:
The #11 team had to call an audible late this week to get the car ready for Ryan Truex instead of Denny Hamlin, who welcomed his baby boy into the world. We wish all the best to Denny and his family. However, this weekend looks to be a sizeable challenge for Truex and the #11 team. Ryan is making his first Cup start since 2014, and he starts from the back of the field. Soak it up, #11 haters. We expect him to finish outside of the top 25.
Dark Horse:
Pull your lap bar tight and enjoy the ride if you are a Kyle Busch fan this season. The Richard Childress Racing #8 Chevrolet has been everything but consistent. Rowdy’s best finish of the season so far, fifth, came at Circuit of the Americas. Kyle rolls off 11th for the race. We expect for him to have a third straight 12th place or better finish, which would be just his second such stretch on the season.
Top 10:
The #5 Hendrick Chevrolet rolled off the truck competitive and is starting in the sixth position. After the disastrous double attempt on Memorial Day weekend, Kyle Larson has had a palate cleanser with back-to-back top ten finishes at Nashville and Michigan. There are a lot of drivers around him that will be vying for a win to punch their tickets to the playoffs, which may mean many checkers/wreckers. Larson may just be a safer bet than the rest for a solid top 10 finish since he has secured a spot in the playoffs.
Winner:
SVG came to the NASCAR Cup Series for one reason: to win road course races. Shane van Gisbergen was interviewed after rain shortened the qualifying session on Saturday and his message to the field seemed clear. He knows he left more speed out on the track, but he still qualified on the pole. We have seen crazier things happen in the Cup Series this year, but we have also seen plenty of good ole’ fashioned butt-whoopings this season. We expect the #88 to set sail for his second career win!
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