The NASCAR Cup Series will race on Sunday at Michigan International Speedway for the 2024 FireKeepers Casino 400. The green flag is scheduled to drop just after 2:30 pm ET (USA Network). Break down BetMGM Sportsbook's lines on the 2024 FireKeepers Casino 400 odds and make your expert NASCAR picks and predictions.
2024 Firekeepers Casino 400: What you need to know
RFK Racing's Chris Buescher won last season's race at Michigan, starting fourth and averaging 131.159 mph. Ten of the past 14 Michigan NASCAR Cup Series winners have started fourth or higher, including four pole-position wins during that time. Ford has dominated this race recently, winning nine straight NASCAR Cup Series races since June 10, 2018. Chevrolet last won at MIS on August 13, 2017, when Hendrick Motorsports driver Kyle Larson won. Toyota hasn't taken the checkered flag at Irish Hills since Joe Gibbs Racing's Matt Kenseth won on August 16, 2015. JGR's Denny Hamlin earned the pole position after qualifying on Saturday was rained out. Hamlin has two wins at Michigan in his NASCAR Cup Series career, 12 top-five finishes and 18 top-10 runs with an average placement of 12.3 (AFP), but his last win here was in 2011, and Larson will start from fourth on the starting grid. He has three wins, seven top-five finishes, led 222 laps and posted a 10.9 AFP in 15 Cup starts. Trackhouse Racing's Ross Chastain has been a perennial struggler at Michigan, posting a dismal 26.0 AFP in six Cup starts. Penske Racing's Austin Cindric has finished 12th and 37th (DNF) in two Cup starts at Irish Hills. Hendricks' Alex Bowman has struggled mightily in a Cup car at Michigan, posting three top-10 finishes, led just 19 laps, and posted a 24.1 AFP in 14 Cup starts. Richard Childress Racing's Austin Dillon, coming off a controversial win at Richmond last weekend, will start 10th. He has two top-five finishes, led 38 laps and posted a 17.4 AFP in 20 Cup starts at Michigan.
2024 Firekeepers Casino 400 – Expert Picks
Odds provided by BetMGM Sportsbook. For the complete list, visit the USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub. Lines last updated at 12:51 a.m. ET.
Ryan Blaney (+1100) is a very good value odds at Michigan International Speedway. Ford always seems to find a way to cross the finish line in first place. In the last nine races, Ford has given the manufacturer a win. This is a very important race just outside of the Motor City of Detroit, and it seems to mean even more for manufacturers Ford and Chevrolet.
Blaney will start eighth on the grid, the highest starting position for a Ford. In 15 Cup starts, he has a win at Michigan, five top-five finishes, eight top-10 runs, 59 led laps, one DNF and an AFP of 14.1.
2024 Firekeepers Casino 400 – Candidates
If you don’t want to root for Blaney or want to root for some teammates, Penske’s Joey Logano (+1800) is also worth considering.
Logano was intentionally crashed on the final lap at Richmond last week and appeared to be on his way to victory until Dillon spun him in turn four.
As long as Logano keeps his cool and doesn't put revenge above the possibility of winning, he's capable of taking the checkers at Michigan. For a chance at 18 times your initial bet, the anger and revenge situation is risky, so it's a bold play.
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