Michigan Quicken Loans 400 Top 15 Prediction Ranking Picks
1. Jimmie Johnson – Michigan is one of five tracks that Jimmie Johnson is winless. His track record certainly shouldn’t be that way though. Last August if his motor didn’t blow up in the closing laps he would’ve won. He also had two other races slip away from him because of fuel mileage. The smart money likes Johnson this week. He’s the odds on favorite to win. Last year at Michigan Johnson was very good. He started in the rear of the field both races and had top five potential in both of them. In the June race on the brand new surface he finished 5th. In August 2011 he had his best result and finished 2nd. On Sunday Johnson will start in 17th. Today in practice the #48 car was very strong. Their lap times were consistently fast. In both practices today he recorded the second best 10 lap average. In practice #2 following a ten lap run he said “Awesome race car boys”. My prediction is Jimmie Johnson will get his first win at Michigan on Fathers Day.
2. Kasey Kahne – In August Kasey Kahne was very impressive at Michigan. He started in 5th, finished 3rd and earned the second best driver rating. He could’ve been even better in the race because he was running in second but was involved in the Mark Martin freak accident. His PROS Rankings for the event was second. Kasey Kahne has had success at Michigan. He’s a former winner and has finished in the top five nearly 40% percent of the time. The main reason why I’m so high on Kahne for the Quicken Loans 400 is how good he’s been on high-speed intermediate tracks this season. He has a 5.2 average result, finished 2nd 60% percent of the time and hasn’t finished worse than 11th. Kasey Kahne’s chassis selection for this race is a proven commodity. It finished 2nd at Kansas and 2nd at Charlotte. Kahne qualified third for the event. Today in practice Kasey Kahne arguably had the best car. In both practice sessions he recorded the best 10 lap average. Also in Happy Hour he was fast over short runs and had the best 5 lap average (early in practice).
Recommended posts to check out: Jordan’s Top 15 Rankings, 10 Lap Average Big Board, Happy Hour Speeds, Happy Hour Practice Notes
3. Matt Kenseth – Matt Kenseth certainly isn’t a bad bet to win the Michigan Quicken Loans 400. Two different sport books have his odds at 7/1. The reason why he’s so well liked is based on two different factors. He’s awesome at Michigan and he’s arguably been the best high-speed intermediate track driver this season. At Michigan Kenseth has finished in the top five 44% percent of the time and has won twice. In his twenty two races here he has a 9.6 average finish. Last June at MIS he led 17 laps and finished 3rd. In August he likely had a top ten car but had a cut tire. This season on high-speed intermediate tracks Kenseth has been the driver to beat. On them he has 2 wins, a 7.2 average finish, a 6.0 average running position, and the best driver rating in the series. On Sunday Kenseth will start in 8th. Today in practice Kenseth ran some fast lap times but I would rank them slightly below Johnson and Kahne’s.
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