NASCAR Go Consumers Energy 400 Odds & Picks
- Go Bowling at The Glen will take place on Sunday, August 11th, at 3:00 pm EST
- The race will take place at Michigan International Speedway
- Kevin Harvick won this race last year but Kyle Larson won both in 2017 and 2016.
After Chase Elliott’s big win last week, the NASCAR series now turns to Michigan International Speedway for the 2019 Consumers Energy 400. The race will take place on Sunday, August 11th, at 3:00 pm EST. Kyle Busch got heated with a few drivers last week. Can he get back on track in Michigan this week?
Odds to Win 2019 Consumers Energy 400
| Driver | Consumers Energy 400 Odds |
|---|---|
| Kyle Busch | +450 |
| Martin Truex Jr. | +500 |
| Joey Logano | +550 |
| Brad Keselowski | +550 |
| Kevin Harvick | +550 |
| Denny Hamlin | +1200 |
| Clint Bowyer | +1400 |
| Kyle Larson | +1600 |
| Chase Elliott | +1600 |
| Erik Jones | +1800 |
| Kurt Busch | +2000 |
*Odds taken 08/07/19
Can Harvick Claim a Win?
Harvick usually has multiple victories under his belt this late in the season. While that isn’t the case so far this year, it could change at one of his favorite tracks this weekend. Harvick is the defending champion of this race after winning here last season.
He has posted a 3.3 average finish position in his last three trips to Michigan overall. With either an outright victory or a runner-up result in seven of his last 13 appearances at this track, Harvick should be considered the best bet on the board.
Keselowski for Top 10
Keselowski already has three victories under his belt this season. After three straight Top 10 finishes, he should be in the running to finish well this week.
He has finished sixth or better in five of his last seven trips to the Michigan International Speedway, including a runner-up result last year. It’s an intermediate track, which is an area where he’s had success. His 7.0 average finish is third-best among drivers since 2017 on those tracks.
My concern is that he’s not delivering wins. While he has six Top 10’s in his last nine outings, he’s placed better than fifth just once. He’s a better bet for a Top 10 prop than to win outright.
Past 5 Winners at Consumers Energy 400
| Year | Winning Driver |
|---|---|
| 2018 | Kevin Harvick |
| 2017 | Kyle Larson |
| 2016 | Kyle Larson |
| 2015 | Matt Kenseth |
| 2014 | Jeff Gordon |
Looking at Larson
Larson is one of several drivers looking for their first win of the season heading into this weekend. He is currently 14th in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series standings, so he’ll need to get to Victory Lane soon in order to keep his season alive.
Larson has shown signs of life of late by finishing in the Top 8 in four of his last six starts. Now he heads to one of his favorite tracks in Michigan, where he has won in three of his last six appearances. His average finish on intermediate tracks since 2017 is 9.5, which is fifth-best among active drivers.
The 27-year-old should do well on this track, so I’ll take a flier with him for a Top 10 prop.
Avoid Busch
Busch has been a staple in this column as a driver to bet on in most weeks this season. However, that won’t be the case this week as we have him labeled as a driver to avoid.
Busch is the current Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series point leader and he is tied with Martin Truex Jr. for the most wins on the series with four. However, he is coming off an 11th at Watkins Glen in which he got into it with both William Byron Jr. and Bubba Wallace.
He hasn’t won in eight straight races and while he’s still been consistently in the running, this is one spot where I’ll pass on him. He hasn’t won at Michigan since 2011.
For over 15 years, Dave has been working in mainstream media and sports betting. He hosted a station on Sirius Satellite Radio for four years, and is currently a senior writer for AskMen. He's interviewed hundreds of hundreds of high-profile sports stars like Shaquille O'Neal and Floyd Mayweather.
