Race: Crown Royal Presents the Jeff Kyle 400 at The Brickyard Predictions to Win
Date: Sunday July 26, 2015
Track: Indianapolis Motor Speedway
Time: 3:30 pm ET
TV: NBC Sports Network
by Virginia Vroom, NASCAR Handicapper, Predictem.com
Kyle Busch did it again! For someone racing for points and making it count, Busch pulled out another win, making it 3 out of 4 wins in his last 4 races. That’s a pretty solid record. He has managed major strides in the points and is certainly doing his best to secure his place in the Chase. Brad Keselowski came in second and was disappointingly very short in his post-race interview. I’m sure he’s clearly frustrated by essentially throwing away wins in the last 2 weeks. His pit crew really messed it up for him at Kentucky and he let Busch get around him when it mattered most. He really needs to step up this weekend at the Brickyard and not let people driver around him and make sure that his pit crew is solid.
The Brickyard is a historical track. Many different series race here, which you would think would give drivers like Danica Patrick an advantage. She’s experienced this track in a different car and should be able to maneuver around pretty well. It’s a big flat track, one that seems to require a great deal of skill and experience. There’s also the issue of downforce and the package that they are racing this weekend. There will be a ton of it. Interestingly enough, this track has never been big on passing. NASCAR is hoping with a bigger spoiler and increased downforce, racing will be closer and the pack won’t be so spread out. We’ll have to wait and see if that’s the case.
Track position is key here. With a 3300 foot frontstretch and backstretch, speeds are intense. That being said, the lack of banking makes for heavy brake usage and tire wear. On other tracks, drivers have the ability to maintain momentum into the corners, keeping up speed and not being so hard on equipment. That is one of the unique characteristics to Indy. The track tends to eat tires and create a cat and mouse game of pit strategy in doing so. Drivers will also have to battle the different style of pit road that this track utilizes. It’s a different format than other NASCAR tracks, which can create a totally new set of problems for drivers.
I know that it’s a long shot in terms of thinking a driver can win 4 out of 5 races, but I really think that Kyle Busch is going to do it. He’s on a mission to make the Chase and has been excellent at every single track he’s been on since coming back from his injury. This weekend should be no different. This track requires an aggressive driver and one who can dominate in speeds and taking care of equipment, both of which he can do in an excellent fashion. Here’s a look at your potential winners this weekend heading into Indy:
My Pick to Win: Kyle Busch
Middle of the Road Pick: Kasey Kahne
Dark Horse Prediction: Danica Patrick
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As I mentioned before, Patrick has raced here in different types of cars. She should have an advantage and plenty of experience to come away with a solid finish on Sunday. Kasey Kahne led a ton of laps last year and has historically been solid on this track. He should be able to continue that trend this weekend and give him the boost that he needs after a lackluster season so far. Other drivers to watch are Jeff Gordon, Kevin Harvick, and Jimmie Johnson. The thing with Johnson is that he either wins here or he’s absolutely terrible. Harvick has been the class of this field this year with fast cars and lots of great finishes. He can’t be counted out. Finally, Jeff Gordon needs a win, and he’s the defending champ. It would serve him well to really step up, be aggressive, and get that elusive win that he can most certainly attain here at Indy with his experience and skill. He’s still okay in terms of points, but a win would secure his spot in the Chase. Let’s see where these guys stand after last weekend:
Here are your current top 16 after last week’s race:
1. Kevin Harvick
2. Joey Logano
3. Dale Earnhardt Jr.
4. Jimmie Johnson
5. Martin Truex Jr.
6. Brad Keselowski
7. Matt Kenseth
8. Kurt Busch
9. Jamie McMurray
10. Jeff Gordon
11. Denny Hamlin
12. Kasey Kahne
13. Ryan Newman
14. Paul Menard
15. Aric Almirola
16. Clint Bowyer
As you can see, there are still a lot of guys in the top 16 without wins. I do believe that Indy will throw a wrench of some sort into the standings. I’m curious to see how aggressive drivers will be with a different package and with simply the prestige nature of this race. This is one that everyone wants to win. Obviously, there are drivers who are going to be aggressive no matter what. That’s why I have Kyle Busch at the top of my list. He’s got a point to prove and uses his car to his advantage where many drivers can’t. Stay tuned for a great weekend of racing at the Brickyard! Another great place to wager on the Jeff Kyle 400 is 5Dimes. They offer a TON of betting options and pay FAST!
Jeff Kyle 400 Wagering Odds
Kevin Harvick 5-1
Jimmie Johnson 7-1
Kyle Busch 8-1
Martin Truex Jr. 8-1
Dale Earnhardt Jr. 10-1
Matt Kenseth 10-1
Kurt Busch 12-1
Jeff Gordon 12-1
Brad Keselowski 12-1
Joey Logano 12-1
Carl Edwards 18-1
Denny Hamlin 18-1
Kasey Kahne 18-1
Kyle Larson 30-1
Jamie McMurray 30-1
Ryan Newman 50-1
Paul Menard 60-1
Tony Stewart 60-1
Greg Biffle 80-1
Clint Bowyer 80-1
Chase Elliott 100-1
Sam Hornish Jr. 150-1
David Ragan 200-1
Danica Patrick 300-1
Field (All Drivers not listed) 300-1