Drivers to watch, drivers with questions to answer in FireKeepers Casino 400 at Michigan

Michigan and the FireKeepers Casino 400 are the next step on the path to the NASCAR Playoffs and a number of drivers have a chance to win. Not just that, there are drivers that will have a shot at changing their season completely.

So, who will step up and who can we expect to compete for the win? Despite the domination of the Fords in recent years, the top three drivers in the early odds do not sport a blue oval. Just a year ago it was a battle between Ford and Toyota, and that can be expected once again.

Then again, there are drivers that are good enough to overcome their manufacturer’s deficiencies. Kyle Busch was able to outperform the Chevys last week. Let’s get into the drivers to watch this weekend at the FireKeepers Casino 400.

Who to watch at Michigan International Speedway

Kyle Larson
Let’s not get it twisted, Larson is a very talented driver and Michigan is one of his best tracks. He won three races in a row at this track at one point in his career. While he hasn’t won in a number of years, he has almost always run well at this track. Expect him to be in it this Sunday. He’s the favorite alongside Denny Hamlin at 7-1 odds.

Kevin Harvick
The winner last season and winner of five of the last seven Michigan races, Harvick is looking for one more checkered flag before he class it quits. Michigan means a lot to him and his family, so I anticipate he will put it all on the line in the FireKeepers Casino 400. At 8-1 odds, Harvick might be a little underrated for this race.

Bubba Wallace
Pole winner in 2022 and P2 to Harvick, Wallace has been building a lot of momentum. He’s points raced well and qualified very well in the last month or so of the season. So, why not go out and lock up a playoff spot with a victory in the FireKeepers Casino 400? He claims he knows what he has to do differently this season to get the checkered flag.

Drivers with questions to answer in FireKeepers Casino 400

Chase Elliott
I’ve been writing it for weeks at this point, but it remains true. Elliott has to do something different and that means win a race. 40 points from the cutline and 94 points under Bubba Wallace in 15th, Elliott’s season can be derailed in multiple ways. Four races left to get it done.

Ross Chastain
This weekend Chastain is doing double duty with the Xfinity Series. He’s never finished better than 24th at Michigan in the Cup Series. Lately, he hasn’t been his best. If he wants to get back to the Championship Four and get a shot at the Bill France Cup, he has to turn things around quickly.

Brad Keselowski
His teammate and driver did it last week at Richmond, now it’s time for Keselowski to get the job done. Chris Buescher opened the door and the 2012 Cup Series champion just has to walk through it now. Michigan isn’t just a Kevin Harvick track, it is a track Ford performs well on in general. I’d like to see Keselowski take advantage of that and break his winless streak.

The Michigan native has never won at his home track.