Drivers to watch, drivers with questions to answer in Verizon 200 at the Brickyard

This weekend the Verizon 200 at the Brickyard may offer the most competitive NASCAR Cup Series field of the entire season. When you consider all of the road course ringers in this race, what they have accomplished, and what they are still accomplishing, this isn’t your usual Indy Road Course.

The Verizon 200 offers full-time drivers a chance to improve their playoff position, clinch a spot, or throw a wrench into everyone else’s plans. The NASCAR drivers on the bubble are hoping Shane van Gisbergen wins this race like he won Chicago. As long as no new winner emerges, they will be happy.

Meanwhile, we’ve got some previous road course winners that we need to see step it up this week. It is all going down at Indianapolis Motor Speedway this Sunday.

Drivers to watch in Verizon 200

Shane van Gisbergen
You know that SVG is one to watch, I don’t have to tell you that. It is surprising that Vegas doesn’t have him as the odds-on favorite. However, he is a 10-1 pick for the checkered flag. Given his amazing performance in Chicago, we should expect to see another impressive drive from van Gisbergen.

Tyler Reddick
Reddick is the defending winner and I’d love to see him battle SVG for the lead. It was going to be a great battle in Chicago between the two until Reddick crashed. Let’s hope we see this battle play out because I think it could be some of the best racing of the year. 11-2 odds, Reddick is favored not far above SVG.

Brodie Kostecki
Here is an interesting one to watch. Another Supercars driver, should we expect dominance from Kostecki? He raced in the ARCA Menards Series East for a few races, and he earned a handful of top-10s. Back in the States for the Cup Series, keep an eye on Kostecki in that No. 33 car.

Drivers with questions to answer at Indy

Chase Elliott
Get the win. That is the only thing Elliott is worried about for the Verizon 200. He either gets it done and goes to the playoffs, or he limps to the postseason without any real dog in the fight in the final 10 races of the season. It has been a nightmare year for Elliott, but that can be solved with one race.

Daniel Suárez
The Trackhouse Racing team has sort of disappeared in the summer. Outside of Ross Chastain’s win at Nashville, it has been hard going for both him and Suárez. The only difference is that Suárez doesn’t have a win. He’s on the wrong side of the cutline and needs a big race on Sunday to stay in contention.

Michael McDowell
Another NASCAR Playoffs bubble driver, McDowell needs to have a big performance. Both McDowell and Suárez should have their eyes out for Ty Gibbs out there. Gibbs could be the one that keeps these veterans out of the playoffs when it is all said and done.