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For the second time this season the NASCAR Cup Series will hold a doubleheader, this time at Michigan International Speedway. Bragging rights are on the line, as MIS is located in Chevrolet and Ford's backyard, Detroit.
When thinking of Michigan, Ford has had the leg up on the competition over the past number of years. Since Stewart-Haas Racing joined the blue oval in 2018, Kevin Harvick has been dominant. Joey Logano is no slouch either, dominating the race last spring from the pole.
Because of the doubleheader, both races are condensed; 156 laps, 312 miles. That means there are 78 points on the line for fastest laps, while 39 will be given out for laps led. Let's see who should be in your lineup for Saturday's event.
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Kevin Harvick ($11,000)
Career at Michigan: 38 starts, 3 wins, 517 laps led
Average finish at Michigan: 11.7
Dating back to the spring of 2013, there have been 14 races held at Michigan. Who has been the most consistent driver over that span? Harvick.
Sure, 2013 was Harvick's final year at Richard Childress Racing, and in a pair of races at MIS that season, he had a pair of runner-up finishes. Then in 2014, he joined Stewart-Haas Racing, where, again, he finished second in both races. In the 10 races since then, he's scored two victories and six top-five finishes. The California native is always a threat at MIS, leading 37.5% of his career laps (194) over the past four races at the track.
Harvick drew the third starting position for Saturday's race; he's in an SHR car, meaning he's going to be fast. Look for the No. 4 car to jump two positions in the finishing order to win the race. Center your lineup around Harvick.
Brad Keselowski ($10,100)
Career at Michigan: 21 starts, 0 wins, 252 laps led
Average finish at Michigan: 12.0
Keselowski is native to Michigan, and though he's never won at his home racetrack, he's quietly putting together his best season to date in Cup?
Don't believe me? Keselowski is on a wave of momentum, winning last weekend's race at New Hampshire Motor Speedway. That gives him at least three checkered flags for the fifth consecutive season. His average finish through 20 races is 8.6, by far his best at the Cup level, while his 15 top-10 finishes rank second (only to Harvick's 16) in the series.
Throughout his career at MIS, Keselowski's been consistent, though never had that breakthrough win. His six top-five and 11 top-10 finishes in 21 starts are enough to put him on your team, as there's a solid chance he'll be contending throughout the day.
Still not sold? He signed a one-year contract extension with Team Penske, meaning there's extra motivation.
Joey Logano ($9,700)
Career at Michigan: 22 starts, 3 wins, 572 laps led
Average finish at Michigan: 12.2
Michigan could very well be Logano's best track on the circuit, as the No. 22 team is always a factor since he began his tenure with Team Penske, winning his first race with the team at the 2-mile track. Since then, he's picked up two additional victories.
The common theme behind those victories is the No. 22 Ford has began from the pole in each of those races. In fact, he's won four poles at MIS in the past, and drew the first starting position for this Saturday's race. Clean air plus fast car equals laps led for Logano.
Since the resumption of the NASCAR season in mid-May, it hasn't been sunshine and rainbows for Logano. He's scored just three top-five finishes in 16 races, but Michigan is his playground. Expect the No. 22 car to run up front, turn quick laps and contend for the victory.
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Cole Custer ($6,700)
Career at Michigan: 0 starts, 0 wins, 0 laps led
Average finish at Michigan: N/A
Quietly, one of the most consistent drivers in NASCAR over the past five weeks is rookie, Cole Custer.
No, the No. 41 hasn't been up front leading laps; in fact, the only laps he's ever led in the Cup Series were five laps at Kentucky. Should I remind you what happened at the finish of that race? The rookie driver schooled three veterans, taking Harvick, Martin Truex Jr. and Ryan Blaney four-wide for the win. Impressive.
Over the past five races, Custer has four top 10s. In the opening 15 races of the season, he had just one, so the No. 41 is picking ups team heading into the postseason.
When it comes to Michigan, Custer likely won't win, but if he can score a top 10, that'll gain you valuable points for your team. The No. 41 Ford begins the race in 16th position. In three NASCAR Xfinity Series starts at MIS, the California native has a best outing of third.
Bubba Wallace ($6,500)
Career at Michigan: 5 starts, 0 wins, 0 laps led
Average finish at Michigan: 23.2
In his five starts, Wallace's average finish might scare you. Don't let it.
This season has been an anomaly for Richard Petty Motorsports, scoring several solid finishes. Wallace sits 22nd in the championship standings, three markers outside the top 20. Over the first half of the 2020 season, the No. 43 car had eight top-15 efforts, more than it had the entire 2019 season (five). One could argue, Wallace is among the most improved drivers at the Cup level this season.
Wallace's Michigan numbers aren't stellar, but he was victorious in a Gander RV & Outdoors Truck Series race in 2017, running for underfunded MDM Motorsports. His 24th-place starting position is attractive, as he has an average finish of 20th this season. Points!
Ryan Preece ($5,800)
Career at Michigan: 2 starts, 0 wins, 0 laps led
Average finish at Michigan: 16.0
Last weekend at New Hampshire, Preece got his season back on track, ending a five-race streak of finishes outside of the top 20, four of which were DNF's.
Look, 2020 has been a disappointing season by JTG Daugherty Racing standards, especially with the No. 37 car. On the bright side, though, MIS is one of Preece's best tracks on the circuit, scoring one of his three career top 10s in Cup at the racetrack.
Something has to give for Preece. He's coming off a 16th-place result at NHMS, and he starts 35th on Saturday. That's very attractable, because for the most part, all he can do is go up on the scoring pylon. This is a risky, but sneaky pick.
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