Chase Elliott goes back to back at Watkins Glen holding off Martin Truex Jr. for the second straight year to win his second race of the season. Other than those two, there really wasn’t anyone who was in contention for the win this week. The Toyota teams had a great amount of success overall taking four of the top six spots in the race.
CONSUMERS ENERGY 400
This week the series heads back to the Michigan International Speedway. There are only four races left before the playoffs start and they are going to be run on four very different tracks. This week the drivers will be on a two-mile D-shaped oval track where speeds should reach over 200 miles per hour. This track really showcases the new aero package the series is running this season.
Joey Logano: Joey won the race here in June and I will pick him to repeat once again this weekend. He has only finished outside of the top ten here once in his last thirteen starts, winning three of those races. after the showing he put on here the first time this year it is hard to pick anyone else to win this race.
Kyle Busch: Kyle hasn’t won here since winning back in the 2011 season. However, he has reeled off three straight top five finishes and five straight top ten finishes here. After having a few run ins at Watkins Glen last weekend I think this team will be itching to get back on the track and see if they can pick up some more playoff points.
Martin Truex Jr.: Martin is still looking for his first win at Michigan in his career although he has numerous second and third place finishes at this track. He has been one of the better drivers with the new aero package and finished third here in June. This team could really use some more playoff points and you need to win stages and races to get them. His first win here couldn’t come at a better time.
Kevin Harvick: Kevin has lead more laps at this track in the last five races run here than any other driver. He has also finished in the top five in nine of his last thirteen starts here. This team has looked good early on at these types of tracks this season only to have pit issues or fade towards the end of the race. Those are two things they will have to eliminate if they want to win a championship this season.
Chase Elliott: Chase finished second in his first three career starts and in the top ten in his first six starts before finishing 20th here in June. The Hendrick teams struggled with speed early in the year, but they seem to have found that speed lately. After winning last week at Watkins Glen this team will have a lot of confidence heading into this weekend and should be in contention throughout this race.
Brad Keselowski: Brad is looking for his first win at what he considers his home track. He almost pulled that off in this race last year when he finished second. In the August race two years ago he lead over 100 laps, but finished a disappointing seventeenth in that race. The Penske teams have shown speed all year and Brad is going to win here before the end of his career and this might be the weekend.
Ryan Blaney: In his three starts here since moving to Penske Racing, Ryan has finished in the top ten in all of them. This is the type of track where he excels because of how wide it is. He can make moves and run in different grooves here without getting himself in too much trouble. He just needs to have a little more patience and let his crew adjust the car throughout the race so he has a shot at the end.
Kurt Busch: Kurt finished second here in the June race and has shown a lot of potential in this his first season with Chip Ganassi Racing. He already has a win and is qualified for the playoffs. If they can have another good showing this weekend that will make them a legitimate contender for the championship this season as the majority of the last ten races are on intermediate tracks. A few more playoff points would help too.
Kyle Larson: Let’s not forget that Kyle won three straight races here not too long ago. This team has struggled quite a bit this year, but most of that is due to bad luck. They have shown flashes of what they can do recently and this might be the track where he can break out of his slump. I think he is worth taking a chance on if you need to make up ground in your league.
Denny Hamlin: Denny has really been consistent this season and though he really seems to run better on the flat tracks and the restrictor plate tracks, he can still get the job done on the intermediate tracks. This is the race before the start of the playoffs where they might really do some experimenting on set ups and such to see if they can improve heading into the playoffs and all of those intermediate tracks.
DRIVER GROUP GAME FANTASY NASCAR PICKS FOR MICHIGAN INTERNATIONAL SPEEDWAY
Driver Group Game Group A
- Joey Logano
- Martin Truex Jr.
Driver Group Game Group B
- Ryan Blaney
- Kurt Busch
- Denny Hamlin
- Erik Jones
Driver Group Game Group C
- Daniel Hemric
- Chris Buescher
MY TOP-5 OVERALL AT MICHIGAN INTERNATIONAL SPEEDWAY
- Joey Logano
- Martin Truex Jr.
- Kyle Busch
- Brad Keselowski
- Kevin Harvick
Dark Horse: Kyle Larson
Stay Away From: Jimmie Johnson
Big 18: Joey Logano
71 replies on “2019 Michigan International Speedway, Consumers Energy 400”
22-4- my pick thanks Jeff and spot on with the 9 car last week
19
4-22-19-18-11-4-2-1-9 my pick thanks jeff
12
What is your thoughts on Paul Menard here?
Paul hasn’t really done much this year to give me any confidence in him. I’m thinking he might do well at Indy though.
You seem to not be overly enthusiastic with the responses Jeff. Guys are asking you for help with their line ups and you pick drivers that aren’t part of the selection they offer you. Noticed you’ve been doing this for a few races now, not real sure why though. Maybe you’re going through a rough stretch in your life or you’ve just lost enthusiasm for the game. Always appreciated your constructive insight, but if it’s too much for you anymore, maybe step aside and get one of your partners to take over.
Hi Mike, I’m sorry but I don’t agree with you at all. As for making picks that aren’t part of the selection that is offered to you, the way the game is set up the commissioners of the league could set up the groups any way they wanted. I don’t know who is in which group in all of the different leagues. I basically go by the DGG League. When someone asks who to pick between 2 drivers I often just give them the car number or driver name, but that is because so many questions come in with less than an hour to go before the deadline to set teams. I do my best and am sorry you feel the way you do.
I have always felt that you are fair and give good overall advice. I appreciate your input and it helps me decide on my final lineup even if it ends up being different than yours.
Keep doing what you are doing sir. Always going to be an a**hole in the group.
Jeff,
You are awesome! Keep doing what you are doing!
Go away Mike. Why bother even sending that message.
Jeff you are doing a great job!
Agreed!
Don’t Like it go some where else
Jeff is the best! Be kind! 😁
wasting hamlin here is foolish. bowman and almirola for hamlin and jones.
You don’t necessarily have to start Hamlin, but he might get you some qualifying points.
looks like i was right about bowman & wrong about almirola – which is crazy cuz harvick is super fast. so is erik jones.
I’m out of Buescher Jeff! Hemric And DiBenedetto? Thank you thank you very much 🕺
Hemric and DiBenedetto are you next 2 best choices.
Thank you!
Cant even log in. Probably a game problem.
No?
Game over?
Working fine today
Hi Jeff. Trying to figure out who to pair with the 88….The 11,1,10? Thinking the 1. I have 2 starts with both Hamlin and Busch…..
This is a tough call. I would like to take a chance on Almirola improving because this is the type of track he is the best on. Busch and Hamlin will both run great on the short tracks and we have one of those coming up next week at Bristol. I would go with Almirola.
Lagano Blaney Jones hemeric? Sound good? Or would you change it? Thx!
That’s pretty much my lineup.
Hemric failed inspection. Still a decent pick?
Gotta take a chance on him sometime. Long race, I think he should be okay.
Jeff, a little off subject. Who was your Big 18 pick last week at Watkins Glen? Been following them all year and somehow forgot to chart it last week. Thanks.
Big 18: Denny Hamlin – Glen
There’s a link , 2nd line down fom this week’s big 18. Just noticed it myself.
Yep, Hamlin.
I have logano and truex in a, busch, blaney, newman, and suarez in b, and buseshler and hemric in c. Who do I go with for Meechigan? Thanks Jeff.
Yea this question is for Jeff ^
Logano, Blaney, Suarez, and Hemric
Thank Jeff appreciate all you do for us here!
Thanks. Would have never saw that.
Should I use 22 this weekend at Michigan or next weekend at Bristol?
Both tracks are good…
My thoughts Bristol.
Best of luck.
That kind of depends on who else you have and how many starts they have left. Busch will be good at Bristol. Go with Logano today.
Jeff,
Thanks! I’ll ride the 22 today.
Darren
12,20,88,14 or 42 if you had to pick two for points?
My thoughts…they are all okay picks this week.
12 and 88. Although the 20 has had good practice this week. Hometown track as well.
Best of luck.
The 20 and the 12.
Logano, Jones, Blaney, Hemric
Bench
Truex, Almirola, Bowyer, Ragan
Your thoughts Jeff?
My thoughts….
Stick with that lineup.
Best of luck.
That looks like your best bet right now.
What is a better start the 19 at Michigan or Brickyard?
Hard choice….
I’d choose Bristol.
Best of luck.
19 should be better at brickyard…one of his worse tracks is Bristol.
D,
Sorry about my post stating Bristol.
That post was meant for Darren question 14 about Logano.
I go with Michigan. He hasn’t finished the last 2 races at Indy and his career average there isn’t very good.
Hi Jeff. Trying to figure out who to pair with the 88….The 11,1,10? Thinking the 1. I have 2 starts with both Hamlin and Busch…..
Josh or My Wife left….
The 88 has had a good practice (I agree there) hard choice between Ku Busch and Hamlin. You would go wrong with either, but I’m with you on choosing the 1.
Best of luck.
I take the chance on Almirola and save the 1 and 11 for the short tracks.
Jeff, hope you didn’t let that troll change what you do.
Been very responsive and on point, much better than he’s been in weeks. He also brought in some help, so yeah I think it worked. He’s stepped his game back up to what I have been accustomed to for a long time which is great analysis and responsive constructive posts.
Mike,
I have nothing to do with this website. I just like to give my thoughts here and there. Obviously my advice seemed different then Jeff’s in most cases this week. Now, I’m having second thoughts about starting the 12 over the 41. I had the 41 in the first Michigan race. I just feel the Penske drivers to be stronger this week. Although, Stewart-Hass is showing me otherwise in practice.
Anyhow, best of luck this week to you both.
Jeff, are you letting that pos troll win?
Don’t remember calling anyone names. Multiple posts asking the same question? Who’s the “pos troll” now? Keep sucking up to the boss keyboard tough guy.
We still live in America and Mike is entitled to make the comments he did. Let’s just move on.
I appreciate that Jeff.
Hey Jeff I have 12 in what about 21,20, or 41 which one?
Use the 12 with the 20. The 20 has had a good practice.
Best of luck.
I go with the 20. He has looked great all weekend.
My thoughts…they are all okay picks this week.
12 and 88. Although the 20 has had good practice this week. Hometown track as well.
Best of luck.
Posted wrong….
My thoughts….
Stick with that lineup.
Best of luck.
Posted wrong….
Clueless on which B driver to with today starts are not an issue.right now I got 14 and 41.. got the 10 and 6 on the bench. Should I change anything jeff..thanks for your input
No, I think you have the right drivers selected to start.