October 20, 2021 at 04:02 PM EDT
The NASCAR Cup Series will go in race 2 of the round of 8 at Kansas Speedway on Sunday afternoon in the Hollywood Casino 400. Kansas is a 1.5-mile cookie cutter oval, closely relating to Las Vegas, Chicagoland, and Kentucky Speedway. Sunday’s race will consist of 267 laps to make up the 400 miles distance on Kansas. In the round of 8 the battle from 3rd to the 6th place driver is very close heading into Kansas. Expect to see a hard-fought race on Sunday afternoon in the Hollywood Casino 400.
Here are a few drivers to consider for Hollywood Casino 400.
Denny Hamlin +550- Denny will roll off from the 6rhh position on Sunday afternoon in the Hollywood Casino 400. Over the last 8 races at Kansas, Hamlin has 4 top 5 finishes including the 2 victories. Denny had the 3rd fastest green flag speed in the Cup race at Kansas back in May of this season but only came away with a 12th place finish. Currently, Denny sits 3rd in the point standings, 11 points above the cutline in the round of 8. A win Sunday in the Hollywood Casino 400 at Kansas would lock Denny into the final round at Phoenix. Take a shot on Denny Sunday.
Kyle Busch +600- Busch rolls off on row 2 from the 4th starting spot on Sunday afternoon at Kansas Speedway. Kyle led the final 20 laps of the Cup Series race in May of this season to bring home the checkers at Kansas while carrying the 2nd fastest green flag speed in that race. Over the last 7 races at Kansas, Busch has the 3rd best driver rating of 107.4 including 4 top 5 finishes and the win. Kyle is currently sitting 4th in the round of 8, last driver in and needs a win Sunday to guarantee a spot in the final 4 at Phoenix.
Chase Elliott +800– Chase will roll off from the 5th position for Sunday’s Cup Series race at Kansas. Over the last 7 Cup Series races at Kansas, Chase has the 5th best average driver rating of 105.2 with 4 top 5 finishes including a victory in the 2018 Cup Series Playoff race. Over the last 2 Cup Series events at Kansas, Chase had the 4th best green flag speed and the 6th fastest green flag speed respectively. Chase is 8 points below the cutoff line heading into Sunday’s Hollywood Casino 400 and will have a shot to secure a spot at Phoenix in 2 weeks.
Ryan Blaney +1000– Ryan will begin Sunday’s Cup Series race at Kansas from the 2nd starting spot. Blaney has the 8th best average driver rating over the last 7 races at Kansas with only 2 top 10 finishes. Blaney had the 2nd best green flag speed in the 2020 Playoff race at Kansas in and typically unloads fast here. 6th place finish at Texas one week ago after starting 4th wasn’t bad for Blaney but a solid top 3 is a must here on Sunday at Kansas. Nice value here on Blaney as he currently sits 2nd in points, 17 above the cut line.
Brad Keselowski +1400- Brad will start from the 3rd position on Sunday for the Hollywood Casino 400. Keselowski comes into the Kansas race on Sunday sitting 6th in the Series point standings, 7 below the cutline. Brad has the 3rd best average finish over the last 7 races at Kansas with 5 top 10 finishes including 4 top 5s and a victory. Although Brad finished 7thh at Texas one week ago, I think he has a great opportunity to win at the 1.5-mile Kansas Speedway. Great value on Keselowski as a longshot on Sunday afternoon.