With the 2018 NASCAR season heating up in a big way and heading to Illinois for the Overton’s 400, auto racing fans and NASCAR betting enthusiasts across the globe need to know which drivers are most likely to find their way into this weekend’s winner’s circle.
This event, which debuted when the track opened back in 2001, has gone by several names over the years including the Tales of Turtles 400 a year ago. Chicagoland Speedway is a 1.5 mile tri-oval speedway in Joliet, Illinois, southwest of Chicago.
2018 Overton’s 400
ICYMI: It’s just 6⃣ days until the #Overtons400!
Tickets are available online, by phone or at the gate. 🎟🎟🎟: https://t.co/3hENIJli3x pic.twitter.com/aOa5cgTj71 — Chicagoland Speedway (@ChicagolndSpdwy) June 26, 2018
When: Sunday, July 1, 2018 at 2:30 pm Where: Chicagoland Speedway TV: NBCSN
2017
A year ago Martin Truex Jr. won this event en route to the 2017 NASCAR championship. Chase Elliott finished second and Kevin Harvick took third place. Denny Hamlin finished fourth and Kyle Larson finished fifth.
History
Truex Jr. also won this event in 2016. Denny Hamlin won in 2015 and Brad Keselowski won in both, 2014 and 2012 to sandwich Matt Kenseth’s win in 2013.
My Top Four Picks
Martin Truex Jr. – Not only is Truex Jr. the two-time defending champ in this event, but he’s won two of the last three races on the Monster Energy circuit including his thrilling win at Sonoma last weekend. Truex Jr. has finished fourth or better in four of his last five races overall and fifth or better in 19 of his last 26 races since his last appearance at this track a year ago. The reigning NASCAR champ is in great form to say the least!
Kevin Harvick – Kevin Harvick has a NASCAR-leading six wins this season, including three straight in Las Vegas, Phoenix and California the first three weekends in March. He also finished second to Truex Jr. last weekend at Sonoma while finishing second two weeks prior in Michigan. Harvick also won this event back in 2001 and 2002 while finishing fifth or better in four of his last seven appearances at the Chicagoland Speedway. Make no mistake about it, he’s a big-time threat this coming weekend.
Brad Keselowski – Keselowski won the Clash at Daytona in what is an ‘unofficial’ event the weekend before the Daytona 500 went down, so he’s still looking for his first victory of the season. Still though, Keselowski should challenge at Chicagoland seeing as how he’s finished no worse than eighth in his last seven appearances at the Chicagoland Speedway, including the pair of aforementioned wins in 2012 and 2014. Keselowski also hasn’t gone this long in a single season without a victory since 2013 so he’s about due to fins his way into the winner’s circle.
Denny Hamlin – While Hamlin doesn’t have a win 16 races into the 2018 campaign, he does have nine top 10 finishes (56.2%) and six top five finishes (37.5%) this year. Hamlin also took the checkered flag back in 2015 and has six top 10 finishes in Chicago and three top five finishes including his fourth place finish a year ago. Hamlin could be due for a breakthrough after getting two wins a year ago and 15 top five finishes.
2018 Overton’s 400 Betting Prediction
It’s kind of hard not to pick Martin Truex Jr. right now seeing as how he’s won this event in consecutive years and is driving out of his mind right now. Still, I’m thinking he’s going to get narrowly beat out for the win this coming weekend, so I’m going with Kevin Harvick to extend his totally dominant season by beating out Truex Jr. and Denny Hamlin!
2018 Overton’s 400 Betting Picks
1. Kevin Harvick
2. Martin Truex Jr.
3. Denny Hamlin
