FireKeepers Casino 400 Power Rankings and Picks

Henry John

Last Updated: August 7, 2022 6:00 AM EDT • 3 min 24 sec read. Twitter link Google News Link

Breaking down the field and drivers to monitor ahead of Sunday’s action at Michigan International Speedway with our NASCAR power rankings and picks for the FireKeepers Casino 400.

After a road course race that turned into a massive wreck-fest last week, the NASCAR Cup Series returns to a high-speed oval.

The 2022 FireKeepers Casino 400 takes place Sunday afternoon at Michigan International Speedway. It's one of only four remaining events before the start of the NASCAR playoffs, so plenty of drivers are feeling the heat while trying to secure a spot.

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Sunday’s race will also be a significant one for the car manufacturers. And especially so for Ford and Chevrolet, with Michigan International Speedway their hometown track. This is the first Michigan race featuring the Next Gen Car, and a win could result in increased manufacturer bragging rights.

Check out our NASCAR betting picks and power rankings for the 2022 FireKeepers Casino 400 at Michigan International Speedway (odds via DraftKings and Caesars sportsbooks, and BetMGM).

FireKeepers Casino 400 Race Odds

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FireKeepers Casino 400 NASCAR Power Rankings

10. Austin Dillon (+6600 via BetMGM)

The 36th-place DNF that Austin Dillon registered during the 2021 FireKeepers Casino 400 was extremely unfortunate because the No. 3 car showcased race-winning speed that day. After contending at the comparable Auto Club Speedway earlier in 2022 with a runner-up finish, it's easy to envision Dillon being fast again on Sunday.

9. Erik Jones (+3000 via Caesars)

The No. 43 Petty GMS Motorsports team continues to be a dark-horse candidate to win a race before the season ends to steal a playoff spot. Based on how well Erik Jones ran at the Auto Club Speedway earlier in 2022 before finishing third, it's easy to believe Michigan will be one of his best chances to get that needed victory.

8. Daniel Suarez (+2500 via DraftKings)

Daniel Suarez has arguably usurped Trackhouse Racing teammate Ross Chastain in terms of consistency in recent weeks. Suarez has been a top-10 finisher in all but two races since earning his first NASCAR Cup Series win. The No. 99 also notched a fourth-place result at the Auto Club Speedway earlier this campaign.

7. William Byron (+1400 via BetMGM)

William Byron hasn't earned a top-10 finish since the road race at Sonoma. Bettors should expect that streak to end on Sunday. Byron was the runner-up at Michigan in 2021. His DNF at the Auto Club Speedway in February didn't reflect how fast his No. 24 Camaro was that day.

6. Kyle Busch (+650 via DraftKings)

Like Byron, Kyle Busch hasn't recorded a top-10 finish for a while. However, few drivers have been able to match his consistency at Michigan in recent years. “Rowdy” has finished in the top 10 in nine straight races at the track. While he hasn't recorded a win over that span, Busch has finished in the top five during five of seven races run since 2018.

5. Tyler Reddick (+1200 via DraftKings)

Tyler Reddick's car was arguably the best in February at Auto Club. Unfortunately, he cut a tire down while leading and couldn't recover. Reddick should be a contender again on Sunday based on how strong Richard Childress Racing and its affiliates were overall in that race.

4. Ryan Blaney (+1200 via DraftKings)

There's plenty of motivation for Blaney to defend his FireKeepers Casino 400 crown on Sunday. Blaney may be second in the NASCAR standings on points, but he remains winless in 2022. That means his playoff spot isn't solidified yet. Blaney has certainly proven capable of running well a Michigan, with three top-five results and five top-10 finishes over his last seven starts.

3. Kyle Larson (+700 via DraftKings)

Kyle Larson has been the third-place finisher during his last two outings at Michigan International Raceway. He's also won three consecutive Cup Series races at the Brooklyn-based track from 2016 to 2017. Of course, Larson wasn’t even driving for mighty Hendrick Motorsports at that time. He also won this season’s Auto Club race, showing he knows how to get it done on these wide, two-mile ovals.

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2. Kevin Harvick (+2500 via DraftKings)

Those who wish to argue against listing Kevin Harvick second in our FireKeepers Casino 400 race power rankings would have a legitimate gripe. With only four starts left before the NASCAR playoffs, Harvick is facing an insurmountable deficit in the points standings. But there's urgency pushing the No. 4 team to win. What better place to back Harvick than at Michigan, a track where he's won four of the last six Cup Series races?

1. Chase Elliott (+700 via BetMGM)

Once again, NASCAR standings leader Chase Elliott is sitting pretty atop our power rankings. Sure, his run of five consecutive top-two finishes may have ended last week, but the No. 9 team has been among the best at Michigan in recent years. Elliot has produced an 8.3 average finish with nine top-10 results over his last 10 starts at the track, though he hasn't won. Bettors can also look back to the race at Auto Club earlier in 2022, when Elliott's car was among the fastest and in a position to win prior to coming into contact with Larson down the stretch.

Where to Bet on the FireKeepers Casino 400

Here are our top-rated sportsbooks:

FanDuel Sportsbook Caesars Sportsbook DraftKings Sportsbook PointsBet BetMGM

SEE ALSO: All picks, odds, and sports betting news. Be sure to check out SportsbookReview.com’s community forums and betting tools.

FireKeepers Casino 400 picks made on 8/5/2022 at 5:11 p.m. ET.

Written By:
Henry John

Henry’s passion for sports dates all the way back to childhood and has ultimately led to a full-fledged career as an analyst and content creator. After getting his start penning fantasy football articles, he forrayed into the betting side of the business in early 2019. His love for sports and statistics proved to be an ideal match with the dedicated research and strategy that handicapping requires. Henry currently specializes in betting analysis and picks for college football, college basketball, and NASCAR. He counts NFL, WNBA, and NBA player props as additional leagues/markets of interest. Henry graduated from SUNY Buffalo in 2021 with a Communication Studies degree and a Psychology minor. A native of the Finger Lakes region in Upstate New York, he and his pup, Harold, have since relocated to Laramie, Wyoming. Thanks to his professional goals within the sports betting industry, there has been a whole lot of steam on the odds for a move to Las Vegas in 2023! Most of Henry’s free time is spent on outdoor adventures, playing chess, snowboarding, or reading a good book. He is also a competitive powerlifter and aspires to qualify for the USAPL Nationals meet within the next 2-3 years.