Pre-Race Predictions: Michigan

 

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    With two races to go in the regular season, it is crunch time for any driver who is not yet clinched for the 2021 NASCAR Cup Series playoffs. Now only 2 more seats are open in inside the playoffs.

As full-time NASCAR Xfinity Series driver AJ Allmendinger won at the Indianapolis Road Course in the Cup Series event, he is not eligible for the NASCAR Cup Series playoffs. This creates a secured playoff seat for Denny Hamlin, who has not yet won a race in 2021.

The two drivers, that are above the cutoff line, are Kevin Harvick & Tyler Reddick. Both are obviously winless. Harvick's 2021 season has been in a slump, meanwhile the sophomore Cup Series driver has had a fairly consistent year. And if two other drivers win, both Harvick and Reddick will miss the playoffs.

Here are a few drivers to watch at Michigan:

• Kyle Larson [No. 5 Chevrolet / Hendrick Motorsports] - Larson has had a lot of success at Michigan, including 3 straight victories. Could he win his 6th victory of 2021, and his 4th at Michigan on Sunday? There is a good chance.
• Kevin Harvick [No. 4 Ford / Stewart-Haas Racing] - Harvick has won the last three, NASCAR Cup Series events held at Michigan. Will he take his first win of the season, and make it four straight wins here this weekend?
• Joey Logano [No. 22 Ford / Team Penske] - Logano is yet another driver win a trio of races at Michigan International Raceway. Will Logano add another win before the playoffs here this weekend?
• Martin Truex, Jr. [No. 19 Toyota / Joe Gibbs Racing] - Truex has yet to win at Michigan, but with his top 10 consistency here in the past few races, does Truex add his name to the win column for Michigan this weekend?
• Denny Hamlin [No. 11 Toyota / Joe Gibbs Racing] - Hamlin has two wins here, but still is winless in 2021. Does he win his first of the season here on Sunday?

A few other drivers to watch out for:

• Daniel Suarez [No. 99 Chevrolet / Trackhouse Racing]
• Tyler Reddick [No. 8 Chevrolet / Richard Childress Racing]
• Ryan Blaney [No. 12 Ford / Team Penske]
• Matt DiBenedetto [No. 21 Ford / Wood Brothers Racing]