Martin Truex Jr. will be looking for his third straight win at Kansas’ 1.5-mile track after leading 195 laps en route to a season sweep last season. Truex dominated intermediate tracks last season but has been plagued by bad luck so far in 2018.
Kansas Speedway’s layout and banking is most similar to Las Vegas Motor Speedway, where Kevin Harvick led 214 laps and captured his second win of the season after winning at Atlanta’s 1.5-mile track the week prior. Of the three prior intermediate tracks this season, Harvick has finished first, first, and second. He’s our pick to win Saturday.
Furthermore, Harvick’s 10.0 average finishing position in Kansas is second only to Jimmie Johnson. Harvick also leads in average running position (9.415 in races since 2005) with two wins, three poles and seven top fives.
What are the betting odds for NASCAR at Kansas?
Odds via Westgate
Which NASCAR drivers are best for fantasy lineup at Kansas?
Ryan Blaney could be headed for a top-five finish Saturday after finishing fifth at Las Vegas and Texas already this season. Blaney led 83 laps in this race last season and finished third in the fall race at Kansas.
Paul Menard finished 12th his last time out at Kansas and enjoyed success at a similar track at Las Vegas (ninth in March). Menard, who has five top-10 finishes at Kansas with the best being a third-place effort in the fall of 2012, said he likes the 1.5-mile track.
Matt Kenseth could make for a boom-or-bust option as he returns to NASCAR at a track he loves. The problem for the 46-year-old, who has led a record 774 laps at Kansas, is he’ll be in Roush Fenway Racing equipment instead of top-tier Joe Gibbs.
Looking to save salary? Start with David Ragan ($6,000 on DraftKings), who has finished a respectable 17th in the past two Kansas races.
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