NASCAR is bringing back the Chicago Street Race for the Grant Park 165 in downtown Chicago, Illinois! Last year it was an exciting race that launched a new star into the great sport. Shane Van Gisbergen is now an exciting prospect in the Xfinity Series. He returns for round two at the Chicago Street Course where racers like Chase Elliott and Tyler Reddick look to settle the score. The playoff race is tight, the stakes are big, and this event has become quite the fan favorite.
Chris and I are back to deliver you our favorite bets for the weekend. Road courses are unpredictable especially concerning courses like Chicago where we’ve had only one race. It also hurts that it was shortened due to rain. But we’ll do our best to consider all of the facts, and try to make you all some money. Let’s get right to our picks for the Grant Park 165!
Chris’s Picks: #19 Martin Truex Jr (+1200) & #24 William Byron (+1400)
Embed from Getty ImagesLady Luck decided it wasn’t Martin’s week again much like I somehow saw coming, and told you to stay away from him with your money. This week though feels different. Whether it be because it’s the second ever street course. Or because it’s another road course race where anything can and will most likely happen. If you are looking for a stat to help maybe lean you that way. Here you go, Martin has five road course wins in his career. He also recently won at Sonoma last year and hasn’t exactly looked slow this season. Throw a bit on the veteran this weekend, it just might pay off.
William has had a rough two-week stretch after finishing runner-up in Iowa. So, this is just another opportunity, William Byron needs to take advantage of like he’s done before on a road course. He won at COTA earlier this season and arguably had the dominant car then so the chances are the car should be good. He finished 13th last season in this race and that’s not horrible. However, here’s why I think you should throw some money on the driver of the #24 car. William has made leaps and bounds each season he’s been in the Cup Series. Road Course races, going to be crazy, especially near the end. William is the type of guy who if the car is fast will have himself in the right position to take advantage.
Kaleb’s Picks: #2 Austin Cindric (+4000) & #13 AJ Allmendinger (+1400)
Embed from Getty ImagesTeam Penske is on a bit of a heater as of late. In three of the last five races, they’ve come out on top. Each time with a different driver. It was Austin Cindric who started this trend at Gateway. Sure, only because Christopher Bell’s engine blew up and Ryan Blaney ran out of gas. But you gotta be in the top three to take advantage and he did. The momentum can carry on, especially on a road course. Since 2022, Cindric has posted top-tens in six road course races, including P6 in Chicago last year. At +4000 odds, I like his chances to have another half-decent finish and pull a rabbit out of a hat.
As for A.J. Allmendinger, until Van Ginsbergen, he was 1-of-1 as it pertain to road course talent. He’s a winner of the Charlotte Roval, Indy Road Course, and Watkins Glen at the Cup Series level. Posting an average finish of 13th with six top fives since 2022 on road courses. In last year’s Chicago race, Dinger finished a disappointing P17. But that level of talent is worth some level of faith I think, and he’ll have two cracks at it between his full-time gig at XFinity and Sunday’s race for the Cup Series. I love his odds at +1400 combined with his talent at these tracks.
Chris’s Fade: #54 Ty Gibbs (+1600)
Embed from Getty ImagesHe grabbed a great top-ten finish in this event last year. However, much like I did last weekend with his teammate. I don’t think this is the week Ty surprises us with that win, that is for sure coming down the line. His relationship with “Lady Luck” as of late has been horrible. He’s not touched the top ten finish-wise in four weeks. That can do a number on a driver. Especially a young one like Ty. So, I’m going to stay away from Ty this week. There are a lot better picks available this week, who maybe arent questioning themselves too available.
Kaleb’s Fade: #34 Michael McDowell (+1200)
Embed from Getty ImagesListen, I’ve been rather harsh to McDowell over the last few weeks. And I do understand the whole reason he locked himself into the playoffs was outrunning Chase Elliott at the Indy Road Course last year. But I haven’t seen it with this #34 car all year. Last year he had speed, it was consistent steps forward. This year is a far cry from that. Sure, you can take P2 at Sonoma this year and wave it around. But that’s about it for his 2024 resume. Just one top-five, and three other top-10s the rest of the year. Posting an average finish of around P21. At this race last year, he collected P7. So if you want to run on his solid track record at road courses, I can’t blame you. But this car doesn’t seem to be what it was last year by any stretch.
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