by ASA, Inc.
Saturday, Jul 01, 2023
RACE WINNER – Martin Truex Jr. +650
This is the first ever street race in Chicago so there are plenty of unknowns going into this weekend’s event. What we do know is this: The most similar track comparison we can make to this road race is Sonoma, which Truex Jr. and his JGR Toyota won earlier this season. In fact, Truex Jr. has won at Sonoma three times in the last five races run there. The JGR Toyota was clearly set up perfectly for the race earlier this season as MTJ led for 51 laps and had the fastest car in the field.
TOP 10 FINISHER – Chris Buescher -120
Buescher has a strong history in road tracks with seven top 10 finishes in as many races. On a similar course in Sonoma, he finished 4th this season and was 2nd last season. The #17 car has an average starting position of 16.4 this season with an average finish of 10.2. Buescher has 8 top 10’s this season in 14 races and has run in the top 10 for 50% of his last ten races. In his last seventeen road course races he’s finished in the top 10 nine times.
TOP 3 FINISHER – Denny Hamlin +800
We were surprised by this price on a popular veteran driver like Hamlin and will gladly jump in with a wager on the #11 Toyota. Joe Gibbs Racing has clearly figured out their road race setup as demonstrated earlier this season at Sonoma. JGR had two cars that finished in the top 10 at Sonoma, three in the top 18. Not only that, but Hamlin had won the pole, won the first stage and led for 33 laps before wrecking. In his last seventeen road course starts, Hamlin has led a total of 118 laps (4th most) and has five top 5’s.
