NASCAR’s final race of the season at a short track should feature plenty of action in 500 laps, but who will win?
NBC Sports’ writers can’t agree. Some have picked title contenders and some have picked those no longer eligible for the crown.
Here are today’s picks:
Nate Ryan (@nateryan)
Kyle Busch
Fastest of the title contenders on 10-lap averages in final practice, the defending series champion sweeps Martinsville Speedway in 2016 to ensure a shot at a repeat crown in Miami.
Dustin Long (@dustinlong)
Brad Keselowski
Although no longer eligible for the championship, Keselowski will make an impact by taking this race and preventing a Chase driver from automatically qualifying for the Miami finale.
Daniel McFadin (@danielmcfadin)
Kyle Larson
In Jeff Gordon’s last (?) Sprint Cup race, the kid who has been called the next Gordon will earn his first grandfather clock, leaving Larson eight shy of Gordon’s mark.
Kelly Crandall (@KellyCrandall)
Jimmie Johnson
The 48 team are sharks who smell blood in the water when it comes to getting back to victory lane at Martinsville and giving themselves their first real shot at a seventh championship.
Jerry Bonkowski (@JerryBonkowski)
Matt Kenseth
Kenseth will pick up where he left off at last year’s Chase race at Martinsville. Instead of wrecking Joey Logano again, he’ll be the first Joe Gibbs Racing driver to advance to the final round of the Chase.