Here’s who the NBC Sports staff is picking in today’s NASCAR Cup race at Phoenix Raceway
Nate Ryan
Kyle Larson. Admittedly, I’ve been out of the loop this weekend, so I’ve consulted with an NBC Sports insider who says the Chip Ganassi driver is a safe bet to break through for his second career win. After consecutive runner-up finishes, he seems a safe pick to me, too.
Dustin Long
Kyle Busch. Has he put the incident with Joey Logano behind him? No way. Not that Busch needed any more motivation, but he’ll end the day in Victory Lane with the satisfaction of beating Logano and the field.
Daniel McFadin
Dale Earnhardt Jr. Yes, Kevin Harvick is good at Phoenix. But so is the No. 88 team, even when Earnhardt isn’t in the car. Junior finishes what Alex Bowman started last fall and gets his first win since the fall 2015 Phoenix race.
Jerry Bonkowski
Phoenix Raceway holds a special place in Chase Elliott’s heart. He clinched the 2014 Xfinity Series championship there and given the outstanding performance he’s had during practice and qualifying this weekend, earns his first career NASCAR Cup win at the one-mile oval on Sunday.