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Quaker State 400: Power Rankings

Keslowski and Truex Jr. are heavy favorites here

By Mark Abell
Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Quaker State 400 presented by Walmart Photo by Jerry Markland/Getty Images

Race Information

Race: Quaker State 400
Laps: 267
Date: July 13th
Venue: Kentucky Speedway
2018 Winner: Martin Truex Jr (2:39:43)
Broadcast: NBCSN

Course

Kentucky Speedway. Opened in 2000, this 1.5 mile asphalt tri-oval speedway hosts the Quaker State 400 each year for the Monster Energy Cup Series. It has 4 turns with the first two at a 17 degree banking and the last two at a 14 degree banking. Side note - I don’t feel like this race gets a ton of notoriety but I really enjoy the optics of the course and racing on it, tends to be a competitive consumer oriented race.

Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Quaker State 400 presented by Advance Auto Parts Photo by Robert Laberge/Getty Images

Power Rankings

The Favorites

Martin Truex Jr. (fourth selection this year) — Back to back wins here, he is the clear favorite. The only potential concern here would be his 22nd place finish at Daytona last week where he seems to always struggle.

Brad Keselowski (fourth selection this year) — He won here in 2012, 2014 and 2016. Brad was involved in the six car wreck last week at Daytona netting him a 2nd to last place finish.

High Risk / High Reward

Ryan Blaney (fifth selection this year) — Ryan was riding three consecutive top 10 finishes up until he was involved in a massive wreck at Daytona last week which included Clint Bowyer, Alex Bowman, Kyle Busch, Kyle Larson, Ryan Preece, Martin Truex Jr, Chase Elliott and Austin Dillon where he would go on to finish 36th. He comes to Kentucky where he’s finished in the top 10 each of the last two years including a 2nd place last year.

Aric Almirola (fourth selection this year) — Aric finished 8th here last year and he comes into this race with top twelve finishes in five of his last seven races.

The Dark Horse

Erik Jones (third selection this year) — Erik comes into the Quaker State 400 with back to back top 10 finishes. He has had a mixed set of results recently with two finishes outside the top 20 and two finishes inside the top 10. He is sitting on the outside looking in with eight races until the playoffs and he is focused. He was quoted last week saying “guys will make mistakes”.

2019 Results

Favorite: Avg Finish 12th (33rd Percent)
High Risk/High Reward: Avg Finish 12th (31st Percent)
Dark Horse: Avg Finish 18th (48th Percent)

Poll

Do either Brad Keslowski or Martin Truex Jr. (who have won 5 of the last 7 races here win?

This poll is closed

  • 66%
    Yes Brad or Martin win
    (2 votes)
  • 33%
    No the field wins
    (1 vote)
3 votes total Vote Now