Kevin Harvick is sharing his predictions for this weekend’s trip to Richmond Raceway for the NASCAR Cup Series.
During the latest episode of Harvick’s Happy Hour, Harvick named which wheelmen he’ll have his attention pointed towards during the Toyota Owners 400. Some names will surprise you, but there’s one veteran driver Harvick is picking to win it all.
“I think that, it’s a good opportunity for Austin Dillon. I think it’s a good opportunity for Brad Keselowski, Kyle Busch, to just have a weekend. Let’s just have a decent weekend. Let’s just finish the race,” Harvick explained. “I know Brad, he kind of, with the strategy being flipped earlier in the year, got a decent finish. They didn’t run there, but I think this is a place that they, him and Chris Buescher can run well.
“Chris Buescher’s starting his 300th race this weekend. Last guy to win on their 300th race? Brad Keselowski. I think my pick is going to be Martin Truex.”
Buescher actually won the last race at Richmond, when the Cup Series went to Richmond in July of 2023, but Harvick didn’t decide to pick the No. 17 wheelman to win his 300th start. No, Truex Jr. is Harvick’s pick for this weekend’s Easter special in Virginia.
Over the course of the season thus far, Truex Jr. has returned to form early, after a rough ending to his 2023 campaign. That continued in Austin last weekend, as Truex Jr. took the No. 19 Toyota to a top-ten finish, just making the cut at P10.
Moreover, Truex Jr. finished P7 at Richmond last July, so there’s plenty of reason to think he’ll be a contender for another win at the track when the green flag waves on Sunday.
As for the aforementioned Buescher, a win would be coming at the perfect time for him, as he’s had an uneven start to the 2024 campaign. COTA was kind to him, as Buescher came home P8 on the afternoon. However, he’s going to have to start contending a little more if he’s to make good on his championship aspirations, and prove 2023 was no fluke.
Meanwhile, over the course of his Keselowski’s NASCAR career, the former champion has been among the best year-in and year-out, but road courses are far from his forte. That much was true again at COTA, as Keselowski came home with a P33 finish on the afternoon.
Buescher’s teammate (and team co-owner) will be wanting to put that one behind him in a big way. After a P6 finish at Richmond last season, and a promising race at Bristol during NASCAR’s last short track, Keselowski is one of the favorites for Richmond, a win representing his first since starting RFK Racing. Harvick has his eyes on him.
Time will tell who wins it all at Richmond, and whether or not Kevin Harvick is spot on, but it should be a fascinating evening when the Cup Series takes center stage once again in Virginia.
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