chicago

Alternate schedule this week with Cup cars not on track until Saturday.  Both practices and qualifying are on Saturday and will make for a busy day.  We'll have our best update late Saturday night.  For now, here's a look at some of the strong options heading into the weekend.  All of the usual suspects are in play:

• Harvick -- He finished 3rd last year and led 59 laps.  But he doesn't have a great history in other recent Chicago races.  That said, he's been the top dog at these 1.5 mile tracks this year.  He already has three wins and another second place finish in only five races.
• Kyle Busch -- Been on the pole three of the last four Chicago races.  He's finished in the Top 10 in five of the last six and led 20+ laps in the last five Chicago races.  He has two wins at the 1.5 mile tracks this year -- including his dominating win in the last such race at Charlotte where he led 377 of 400 laps.
  
• Truex -- Has won the last two races at Chicago.  Always a top choice at the 1.5 mile tracks, although he hasn't won one of them yet this year.  Was very strong at the last 1.5 mile track in Charlotte, but was set back by two pit road penalties.
  
• Hamlin -- Finished in the Top 6 in the last four Chicago races.  Quietly putting together a very strong record at the 1.5 mile tracks.
  
• Logano -- Finished in the Top 7 in the last four Chicago races.  Finished in the Top 10 in four of five races at 1.5 mile tracks this year.
  
• Keselowski -- Finished in the Top 8 in the last seven Chicago races.
  
• Elliott -- Finished 2nd last year with 42 laps led and 3rd in 2016 with 75 laps led.  Has not shown Top 5 speed at the 1.5 mile tracks this year, but is still under priced on DK in particular at $8,500.
  
• Blaney -- Under priced on DK at $8,100.
  
• Byron -- Under priced on DK at $6,400 and FD at $7,300.
  
• Almirola -- Under priced on FD at $8,400.