Phoenix Cup

Here are my favorite options for Sunday--

• Love Martin Truex. He's been awesome at short, flat tracks, including Phoenix. Last year at Phoenix, he won one race and finished 2nd in the other. He led over 60 laps in both races and ran over 50 fastest laps both times. He's also at his best on sunny, hot, slick tracks -- which is what we should see Sunday.
• Great spot for Chase Elliott as well. He easily had the best car here in both races in 2020. He wasn't as dominant here last year, but you have to like the floor and upside from the 19th starting spot.
• Denny Hamlin was just amazing at short, flat tracks last year. He finished 3rd in both Phoenix races and ran over 35 fastest laps both times. He should battle Ryan Blaney for the early lead in this race.
• Ryan Blaney has been really fast this year with little to show for it. He hasn't been great at short, flat tracks, so I'm a little skeptical he can lead and dominate for an extended period on Sunday.
• Kevin Harvick might not be able to challenge for wins as he often did at Phoenix in the past, but he's still really, really good here. He's finished no worse than 8th here in the last two years, and I expect to see another Top 10 finish from the #4 on Sunday.
• Todd Gilliland will probably be a popular cheap punt play again. It is kind of silly that he continues to be priced the same as the Rick Ware cars. Gilliland at least has a hope of finishing on the lead lap.
• Ricky Stenhouse will be another popular play. His motor blew up on Saturday, but there should be no carry over effect into Sunday. He's good to go and has a pretty solid history at short, flat tracks. A Top 20 is a very realistic outcome.
• A.J. Allmendinger raced pretty well here Saturday and I think he'll finish inside the Top 20 on Sunday. 

Bets

• Denny Hamlin +900 to win (placed earlier this week)
• Austin Cindric +5000 to win (placed earlier this week)
• A.J. Allmendinger to win Group J (Buescher, Burton and Haley)