Kevin Harvick just dropped a bombshell prediction for Sunday’s Bank of America 400 at Charlotte Motor Speedway, and it’s not who most folks are eyeing for the win. The former Cup Series champion, now a FOX analyst, is putting his money on Chase Briscoe to take the checkered flag, even though Kyle Larson is currently leading the championship standings. Harvick watched Briscoe just beat him out in Las Vegas, and he’s seeing a pattern that could play out big time in Charlotte.
Harvick’s Seeing a Familiar Showdown on Intermediate Tracks
Harvick’s logic is pretty solid if you’ve been watching the races. He pointed out on “Kevin Harvick’s Happy Hour” that we’ve had two mile-and-a-half tracks so far, and it’s been the same two guys duking it out for the win. Why would Charlotte, another mile-and-a-half oval, be any different? He’s betting on the guy who just smoked everyone in Vegas, and that was Chase Briscoe. We’re talking about a driver who didn’t just luck into a win at the South Point 400. Briscoe had one of the strongest cars right from the jump, sweeping both stages, leading a whopping 175 of 267 laps, and straight-up holding off Kyle Larson for the victory. That wasn’t some late-race caution or pit strategy gamble; that was pure, dominant performance. It’s a clear pattern Harvick’s picked up on: Larson and Briscoe have gone 1-2, in some order, in both of the Chase’s previous 1.5-mile races.
Charlotte’s Setup Just Dialed Up the Briscoe-Larson Rivalry to 11
This Sunday’s race at Charlotte isn’t just another stop; it’s a huge moment with the fall race returning to the traditional oval after eight years on the Roval. And get this: Saturday’s qualifying got rained out. So, NASCAR used its performance-based metric to set the starting lineup, and what do you know? Kyle Larson is on the pole, with Chase Briscoe right there alongside him. It’s literally the two guys Harvick thinks will be fighting for the win, starting side by side, with the entire field behind them. Briscoe is currently sixth in the championship standings, 84 points behind Larson, so a victory here isn’t just a trophy; it’s a massive swing to close that gap with only five races left in the Chase.
Not everyone on Harvick’s podcast agreed with his hot take, though. Mamba Smith is sticking with the hot hand, giving his pick to Kyle Larson, who already has two Chase victories and a 40-point lead over Denny Hamlin. It’s tough to argue against Larson’s consistent speed, but Briscoe’s performance in Las Vegas, combined with Harvick’s read on these intermediate tracks, makes his Charlotte prediction spicy. All eyes are on that green flag this Sunday.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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