The NASCAR Cup Series hits the iconic Indianapolis Motor Speedway this Sunday at 2 p.m. ET for the 2026 Brickyard 400, and trust me, you don’t want to miss this one. We’re down to just five races left in the regular season, and the stakes are absolutely massive with the NASCAR In-Season Challenge championship on the line.
Blaney vs. Gilliland: The Million-Dollar Duel
It’s an all-out battle for a cool $1 million grand prize between Ryan Blaney and Todd Gilliland in the 32-driver In-Season Challenge. Whoever finishes higher between those two takes home the cash. Blaney is sitting as the -320 favorite to win that head-to-head, according to the odds. But even with that high-stakes showdown, the big race itself has its own favorites. FanDuel Sportsbook pegs Denny Hamlin as the +360 favorite to win the whole Brickyard 400, with Kyle Larson right behind him at +650 and Tyler Reddick at +700. Seems straightforward, right? Not so fast.
McClure’s Model Is Throwing Down a Gauntlet
This is where it gets spicy. Mike McClure, a legendary professional DFS player with over $2 million in career winnings, has run his powerful prediction model a whopping 10,000 times for every lap of action. This guy’s model has nailed 30 winners since 2021, including Denny Hamlin’s back-to-back wins last month at Michigan and Pocono. So when McClure speaks, you listen. And he’s got some wild takes for Indianapolis.
First, McClure’s model is absolutely *fading* Denny Hamlin, even as the +360 race favorite. Yeah, Hamlin’s been a beast this year, leading the playoff chase standings and bagging four points wins, including three in a row at one point. But since that hot streak, he’s cooled, averaging a 9.5 finish in his last five races. Plus, his history at this track isn’t great, with two accidents in his past three races at Indianapolis. The model just isn’t seeing the value in him as the clear favorite this Sunday.
And here’s the kicker: McClure’s model is super high on William Byron as a top contender at +1300! Byron is still chasing his first win of the season, but he’s already racked up nine top-10 finishes and four top-5 finishes. McClure is saying Byron is a solid bet for outright and top-5 picks in the Brickyard 400. The model is also backing another longshot around +2000, which could mean a massive payday for anyone brave enough to back them.
This race isn’t just about the money for Blaney or the usual favorites. It’s about seeing if McClure’s model, which has been eerily accurate, can call another massive upset at the Brickyard. Who’s going to shock everyone and take the checkered flag? You gotta tune in Sunday to find out!
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by CBS Sports.
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