NASCAR Picks: A couple of teams simply own Kansas

Fans loved the wreck fest we saw last weekend at Talladega, where nearly every car in the field experienced some form of damage.

For those looking to actually make money betting the races, plate tracks should be avoided at all costs given the unpredictable nature of that racing style.

Thankfully we return to a more familiar venue at Kansas Speedway this weekend with our eye on a few drivers.

The Track

Saturday's race marks the 21st Cup race hosted at Kansas Speedway.

Since 2011 the series has stopped here twice a season with the venue hosting a race during all 12 years of The Chase. 

This weekend's race marks the eighth here since the reconfiguration back in 2012. In the last nine trips to Kansas the driver leading the most laps has grabbed the checkered flag five times.

An important fact that won’t be lost on these guys ...

The Favorite(s)

Jimmie Johnson (5/1): Last October, Jimmie Johnson had a bad finish by his Kansas standards; he ended up third.

The six time champion has only finished outside of the top 10 once in his last 14 trips.

Dover may be the house that the 48 built but his three wins, eight Top 5s, and 16 Top 10s here clearly make Kansas a track where the Lowe's Chevy feels very comfortable.

Johnson owns a series-best driver rating of 112 and his 581 laps led are second only to Matt Kenseth.

Kevin Harvick (5/1): When you break down mile-and-a-half tracks, you're contractually obligated to mention two drivers; Jimmie Johnson and Kevin Harvick.

Despite finishing 16th in the fall (his worst finish here in 11 races), Harvick has a strong record of achievement here.

He's finished in the top two three of the last five races, which includes a victory.

Harvick's average finish of 9.8 places him behind only Johnson at Kansas, and his driver rating of 102.5 is third best.

The Value Guys

Joey Logano (8/1): Logano's career numbers at Kansas won't blow you away, but he's been an absolute force in his last five trips here.

During those five races he's finished in the top five in every race, including back-to-back victories during the fall race.

Matt Kenseth (8/1): There isn't a driver in NASCAR that's more snakebitten in 2016 than Kenseth.

The No. 20 car hasn't found victory lane yet this season, but that hasn't stopped him from leading 347 laps, 10.8 percent of the total laps run this year in the Sprint Cup series.

Kenseth is the all-time leader in laps led here as well with 655, and has claimed the checkered flag twice in the process.

Martin Truex (12/1): If Kenseth is the unluckiest driver this season, then Truex is the guy still waiting to put everything together.

Almost every week he has a Top 5 caliber car at 1.5 mile tracks, however he still hasn't clinched his spot in The Chase yet. He owns four Top 5 finishes here, and the 346 laps led are fifth all time.

The Longshot

Kasey Kahne (20/1): Track history won't support a bet on the No. 5 of Kasey Kahne, but his current form makes him an intriguing option. 

He does have two runner-up finishes to his credit at this track, but you have to go all the way back to August of 2014 to find the last time he claimed a checkered flag.