The NASCAR Cup Series heads to Road America for the inaugural Jockey Made In America 250 presented by Kwik Trip Sunday for a green flag at approximately 2:35 p.m. ET. Below we analyze the 2021 Jockey Made In America 250 odds and lines, with NASCAR picks and predictions based on the odds from BetMGM Sportsbook.
Some of the drivers in Sunday’s field have experience at the track in the Xfinity Series, so that might set a handful of drivers apart from others seeing it for the first time.
2021 Jockey Made In America 250: What you need to know
- Penske Racing drivers Ryan Blaney and Brad Keselowski each have one race under their belts on the Xfinity Series circuit at Road America. Blaney had a runner-up finish in his only appearance in 2015, while Keselowski finished fourth in his lone showing in 2010.
- Hendrick Motorsports driver Chase Elliott has raced at this track twice in the Xfinity circuit, finishing in fourth place both times for JR Motorsports back in 2014 and 2015.
- Since the start of the 2018 NASCAR Cup Series season, Elliott leads all drivers with a 6.9 average-finish position (AFP) on road courses, including six wins in 11 starts. Hendrick’s Martin Truex Jr. is second with two wins and six top-five finishes in 11 starts while posting a 7.9 AFP.
- Hendrick’s Alex Bowman hasn’t won on a road course on the Cup Series as of yet, but in 11 starts since Feb. 2018 he has a healthy 9.45 AFP while turning in seven finishes in the Top 10.
- Veteran Kurt Busch led everyone with a best speed of 108.875 mph during the first practice session Saturday, followed by brother Kyle Busch at 108.658 mph.
- Austin Cindric surprised with a 108.525 mph speed, third among all drivers in Saturday’s practice. He has four Xfinity starts under his belt at Road America, including a win Aug. 8, 2020 in a Penske Ford.
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Who is going to win the 2021 Jockey Made In America 250?
Odds courtesy of BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports’ betting odds for a full list. Lines last updated at 8:15 a.m. ET.
KYLE LARSON (+300) and CHASE ELLIOTT (+300) are the chalk this weekend, and you could make an easy argument for either to win the inaugural Cup Series race at Road America.
However, if you’re trying to decide between the two, Elliott has proven to be the better road course racer, and he would be a much better pick with very little risk.
JGR’s KYLE BUSCH (+850) isn’t a bad pick, either. He is brimming with confidence after a win last weekend during the doubleheader at Pocono, and he was second in practice Saturday.
Don’t sleep on AUSTIN CINDRIC (+2000). He is well worth a small-unit play based on his practice speeds Saturday, and his four-race history on the Xfinity Series, including a win last August at this track for Penske Racing.
KURT BUSCH (+2500) has always been a good road course racer, and he showed he has the goods with blistering average speeds to lead all drivers in practice Saturday. While he has zero wins on road courses in the Cup Series since Feb. 2018, he has a respectable 10.73 AFP with seven finishes of 10th or better.
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2021 Jockey Made In America 250 long-shot bets
A.J. ALLMENDINGER (+2000) doesn’t have terribly long odds, but he could still give you a nice payday if the road-course ringer comes through for Kaulig Racing in the No. 16 Chevrolet.
He turned in a best speed of 108.238 mph in Saturday’s practice session, and he has a 14.40 AFP in five road-course starts on the Cup Series since Feb. 2018.
Allmendinger has raced at this venue three times in the Xfinity Series, too, posting finishes of second, fourth and 24th. He was fourth Saturday, and he had a runner-up finish last season. Allmendinger also won at this track June 22, 2013, for Penske Racing racing in the Nationwide Series.
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