NASCAR odds – Page 3 – Syndication Server

2021 GEICO 500 at Talladega odds, picks and prediction

Looking at the odds for Sunday’s 2021 Geico 500 at Talladega, with NASCAR odds, picks and predictions.

The NASCAR Cup Series is at Talladega Superspeedway for the GEICO 500 Sunday at 2 p.m. ET. Below we analyze the 2021 GEICO 500 odds and lines, with NASCAR picks and predictions based on the odds from BetMGM Sportsbook.

2021 GEICO 500: What you need to know

Odds courtesy of BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports’ betting odds for a full list. Lines last updated at 10:10 a.m. ET.

The NASCAR Cup Series is back at the Talladega Superspeedway. Joe Gibbs Racing driver Denny Hamlin is the defending champ with checkers in the YellaWood 500 last fall. He’ll start from the pole position Sunday.

Hamlin’s win in the No. 11 Toyota was quite the rarity, as that manufacturer hadn’t been to Victory Lane at Talladega since Hamlin won the Aaron’s 499 in the spring 2014 race. He started from the 34th position.
Ford had won nine of the last 10 races at Talladega prior to Hamlin’s surprise win in a Toyota last fall. Penske Racing’s Ryan Blaney had won the previous two stops before Hamlin broke his string.
Hamlin won from the pole in the fall race. He was the first pole-sitter since Ricky Stenhouse Jr., won the 2017 GEICO 500 in the spring race.
Ryan Preece leads all active drivers with an 11.5 Average-Finish Position (AFP) in his four Cup starts at ‘Dega.

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Who is going to win the 2021 GEICO 500?

HAMLIN (+650) is the chalk at Talladega, but given Toyota’s infrequent wins over the years at the superspeedway, it’s a good idea to look elsewhere. In fact, focus on Ford’s stable of cars.

Penske’s BRAD KESELOWSKI (+1100) leads all active drivers with five checkered flags at Talladega, while his teammate RYAN BLANEY (+1000) won two of the last three races here.

Penske’s JOEY LOGANO (+900) certainly shouldn’t be overlooked, either. He has three victories in 24 Cup starts at this track, and he has been 10th or better on 10 occasions, posting a 16.6 AFP. Of course, he is also third among active drivers with seven DNFs, so there is plenty of risk.

STENHOUSE JR. (+1600) is always a threat on superspeedway. He won this race from the pole in the spring of 2017, and he has managed six top-5 runs, nine top-10s and 94 laps led with a 12.7 AFP in 15 Cup starts at ‘Dega.

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2021 GEICO 500 long-shot bets

Perhaps last week was just one week early to select TYLER REDDICK (+2200). He didn’t show out at Richmond like I hoped he would; however, he finished seventh and 20th in his two Cup starts at Talladega, and he has 21 laps led. He could make a little bit of noise at this track.

AUSTIN DILLON (+3500) has some rather long odds given his past successes at the superspeedways. Give him a look with a small-unit wager. He is a good bet for a Top 10 finish (-115), too.

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Gannett may earn revenue from audience referrals to betting services. Newsrooms are independent of this relationship and there is no influence on news coverage. This information is for entertainment purposes only. We make no representations or warranties as to the accuracy, completeness, or reliability of any content.

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2021 Toyota Owners 400 at Richmond odds, picks and prediction

Looking at the odds for Sunday’s Toyota Owners 400, with NASCAR odds, picks and predictions.

The NASCAR Cup Series is at Richmond Raceway for the Toyota Owners 400 Sunday at 3 p.m. ET. Below we analyze the 2021 Toyota Owners 400 odds and lines, with NASCAR picks and predictions based on the odds from BetMGM Sportsbook.

2021 Toyota Owners 400: What you need to know

Odds courtesy of BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports’ betting odds for a full list. Lines last updated at 7:43 a.m. ET.

The NASCAR Cup Series is back at the Richmond Raceway with Team Penske driver Brad Keselowski as the defending champ with checkers in the fall race in Sept. 2020.

Keselowski’s win at Richmond was a rarity for Ford, as the manufacturer had been to Victory Lane just twice in the past 11 races. Teammate Joey Logano won the spring race in 2017.
Joe Gibbs Racing’s Kyle Busch leads all active drivers with six checkered flags at Richmond with 18 top-5 finishes and 1,488 laps led in 30 starts, while posting a 6.77 Average-Finish Position (AFP).
Virginia native and JGR teammate Denny Hamlin has managed three wins with 13 top-5 finishes across 28 career Richmond starts, posting a 9.25 AFP. He also leads all active drivers with 1,704 laps led.
Stewart-Haas Racing’s Kevin Harvick has also been impressive with three wins and 15 top-5 finishes with a 9.74 AFP in 39 career Richmond runs.

Who is going to win the 2021 Toyota Owners 400?

MARTIN TRUEX JR. (+400), who is coming off the win at Martinsville last week, is the chalk. He has picked up the checkered flag twice in 29 career Richmond starts with a 17.3 AFP.

MTJ swept the 2019 Richmond races, racing to victory from the fifth starting spot in the spring race, and winning from the eighth spot in the fall run. He is on the pole for Sunday’s race.

HAMLIN (+600) will start from the outside of Row 1, and the Chesterfield, Va., native usually shows out in his home state. He has three wins, 13 top-5 runs, 17 top-10 showings and a 9.25 AFP.

Hendrick Motorsports driver CHASE ELLIOTT (+900) goes off from the third spot in the starting grid. He has never won in his 10 starts at Richmond, but he has finished 24th or higher in every one of his runs at the short track. He has three top-5 runs and 36 laps led. He has been a runner-up at this track before, and at this price he is a value.

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2021 Toyota Owners 400 long-shot bets

TYLER REDDICK (+6600) is worth a look after finishing 11th in his Richmond Cup debut last season. In addition, he is still a good play for a TOP-10 FINISH AT +170.

ARIC ALMIROLA (+8000) is worth a roll of the dice at this huge price, too. He has 17 Richmond Cup starts under his belt, finishing with two top-5 runs, six top-10 finishes and a 15.53 AFP. He’s also a value play for a TOP-10 FINISH AT +210. In addition, bet ALMIROLA (-115) in best finish position in a head-to-head matchup vs. Matt DiBenedetto (-115).

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2021 Blue-Emu Maximum Pain Relief 500 at Martinsville odds, picks and prediction

Looking at the odds for Saturday’s Blue-Emu Maximum Pain Relief 500, with NASCAR odds, picks and predictions.

The NASCAR Cup Series is at Martinsville Speedway for the Blue-Emu Maximum Pain Relief 500 Saturday at 7:30 p.m. ET. Below we analyze the 2021 Blue-Emu Maximum Relief 500 odds and lines, with NASCAR picks and predictions based on the odds from BetMGM Sportsbook.

2021 Blue-Emu Maximum Pain Relief 500: What you need to know

Odds courtesy of BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports’ betting odds for a full list. Lines last updated at 10:10 a.m. ET.

The NASCAR Cup Series is back at the venerable Martinsville Speedway, with Hendrick Motorsports driver Chase Elliott as the defending champ with checkers in the fall race in the playoffs Nov. 1.

Joe Gibbs Racing’s Denny Hamlin enters with five victories at Martinsville, the active leader in wins at the track. He also leads the pack with 1,608 laps led with 15 of his 30 career runs resulting in finishes of fifth place or better.
Penske Racing’s Brad Keselowski is second among all active drivers with an Average-Finish Position (AFP) of 10.18 in his 22 career starts, winning twice with 11 finishes of fifth or better. He has also led 891 laps.
JGR’s Martin Truex Jr. has two wins in the past three starts at Martinsville, and he enters with an AFP of 17.0 in 30 career starts at the track. He has finished 10th or better in 13 of his outings, leading 987 laps.
Elliott’s race last season was the first by a Chevrolet since Oct. 20, 2016, when Jimmie Johnson picked up the win. Since that race, Toyota has three victories and Ford has four wins.

Who is going to win the 2021 Blue-Emu Pain Relief 500?

TRUEX JR. (+400) is the chalk, and again, he has two wins in the past three starts at the paper clip in Martinsville.

MTJ finished 22nd in the fall race in the playoffs in Nov. 2020, snapping a stretch of six straight races finished eighth or better, including five finishes of fourth or higher.

HAMLIN (+500) has been the gold standard at the historic track, as the Virginia native seems to always race well in his home state. The No. 11 was 11th in last fall’s race, and he was 24th in the spring. While his overall numbers are great at the track, he has had some stinkers in recent years, so be careful.

JGR’s KYLE BUSCH (+1200) is a tremendous value at this price. He was ninth last season, and 14th and 19th in the previous two stops at the track; however, that comes on the heels of a nine-race stretch finishing fifth or higher since the fall race in 2015. That includes wins in the spring race of 2016, and the fall run in 2017.

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2021 Blue-Emu Pain Relief 500 long-shot bets

MATT DIBENEDETTO (+6500) is a great value, as he looks for his first Cup victory. Hey, it’s been a season of firsts, so don’t write him off. He was 10th in the fall race in Martinsville last November, and he was seventh in last spring’s race. An AFP of 8.5 certainly raises some eyebrows. DIBENEDETTO (+170) is a solid play as a TOP 10 pick, too, at plus-money.

RYAN NEWMAN (+8000) has a win, and he has a 14.82 AFP in 38 career starts at Martinsville. The AFP is seventh among all active drivers, so a light play on Newman could be a big return with a win. At +210, he has a better chance to cash with a TOP 10 finish.

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2021 Food City Dirt Race at Bristol odds, picks and prediction

Looking at the odds for Sunday’s Food City Dirt Race, with NASCAR odds, picks and predictions.

The NASCAR Cup Series heads to Bristol Motor Speedway for the Food City Dirt Race Sunday at 3:30 p.m. ET. Below we analyze the 2021 Food City Dirt Race NASCAR odds and lines, with NASCAR picks and predictions based on the odds from BetMGM Sportsbook.

2021 Food City Dirt Race: What you need to know

Odds courtesy of BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports’ betting odds for a full list. Lines last updated at 3:59 a.m. ET.

The NASCAR Cup Series will run its first dirt race since 1970. There is a bit of a concern that the Bristol Motor Speedway will hold up. Tire wear was a major issue and the Cup drivers had many complaints after Friday’s practice.

NASCAR opted to extend the first stage by 25 laps and the second stage by 50 laps. There also will be two added competition cautions.
Hendrick Motorsports driver Alex Bowman led the first practice session with a best speed of 89.308 mph, just edging out Christopher Bell at 88.999 mph. Joe Gibbs Racing’s Kyle Busch was third at 88.898 mph, followed by teammate Denny Hamlin.
Kyle Larson rounded out the top 5 in the first practice session at 88.609 mph. While he also won the pole, he is expected to drop to the rear of the field after his crew changed engines after the final practice Friday.
Penske Racing’s Ryan Blaney led the second practice session at 89.135 mph, followed by Bowman, who led the first run. Hamlin was third at 88.986 mph after running fourth in the first session.

Who is going to win the 2021 Food City Dirt Race?

LARSON (+250) is the chalk, and it’s not even close. BELL (+550) is the next closest on the odds sheet. While Larson is expected to go to the back of the field, he and BLANEY (+2000) raced all week at this track and should have an edge with a considerable amount more knowledge than the rest of the field.

Bell has three dirt races under his belt at Eldora Speedway in the Truck Series. While the tracks are completely different, he is one of the better dirt drivers on the circuit.

As far as practice is concerned, HAMLIN (+1400) looked very good, finishing fourth or better in speed in each of his two practice sessions. AUSTIN DILLON (+1000) has a win in his three Eldora starts, and he finished 10th or better in each of those outings.

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2021 Food City Dirt Race long-shot bets

BOWMAN (+2500) looked very good in practice, leading the first session while ending up second in the second run. He is set to go off seventh in Sunday’s race, and he really looked like he had a good grasp of the track and setup on Friday.

BUBBA WALLACE (+2500) is also a driver worth keeping an eye on. In two Eldora starts in the Truck Series, Wallace has a win and a seventh-place finish.

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2021 Folds of Honor QuikTrip 500 odds, picks and prediction

Looking at the odds for Sunday’s Folds of Honor QuikTrop 500, with NASCAR odds, picks and predictions.

The NASCAR Cup Series moves to Atlanta Motor Speedway for the Folds of Honor QuikTrip 500 Sunday at 3 p.m. ET. Below we analyze the 2021 Folds of Honor QuikTrip 500 NASCAR odds and lines, with NASCAR picks and predictions based on the odds from BetMGM Sportsbook.

2021 Folds of Honor QuikTrip 500: What you need to know

Odds courtesy of BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports’ betting odds for a full list. Lines last updated at 8:15 a.m. ET.

Stewart-Haas Racing’s Kevin Harvick raced to a checkered flag in Atlanta June 7, edging out Joe Gibbs Racing’s Kyle Busch and Martin Truex Jr. Harvick led 151 of the 325 laps, with MTJ second in that category with 65 laps led.

Harvick has registered three wins and nine top-5 finishes in his 30 career Cup starts at the venerable track. Half of his 30 starts have resulted in finishes of 10th or better, and he leads all active drivers with 1,348 laps led. The next best is Kurt Busch at 803.
JGR’s Denny Hamlin is on the pole for Sunday’s race. He has just one win in his 21 Cup starts while only eight of his runs have resulted in a finish of 10th or better. His 17.33 Average-Finish Position (AFP) is 12th-best among active drivers with at least five Cup starts at the track.
Kyle Larson is back after a one-year hiatus from the circuit due to an off-track issue. While he has never won in six Cup starts in Atlanta, he is second to only Georgia native Chase Elliott with a 13.83 AFP. Three of his six starts have resulted in a top-10 run or better.
Speaking of Elliott, the Dawsonville, Ga., native has also never won at Atlanta, but he has four top-10 finishes in five career starts and he has never finished worse than 19th while leading 26 laps with a 10.0 AFP.

Who is going to win the 2021 Folds of Honor QuikTrip 500?

HARVICK (+550) is the chalk, and rightly so. He’ll be out front frequently, and he will be searching for his third win in his last four Atlanta starts. He has also finished ninth or better in each of his past six Cup starts at the track.

A Ford has been to Victory Lane in four straight Atlanta races. Harvick has won twice in the past three runs, and Penske Racing’s BRAD KESELOWSKI (+700) also has two wins in the past four Cup races at the track.

Keselowski has just 12 Cup starts in Atlanta over the years, but he has the two trips to Victory Lane, four top-5 runs and eight top-10 showings with 135 laps led and a stellar 14.6 AFP in his runs.

Teammate JOEY LOGANO (+900) is also worth a look. While the latter has never won in Atlanta, he has 195 laps led in 14 Cup runs with a pair of top-5 showings and a 16.6 AFP. Logano was 10th last season in Atlanta, and he has been 12th or better in six of his past eight appearances at the track after some uneven performances earlier in this career.

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2021 Folds of Honor QuikTrip 500 long-shot bet

TYLER REDDICK (+8000) made his first-career Cup start in Atlanta last season and finished a respectable 16th in his first go-around. Reddick started 24th in that race and will go off 29th Sunday. While I’d only go lightly on him for a straight-up win, he is a value at +210 FOR A TOP 10 FINISH.

And while he isn’t a true long-shot bet, his odds are rather moderate. KURT BUSCH (+2500) is a great value at this price. Not only is he tied with Harvick with three-career wins at this track, he was a solid sixth last season in Atlanta. Playing him straight-up for the win is fine, but I also like KURT BUSCH (+333) for a Top 5.

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2021 Instacart 500 odds, picks and prediction

Looking at the odds for Sunday’s Instacart 500 at Phoenix Raceway, with NASCAR odds, picks and predictions.

The NASCAR Cup Series moves to Phoenix Raceway for the Instacart 500 Sunday at 3:30 p.m. ET. Below we analyze the 2021 Instacart 500 NASCAR odds and lines, with NASCAR picks and predictions based on the odds from BetMGM Sportsbook.

2021 Instacart 500: What you need to know

Odds courtesy of BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports’ betting odds for a full list. Lines last updated at 12:41 a.m. ET.

Penske Racing’s Joey Logano won the FanShield 500 in Phoenix last March, giving Ford its first win at the track since the spring 2018 race. It also snapped a three-race manufacturer monopoly by Toyota.

Kyle Busch has won two of the past five NASCAR Cup Series races at Phoenix, including the spring 2019 race when starting from the fourth position. Before last fall’s 11th-place finish, Busch had been seventh or better in the previous 10 Phoenix starts, and third or better in seven of the past eight.
Penske’s Brad Keselowski is on the pole for Sunday’s race. The pole sitter hasn’t won in Phoenix in 11 races since Kevin Harvick took checkers in the CampingWorld.com 500 in the spring 2015 race.
Speaking of Harvick, he leads all drivers with nine victories and 18 top-5 finishes in his 36 NASCAR Cup Series starts at Phoenix while posting a stellar 8.92 Average-Finish Position (AFP). He also leads the way with 1,662 laps led.
Cole Custer, who appeared on the Netflix show “The Crew” with Penske’s Ryan Blaney, made his NASCAR Cup Series debut last season at Phoenix and brought it home ninth.

Who is going to win the 2021 Instacart 500?

HARVICK (+600) isn’t the favorite, but he probably should be. As mentioned above, he leads all drivers with nine checkered flags in Phoenix. Over his past 10 starts at the track he has an AFP of 4.0, second only behind Busch (2.9).

Harvick was second in last season’s spring race at Phoenix, and he has been sixth or better in 15 of his past 18 starts at the track. Happy has also finished 10th or better in 25 of his 36 career Cup starts in Avondale.

KYLE BUSCH (+800) has also been dominant, celebrating in Victory Lane three times in 31 Cup Series starts with 12 top-5 finishes, 22 top-10 runs and 1,190 laps led. He also has a 10.5 AFP, which is second among active drivers only to Harvick.

Hendrick Motorsports driver CHASE ELLIOTT (+500) is the chalk. He has one win (last season’s finale) and three top-5 finishes in 10 Cup starts at the track with an 11.8 AFP.

If you’re looking for a little more value, keep an eye on Penske’s RYAN BLANEY (+1400). He had back-to-back third-place Phoenix finishes in 2019. He has led 109 laps in his 10 career Cup starts with five of his runs results in finishes of 10th or better.

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2021 Instacart 500 long-shot bet

ARIC ALMIROLA (+3500) isn’t a true long-shot bet, but he also isn’t among the favorites, either.

The “Cuban Missile” has registered top-10 finishes in five of his past seven Phoenix Cup starts while turning in an impressive 14.8 AFP in 20 career starts at the track. He has never finished lower than 27th, and he has 33 laps led. His AFP is ninth-best among drivers with at least seven starts.

Also, don’t sleep on RYAN NEWMAN (+10000). He is one of just five active drivers with multiple checkered flags at this track, and he won as recently as the spring 2017 race here. In 36 career Phoenix starts, he has two wins, 10 top-5 runs, 12 top-10 showings, 242 laps led and a stellar 16.9 AFP.

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2021 Pennzoil 400 odds, picks and prediction

Looking at the odds for Sunday’s Pennzoil 400, with NASCAR odds, picks and predictions.

The NASCAR Cup Series heads out to the Las Vegas Motor Speedway for the Pennzoil 400 Sunday at 3:30 p.m. ET. Below we analyze the 2021 Pennzoil 400 NASCAR odds and lines, with NASCAR picks and predictions based on the odds from BetMGM Sportsbook.

2021 Pennzoil 400: What you need to know

Odds courtesy of BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports’ betting odds for a full list. Lines last updated at 9 a.m. ET.’

The Las Vegas Motor Speedway has seen a Ford win four times in the past six starts, although Chevrolet, Ford and Toyota have each had a checkered flag over the previous three stops at LVMS.

Kurt Busch won the fall race at Vegas last season in the South Point 400. Penske Racing’s Joey Logano posted a win in the Pennzoil 400 last spring.
In 15 career starts at LVMS, Logano has two wins, six top-5 finishes and 10 top-10 runs with 488 laps led and an 8.4 Average-Finish Position (AFP).
Ryan Blaney has nine runs under his belt in Las Vegas, and while he hasn’t made his way to Victory Lane, he has three top-5 showings and six top-10 performances with a 9.67 AFP, second among active drivers.
Kevin Harvick leads all active drivers with 679 career laps led in Vegas, and he has a pair of wins with seven top-5 runs and 12 top-10 finishes in his 23 career starts.

Who is going to win the 2021 Pennzoil 400?

HARVICK (+650) is on the pole and looking for his first victory at the track since the spring 2018 race. He also won the Kobalt 400 during the 2015 season when the NASCAR Cup Series ran just once per season at the track.

Penske Racing has dominated at this track, winning three of the past five NASCAR Cup races at LVMS. BRAD KESELOWSKI (+650) leads all active drivers with three checkered flags.

Keselowski not only has the three victories, but he has seven top-5 runs with 10 top-10 finishes and 282 laps led in 15 career starts. He also has an 11.4 AFP, which is third-best among drivers with at least 10 starts at the track.

Logano is the gold standard, even though he has just two victories. He has consistently ticked off top-10 finishes, and he has never finished lower than 23rd at this particular track.

If you want to look outside of the Penske stable of racers, KYLE LARSON (+1000) is your best bet. He has never won at the Nevada tri-oval, but he has three top-5 showings with six top-10 runs and a strong 10.78 AFP in his nine career starts in Vegas.

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2021 Pennzoil 400 long-shot bet

AUSTIN DILLON (+5500) has appeared on this long-shot section before.

Normally, he is a stud on the superspeedways, but he is worth a small-unit play in Las Vegas. He has two top-5 runs, and he has finished 20th or better in eight of his 11 career starts at the track. That’s good consistency, and a jump to the top of the leaderboard isn’t that big of a stretch.

MATT DIBENEDETTO (+3000) is still searching for his first-ever NASCAR Cup Series win, and in a season of first-time winners so far, why not Matty B? He has always been strong in Las Vegas, going for two top-5 finishes and an 18.6 AFP in his eight career starts. He was a runner-up last February at this race, and expectations are rather high.

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2021 Dixie Vodka 400 odds, predictions and picks

Previewing Sunday’s Dixie Vodka 400 odds and lines, with NASCAR picks, tips, analysis and predictions.

The NASCAR Cup Series heads down to the Homestead-Miami Speedway for the Dixie Vodka 400 at 3 p.m. ET. Below we analyze the 2021 Dixie Vodka 400 NASCAR odds and lines, with NASCAR picks and tips with odds from BetMGM sportsbook.

2021 Dixie Vodka 400: What you need to know

Odds courtesy of BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports’ betting odds for a full list. Lines last updated at 9:15 a.m. ET.

Joe Gibbs Racing’s Denny Hamlin is the defending champ at this race, taking the checkered flag from the pole position last season. He was the first winner from the pole at HMS since Kurt Busch won the 2002 Ford 400 at the track.

Toyota has won three of the past four races at this track, and a Toyota has been to Victory Lane in five of the past eight races at Homestead-Miami, with one win by Ford and two by Chevrolet during the eight-year span.
Stewart-Haas Racing’s Kevin Harvick heads into this one with one win, 11 Top 5s, 17 Top 10s and 414 laps led in 20 career starts at this track, leading all drivers with a 7.4 Average-Finish Position (AFP).
Hamlin leads all active drivers with three victories at Homestead, followed by teammate Kyle Busch with two checkered flags in his 16 career HMS starts. JGR’s Martin Truex Jr. also has one win and a 10.3 AFP in his 16 career starts.

Who is going to win the 2021 Dixie Vodka 400?

HAMLIN (+500) is the chalky play, leading all active drivers with three wins at the track. He heads into this one with eight consecutive top-10 runs, and he has victories in two of his past eight starts at the track since Nov. 2013.

A JGR car will be the best bet this weekend. Besides Hamlin, KYLE BUSCH (+1000) has been sixth or better in each of his past six starts at the track, while TRUEX JR. (+700) has been second or better in three of his past four starts at HMS with one win.

Another JGR car to watch is the No. 20 of CHRISTOPHER BELL (+2500). He finished eighth in his only career start in the NASCAR Cup Series at Homestead last season, and he is coming in with a ton of momentum after winning last week on the Daytona road course.

Looking outside of the JGR stable of cars, Hendrick’s CHASE ELLIOTT (+550) was a runner-up last season at this track. He has been 11th or better in four of his five career starts at Homestead, posting an 8.0 AFP.

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2021 Dixie Vodka 400 long-shot bet

AUSTIN DILLON (+4000) is usually best on superspeedways, but he has been a quick learner at Homestead-Miami Speedway and the tri-oval. He has posted a fantastic 12.6 AFP in his seven career starts with two top-10 showings. He has improved in every one of his starts at the track, too, going from 25th to 14th to 12th to 11th (twice) to eighth and then to seventh last season.

BUBBA WALLACE (+6000) of 23XI Racing is worth a roll of the dice at this price tag. Hey, we’ve had two first-time winners through the first two NASCAR Cup Series races. So why not Bubba this week?

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O’Reilly Auto Parts 253 at Daytona Road Course odds, predictions and picks

Previewing Sunday’s O’Reilly Auto Parts 253 at Daytona Road Course NASCAR odds and lines, with NASCAR picks, tips, analysis and predictions.

The NASCAR Cup Series remains at Daytona International Speedway, but this Sunday’s race will be on the Daytona Road Course for the O’Reilly Auto Parts 253 at 3 p.m. ET. Below we analyze the O’Reilly Auto Parts 253 NASCAR odds and lines, with NASCAR picks and tips with odds from BetMGM sportsbook.

O’Reilly Auto Parts 253: What you need to know

Odds courtesy of BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports’ betting odds for a full list. Lines last updated at 2 a.m. ET.

Unlike last weekend’s Daytona 500, weather isn’t expected to be a factor as the forecast calls for temperatures in the 60’s with partly cloudy conditions and very little chance of precipitation.

Chase Elliott (Hendrick Motorsports) won the Busch Pole Award for Sunday’s race with Daytona 500 champ Michael McDowell (Front Row Motorsports) starting next to him on Row 1. Elliott edged Joe Gibbs Racing’s Denny Hamlin by 0.202 seconds for last year’s win on the road course – it was the inaugural race on the new Daytona configuration. Elliott led 34 of the 65 laps last year with JGR’s Martin Truex Jr. finishing third.
Remember A.J. Allmendinger? He is starting 34th for Kaulig Racing, doing a one-off in the No. 16 car for Sunday’s road-course race.
Since 2018, Truex Jr. has two wins in eight road-course starts with seven top-10 finishes. His Average-Finish Position (AFP) of 4.63 leads all active drivers during the span. Elliott is next with five wins, 231 laps led and a 6.5 AFP with one DNF skewing his average.
23XI Racing’s Bubba Wallace has been a disaster in road-course racing. In eight road starts since February 2018, Wallace hasn’t finished better than 21st and owns a dismal 26.8 AFP.

Who is going to win the O’Reilly Auto Parts 253?

ELLIOTT (+200) is the chalk, and rightly so. If not for a 37th-place finish last season at Sonoma, his road-course numbers would be even more ridiculous. As it stands, he has five victories in the past eight road-course starts, and he is on the pole. What’s not to like?

Elliott has ended up with six top-5 finishes, and seven top-10 runs in the past eight road-course starts with 231 laps led. He also has a 5.4 Average-Start Position, and he will lower that Sunday when he goes off from the inside of Row 1.

TRUEX JR. (+400) is one of the most consistent road-course drivers. It wasn’t always that way for the New Jersey native, but since February 2018, he has finished 14th or better with 142 laps led with a Driver Rating Average of 122.1.

HAMLIN (+1000) has a little bit longer of odds than Truex and Elliott. That likely can be attributed to the fact he hasn’t won in his past eight road-course starts. He was a runner-up on this configuration last season, and he has 26 laps led during the eight-race span with a 9.9 AFP.

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O’Reilly Auto Parts 253 long-shot bet

CHRIS BUESCHER (+12500) of Roush Fenway Racing is a long shot, but if you’re looking to invest a small amount for a potential big pay day, look to Buescher. In his past eight road-course starts, Buescher has been 20th or better, registering one top 5 and one top 10, while turning in a respectable 15.1 AFP. He finished fifth in this race a year ago and is worth a roll of the dice Sunday.

MATT DIBENEDETTO (+5000) of Wood Brothers Racing doesn’t have nearly the same type of odds as Buescher, but he is a long shot nonetheless, and a good value. Like Buescher, DiBenedetto has a 15.1 AFP across his past eight road-course starts, ending up in the top 10 twice with one top 5. He was 15th at the inaugural Daytona road-course race last season.

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Daytona 500 odds, picks and prediction

Previewing Sunday’s Daytona 500 sports odds and lines, with NASCAR picks, tips, analysis and prediction.

The NASCAR Cup Series kicks off the 2021 season at Daytona International Speedway Sunday at 2:30 p.m. ET for the Daytona 500. Below we analyze the Daytona 500 NASCAR odds and lines, with NASCAR picks and tips with odds from BetMGM sportsbook.

Daytona 500: What you need to know

Odds courtesy of BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports’ betting odds for a full list. Lines last updated Saturday at 4:18 p.m. ET.

The Cup Series is scheduled to kick off its 2021 season Sunday for the Great American Race, the Daytona 500. However, we’ll have to keep a close eye on the sky. There is greater than a 60 percent chance of showers from mid-afternoon through the early evening in Daytona Beach, Fla., so a delay and/or postponement seems likely given the ominous forecast.

Monday’s forecast calls for mostly clear in the morning with a 40 percent chance of scattered thunderstorms moving in around 1 p.m. ET. But there is an open window in the event the race is postponed Sunday.

Kyle Busch won the Busch Clash at Daytona on Tuesday night on the road course. While that certainly doesn’t mean sure success on the tri-oval, it gives Busch a springboard into the new season after a disastrous 2020.
Busch’s Joe Gibbs Racing teammate Denny Hamlin has won each of the past two Daytona 500 races. In last year’s win, he was originally slotted in the 21st starting position but was moved to the back of the pack due to multiple failed inspections. In 30 career starts at the track he has three wins, 10 top-5 finishes and a 16.33 Average-Finish Position (AFP).
Richard Childress Racing’s Austin Dillon picked up the checkered flag at the 500 in 2018. Good finishes on the restrictor-plate track are nothing new for Dillon. In 15 career starts at DIS, he has the 2018 win, two top-5 finishes, seven top-10 runs and a pole in 2014. He also has a stellar 15.53 AFP on the Florida superspeedway.
Bubba Wallace will make his debut for owner Michael Jordan’s 23XI Racing, running in the No. 23 car. He was the runner-up to Dillon in 2018, posting the highest finish by an African-American driver in the 500. Bubba was fastest in Wednesday’s practice.

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Who is going to win the Daytona 500?

HAMLIN (+500) is the chalk, but you have to figure it’s time for someone else. The No. 11 has been to Victory Lane in each of the past two seasons in the Super Bowl of Stock Car Racing. Hamlin’s two wins, and three victories in the past five seasons, gives manufacturer Toyota checkered flags in three of the past five Daytona 500 races.

Hamlin joined Sterling Marlin (1994-95), Cale Yarborough (1983-84) and Richard Petty (1973-74) as the only drivers to win the Daytona 500 in consecutive seasons. No one has ever won the Daytona 500 in three straight years.

Stewart-Haas Racing’s KEVIN HARVICK (+1200) has some rather long odds given his previous success at the track. He has made 39 career starts on the Daytona tri-oval, posting two wins, 10 top-5 finishes, 262 laps led and a sharp 17.6 AFP. He also has eight DNFs at the track, second-most among active drivers behind KYLE BUSCH (+1400), so there is some risk.

Penske Racing’s JOEY LOGANO (+900) is looking to get back to Victory Lane at the 500 for the first time since 2015. He owns an impressive 18.17 AFP in 24 career DIS starts, including nine finishes of 10th or better with 156 laps led.

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Daytona 500 long-shot bet

RICKY STENHOUSE JR. (+2500) of JTG Daugherty Racing was on the pole last season and was fifth fastest in qualifying at 189.565 mph. He is always a driver to watch on the superspeedways, especially Daytona. He has a win in 17 career starts, 121 laps led and 10 finishes of 20th or better while going for a solid 19.59 AFP.

ARIC ALMIROLA (+1800) doesn’t have quite as long of odds, but he is worth a look. He appeared to be on his way to a win at the 500 in 2018, but he was bumped by Dillon and sent careening into the wall. He does have a career win in Daytona in the summer race, and he has 10 finishes of 20th or better in 18 career starts with a 20.56 AFP.

Want action on this race? Sign up and bet at BetMGM. For more sports betting picks and tips, visit SportsbookWire.com. Please gamble responsibly.

Follow @JoeWilliamsVI on Twitter. Follow SportsbookWire on Twitter and like us on Facebook.

Gannett may earn revenue from audience referrals to betting services. Newsrooms are independent of this relationship and there is no influence on news coverage.

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