Category: NASCAR odds

Series Finale 500 at Phoenix odds, picks and prediction

Previewing Sunday’s Season Finale 500 at Phoenix Raceway sports betting odds and lines, with NASCAR analysis and prediction.

The NASCAR Cup Series wraps up the 2020 season at Phoenix Raceway Sunday at 3 p.m. ET for the Season Finale 500. Below, we analyze the Season Finale 500 odds and betting lines, with NASCAR picks and tips with odds from BetMGM sportsbook.

Season Finale 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 6:28 a.m. ET.

The Cup Series winds up its playoffs in Phoenix, crowning a championship at the track for the first time. From 2002 to 2019 a champion had been crowned at Homestead-Miami Speedway. Hendrick Motorsports driver Chase Elliott (+450 for Sunday’s 500) is on the Busch pole. He finished seventh in the FanShield in the first stop at Phoenix back on March 8.

  • Elliott has managed a 13.0 Average-Finish Position (AFP) in his nine career Cup starts in Phoenix, posting two top-5 finishes and five runs inside the top 10. That includes a runner-up finish in the fall ’17 installment.
  • Penske Racing’s Joey Logano won the FanShield 500 in the first stop at Phoenix, and he has posted three straight top-10 finishes. However, he has a 14.1 AFP across the past 10 Cups starts in Phoenix with four finishes of 18th or lower during the span. He is one of four drivers vying for the overall series title, and he starts on the outside of Row 1 next to Elliott.
  • Joe Gibbs Racing’s Denny Hamlin won the fall stop in Phoenix last season, and he has finished fifth or better in three of his past five runs. He was a dismal 20th earlier this season. He will go off fourth in Sunday’s race.
  • Penske’s Brad Keselowski is also vying for a title, and he’ll go off third in Sunday’s starting grid. He has posted a very ordinary 13.0 AFP across his past 10 starts at Phoenix, including finishes of 19th, 10th and 11th in his past three runs at the flat track.

Who is going to win the Season Finale 500?

KEVIN HARVICK (+425) is the chalk, and it will be interesting to see how he responds Sunday. He was shockingly eliminated from the championship after last week’s 17th-place finish at Martinsville. He will not be running for a title despite the fact he could finish as the only driver this season with double-digit wins if he claims checkers.

Harvick has been Mr. Phoenix over the years. He has finished ninth or better in 10 straight starts at the track, and he has turned in two victories and nine finishes of sixth or better since the Fall ’15 Phoenix race.

JGR’s KYLE BUSCH (+900) is also outside of the top four, and he will not be running for a title. He won back-to-back starts in Phoenix in the Fall ’18 and Spring ’19 runs, and he has been third or better in each of his past five starts at the Arizona flat track. He picked up his first win of the season just two races ago, and he could finish up strong and build momentum for 2021 with a win here.

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You cannot ignore the “Top 4” running for a title, however. Among the championship contenders, HAMLIN (+500) has been the most consistent over the years. He won last season’s fall run at the track, and outside of Harvick, Hamlin has probably been the hottest and most consistent driver this season. Hamlin has never won the series championship, but if he can win Sunday, he would give JGR its fourth series title in the past six seasons. He’s a good bet to do just that.

Series Finale 500 long-shot bet

ARIC ALMIROLA (+4000) is a solid value at this price, as he has turned in five top-10 finishes in his past six starts, including a pair of fourth-place runs. Overall, he has six top-10 showings with 26 laps led in 19 career Cup starts at the track, turning in a respectable 14.89 AFP.

Lastly, we say good-bye to JIMMIE JOHNSON (+6500) and CLINT BOWYER (+6500), as the duo are calling it a career after Sunday’s race. The seven-time Cup champion Johnson has four wins in 34 career Cup starts at Phoenix with a 10.34 AFP, second-best to Harvick among drivers with at least two Cup starts. Bowyer hasn’t been as consistent in the Arizona desert, managing a 17.9 AFP in 30 Cup starts. However, both are worth a small-unit bet as they make their final start, especially with exceptionally long odds.

NASCAR Cup Championship odds

  • Elliott +240
  • Hamlin +240
  • Logano +275
  • Keselowski +300

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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.

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Xfinity 500 at Martinsville odds, picks and prediction

Previewing Sunday’s Xfinity 500 at Martinsville Speedway sports betting odds and lines, with NASCAR analysis and prediction.

The NASCAR Cup Series heads back to Martinsville Speedway Sunday at 2 p.m. ET for the Xfinity 500. Below, we analyze the Xfinity 500 odds and betting lines, with NASCAR picks and tips with odds from BetMGM sportsbook.

Xfinity 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 8:30 a.m. ET.

The Cup Series continues its playoffs with the Virginia race. Penske Racing driver Brad Keselowski (+550 for Sunday’s 500) is on the Busch pole. He was third in the spring race, and has finished 10th or better in nine straight Martinsville Cup starts, including eight finishes of fifth or better.

  • Keselowski has won just twice in 21 Cup starts at “The Big Paperclip,” but he has 10 top-5 showings and 15 top-10 results with 888 laps led and a 10.48 Average-Finish Position (AFP), third-best among all active drivers.
  • Joe Gibbs Racing’s Martin Truex Jr. posted a win in the spring race at Martinsville, and he has back-to-back victories at the track while rattling off finishes of fourth or better in five of his past six at the short track.
  • Penske’s Ryan Blaney was the runner-up in the first run this season at the venerable Virginia track. He has three consecutive top-5 finishes in the Cup Series at Martinsville.
  • Starting spot matters at Martinsville, as the past three winners have started fifth or better, and nine of the past 10 drivers to claim checkers have started 10th or higher.

Who is going to win the Xfinity 500?

TRUEX JR. (+350) is the chalk, and rightly so, as he has back-to-back victories at this track. He is also hungry for a win after getting edged out by teammate Kyle Busch at Texas on Wednesday. MTJ needs a victory to punch his ticket into the final four for a possible championship. He needs a third-consecutive checkered flag, which is difficult at any track, but anything less will not do. Truex goes off second on Sunday.

MTJ has the two straight wins, but there is still risk, as he has only seven top-5 finishes and 13 top-10 runs in 29 career Cup starts at Martinsville, posting a rather pedestrian 16.83 AFP.

JGR’s DENNY HAMLIN (+550) is the last driver to come away with at least three consecutive wins at Martinsville. The Virginia native is tied with Keselowski for the second-shortest odds on the board. Hamlin ran into trouble in the Blue Emu Maximum Pain Relief 500, the last start at Martinsville, but he had three straight top-5 finishes at the track before that. He is also second among active drivers with five grandfather clocks in the shop – Martinsville awards a grandfather clock to the winner of this race. Hamlin is set to start fourth on Sunday.

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Hendrick’s ALEX BOWMAN (+2000), who starts third in the grid, has some longer odds, but is worth a small-unit play. He has had mixed results in his previous five Cup starts at the track, but he was a solid sixth in the spring race.

Xfinity 500 long-shot bet

It’s now or never for Hendrick Motorsports driver JIMMIE JOHNSON (+3500), who wraps up his stellar career in two weeks. He hasn’t won in an eternity, and it would be a storybook finish to grab checkers at Martinsville. He has done it nine times before, and he was a respectable 10th in the spring run. Johnson will have his work cut out, however, as he starts 27th.

Don’t forget about CLINT BOWYER (+3500), either. He is also calling it a career, and he could make noise at Martinsville for one last hurrah. Bowyer won the spring 2018 installment at Martinsville, a race run on a Monday because of a postponement due to snow. Four of his past seven runs have been good for seventh place or better at this place. Bowyer goes off 16th.

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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.

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Autotrader EchoPark Automotive 500 at Texas odds, picks and prediction

Previewing Sunday’s Autotrader EchoPark Automotive 500 at Texas Motor Speedway sports betting odds and lines, with NASCAR analysis and prediction.

The NASCAR Cup Series heads back to Texas Motor Speedway Sunday at 3:30 p.m. ET for the Autotrader EchoPark Automotive 500. Below, we analyze the Autotrader EchoPark Automotive 500 odds and betting lines, with NASCAR picks and tips with odds from BetMGM sportsbook.

Autotrader EchoPark Automotive 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 5:15 p.m. ET.

The Cup Series continues its playoffs at Texas, with Stewart-Haas Racing driver Kevin Harvick (+260 for Sunday’s race) on the Busch pole. He finished fifth in the first scheduled Cup race at Texas back in July.

  • Harvick has 10 consecutive finishes inside the top 10 at Texas, and he has posted three wins, 12 top 5s and 23 top 10s with 654 laps led in 35 career Cup starts at the track with a 10.23 Average-Finish Position (AFP).
  • Rookie Tyler Reddick made his Texas Cup Series debut back in July, and he ended as the runner-up to Austin Dillon in the impressive first start.
  • The third-longest active streak of top-10 results at Texas belongs to Joe Gibbs Racing driver Erik Jones, who has finished 10th or better in six consecutive starts at the track. Kurt Busch is second with seven straight finishes of 10th or better.
  • Ganassi Racing’s Matt Kenseth has the best AFP (9.74) of all active drivers with at least nine Cup starts in Texas, posting two wins, 14 top 5s and 19 top 10s in 31 career starts with 883 laps led.

Who is going to win the Autotrader EchoPark Automotive 500?

HARVICK (+260) is the chalk for a reason, as he has posted three victories in his past six starts at Texas Motor Speedway, and he owns a 4.1 AFP across his past 10 Cup Series starts in Fort Worth.

JGR’s Kyle Busch (+1200) has the second-closest AFP (8.3) behind Harvick (min. two starts). That’s how dominant Harvick has been since the Fall ’15 Cup Series race at TMS.

Last week’s winner at Kansas, Penske Racing’s JOEY LOGANO (+700), has posted an 8.8 AFP across his past 10 Texas starts, finishing seventh or better in eight of those nine starts. He was third back in the July installment.

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If you want slightly longer odds, ARIC ALMIROLA (+2500) is worth a look. He heads into Sunday’s race with four consecutive top-10 showings at Texas, posting an AFP of 6.7. He was 10th in July’s Cup Series stop in Fort Worth.

Autotrader EchoPark Automotive 500 long-shot bet

Time is starting to tick down on the Cup Series career of Hendrick Motorsports driver JIMMIE JOHNSON (+4000). He hasn’t won since June 2017 at Dover, but perhaps Texas will be the final win of his career. The seven-time series champ has hoisted the checkered flags and fired the celebratory six-shooters into the air seven times at Texas, most of any driver, and he has 16 top-5 showings with 22 top-10 runs in 34 career starts. His 10.85 AFP is third-best among drivers with at least nine Cup starts at the track, and he has led a circuit-best 1,152 laps.

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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.

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Hollywood Casino 400 at Kansas odds, picks and best bets

Previewing Sunday’s Hollywood Casino 400 at Kansas Speedway sports betting odds and lines, with NASCAR analysis and picks.

The NASCAR Cup Series moves to Kansas Speedway Sunday at 2:50 p.m. ET for the Hollywood Casino 400. Below, we analyze the Hollywood Casino 400 odds and betting lines, with NASCAR picks and tips with odds from BetMGM sportsbook.

Hollywood Casino 400: What you need to know

Odds courtesy of BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports’ betting odds for a full list. Lines last updated Thursday at 1:45 p.m. ET.

The Cup Series continues its playoffs at Kansas. Joe Gibbs Racing driver Denny Hamlin (+425 for Sunday’s race) won the first stop this season at Kansas back on July 23, passing Stewart-Haas Racing’s Kevin Harvick (+425) in the closing laps while edging Penske Racing’s Brad Keselowski (+800) for the checkered flag.

  • Harvick has posted three wins, nine top 5s and 16 top 10s with 864 laps led in 29 career Cup starts at Kansas. His 9.59 Average-Finish Position leads all active drivers with at least two starts at the track.
  • Rookie Cole Custer made his Kansas Cup debut back in July, and he ended up with an impressive seventh-place finish.
  • JGR’s Martin Truex Jr. has finished 13th or better in each of his past nine Kansas Cup starts, including two wins and five finished of fourth or better.
  • JGR’s Erik Jones has finished seventh or better in each of his past five Kansas Cup starts, posting a 5.2 AFP.

Who is going to win the Hollywood Casino 400?

TRUEX JR. (+500) has been one of the most consistent Cup drivers at Kansas in recent seasons, including a fourth-place run back on July 23.

Truex has a 7.7 AFP in his past 10 starts at Kansas, second-best behind Harvick with a minimum of two cup races. He and Harvick each have two victories during the past eight Kansas starts.

HARVICK (+425) is looking for redemption at Kansas after getting edged out in the most recent race there. He heads into the Round of 8 with a 45-point cushion over the fifth-place spot, but he’d obviously like to grab a win and punch his ticket to the final four. With his history at Kansas, he is a good bet as he has finished ninth or better in seven of his past nine Cup starts at the track, including two wins and five top-5 runs.

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If you’re looking for slightly longer odds, KURT BUSCH (+2200) sits in the eighth and final spot in the Round of 8, and he’d love to work his way into the final four. This has been a good track for the elder Busch bro, as he has five top-10 finishes in his past six Cup starts, including a ninth-place run in July. ALEX BOWMAN (+2200), at the same price as Busch, has finished 11th or better in each of his past four Kansas Cup runs, good for a 7.5 AFP. He is also a strong value.

Hollywood Casino 400 long-shot bet

Wouldn’t it be amazing to see Sunflower State native CLINT BOWYER (+5000) claim checkers in his final Cup start at his home track? He’s a bit of a sentimental pick, although he has posted a respectable 9.0 AFP in his past three Kansas Cup starts.

JONES (+3500) is on the outside looking in for the Cup Series playoffs, but he is a solid value at Kansas. His past five Cup starts in Kansas have resulted in finishes of seventh or better, good for an outstanding 5.2 AFP. What’s not to like?

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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.

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Cook Out Southern 500 at Darlington odds, picks and best bets

Previewing Sunday’s Cook Out Southern 500 at Darlington Raceway sports betting odds and lines, with NASCAR analysis and picks.

The NASCAR Cup Series returns to Darlington Raceway Sunday at 6:15 p.m. ET for the Cook Out Southern 500. Below, we analyze the Southern 500 odds and betting lines, with NASCAR picks and tips with odds from BetMGM sportsbook.

Southern 500: What you need to know

Odds courtesy of BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports’ betting odds for a full list. Lines last updated at 6:23 a.m. ET.

The NASCAR Cup Series heads back to Darlington Raceway for the first playoff race. Kevin Harvick (+325 for Sunday’s race) won the first race at this track after the restart back in mid-May, with Denny Hamlin (+350) claiming the second end of that week’s doubleheader. There will be no twin races this weekend, but way more is on the line as the drive for the championship begins.

  • Harvick dominated the race on May 17, leading 159 of the 293 laps, starting from the sixth position and winding up in first place. He also finished third in the second end of the doubleheader on May 20.
  • Hamlin placed fifth in that May 17 race, and he went from 16th to first in the mid-week race May 20, leading 12 laps. It was one of six checkered flags he has earned this season.
  • Joe Gibbs Racing driver Erik Jones (+1800) didn’t win either of the races back in May, but he was a solid eighth and fifth in the two starts. In fact, in five career Cup starts at Darlington he has never finished worse than fifth, earning a win and an Average-Finish Position (AFP) of 5.4.
  • Besides Harvick, Hamlin and Jones, JGR’s Martin Truex Jr. (+800) was the only other driver to earn a top-10 finish or better in both ends of the Darlington doubleheader in May.

Who is going to win the Southern 500?

You can never overlook DENNY HAMLIN. He has three wins in 16 career Cup starts at “The Lady in Black,” and he has nine finishes inside the top 5 and 13 runs of 10th or better. His 7.19 AFP is best among all active drivers with at least six Cup starts.

Hamlin has led 574 laps in his career at Darlington, third-most on the circuit behind Harvick (750) and Hamlin’s JGR teammate Kyle Busch (716).

Speaking of KYLE BUSCH (+1000), he was 26th in the race Harvick won, but was runner-up in the mid-week race behind Hamlin. The 2019 Cup Series champ has yet to win a race this season, although he has finished second on three occasions. He has a 7.4 AFP over his past 10 Cup starts at Darlington, second-best among all drivers with at least six starts. He is a great value at this price and more than due.

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KURT BUSCH (+2200) is also an interesting play. He has never won in 25 career starts at this track, but he has 10 top-10 finishes and a respectable 15.88 AFP. He has finished seventh or better in four of his previous five starts, inching closer to Victory Lane at the “Track Too Tough to Tame.”

Darlington Raceway long-shot bets

Jones could be considered a long-shot bet at +1800, but don’t sleep on rookie TYLER REDDICK (+5000). He was seventh and 13th in the two May races, his first two Cup starts at this venerable and difficult track.

In addition, watch out for JIMMIE JOHNSON (+2800). After failing to make the playoffs with a flame-out last week at Daytona, he isn’t going to sulk and go quietly into the night. The seven-time champion still has something to prove in his final stretch, and he is a three-time champ at the South Carolina track, tied for most among active drivers. He hasn’t won since June 2017, and this would make missing the playoffs in his final season feel a whole lot better.

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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.

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Coke Zero Sugar 400 at Daytona odds, picks and best bets

Previewing Saturday’s Coke Zero Sugar 400 at Daytona International Speedway sports betting odds and lines, with NASCAR analysis, picks and tips.

The NASCAR Cup Series rolls back down to Daytona International Speedway for the Coke Zero Sugar 400. The green flag drops Saturday at 7:30 p.m. ET (televised on NBC). Below, we analyze the Coke Zero Sugar 400 odds and betting lines, with NASCAR picks and tips with odds from BetMGM sportsbook.

Coke Zero Sugar 400: What you need to know

Odds courtesy of BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports’ betting odds for a full list. Lines last updated Saturday at 2:25 a.m. ET.

Stewart-Haas Racing’s Kevin Harvick is on the pole for Saturday’s night race at DIS, although his numbers at this superspeedway are surprisingly poor.

  • Harvick has managed just one finish better than 19th place in his past eight starts at Daytona, posting a surprisingly dismal 25.5 Average-Finish Position (AFP) across his past eight Cup starts at the Florida superspeedway.
  • Joe Gibbs Racing’s Martin Truex Jr. will start on the outside of Row 1 next to Harvick. He has finished better than 13th just once in his past eight starts at Daytona, including a poor 32nd-place finish in February’s Daytona 500.
  • Corey LaJoie of GoFas Racing has been strong at DIS, posting finishes of sixth in last July’s race, and eighth in February’s 500.
  • Spire Motorsports driver Justin Haley won the rain-shortened Coke Zero Sugar 400 last July in just his third-ever Cup start, but he isn’t even in Saturday’s field.

Who will the top finishers be in the Coke Zero Sugar 400?

DENNY HAMLIN (+600 for Saturday’s race) won the Daytona 500 back in February, and he also seems to find himself in position to at least challenge at the superspeedway.

Hamlin has won the Daytona 500 each of the past two seasons, and he has an impressive 13.1 AFP across his past 10 Cup starts at this track.

Penske Racing’s RYAN BLANEY (+1200) is the driver from his team to target. He has unfinished business, ending as the runner-up to Hamlin in February’s race. Teammate Brad Keselowski (+1100) has a win at Daytona in July 2016, but he has a rather uneven 26.3 AFP across the past 10 starts, while teammate Joey Logano (+1100) is slightly better with a 17.1 AFP, but he was 26th in the 500 back in February and 25th in last summer’s run.

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JIMMIE JOHNSON (+2000) can use another strong finish to keep his hopes alive for a playoff spot in his final season. He was third in last summer’s July race at Daytona, and has a pair of top-10 runs in his previous three starts. It’s now or never for the seven-time series champ, and he is worth a small-unit play.

Daytona International Speedway long-shot bets

RYAN NEWMAN (+4000) has some rather long odds, but he actually leads all drivers with a 10.7 AFP across the past 10 starts at Daytona (minimum three starts). He was ninth in the Daytona 500, a race which ended with a horrific crash and an injury. How amazing of a story would it be for Newman to return with a win?

CHRIS BUESCHER (+4000) has posted a solid 11.7 AFP across his past three starts this season, including a fifth-place run in the inaugural Daytona road race. He was an outstanding third in the 500 back in February, too, so there is something about this place which agrees with him. He has three top-5 runs in his past five Cup starts on the superspeedway setup at DIS, too.

Lastly, TY DILLON (+8000) is worthy of a little love. He was an awful 30th in the 500 in February, but he was sixth, sixth and fourth in his previous three Daytona starts.

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

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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.

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Drydene 311 at Dover Race 2 odds, picks and best bets

Previewing Sunday’s Drydene 311 at Daytona International Speedway sports betting odds and lines, with NASCAR analysis, picks and tips.

The NASCAR Cup Series completes the weekend doubleheader at Dover International Speedway for the Drydene 311 Sunday. The green flag drops Sunday at 4 p.m. ET (televised on NBCSN). Below, we analyze the Drydene 311 odds and betting lines, with NASCAR picks and tips with odds from BetMGM sportsbook.

Drydene 311 – Race 2: What you need to know

Odds courtesy of BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports’ betting odds for a full list. Lines last updated at 11:40 a.m. ET.

Joe Gibbs Racing driver Denny Hamlin slipped past teammate Martin Truex Jr. for the victory in Saturday’s first race of the weekend doubleheader.

  • While MTJ didn’t win, he was able to post his second consecutive runner-up finish after taking checkers in the spring 2019 race. His ridiculous 1.67 Average-Finish Position (AFP) is easily the best among active drivers over the past three Dover Cups Series starts.
  • Hendrick Motorsports driver Jimmie Johnson had to settle for seventh place Saturday, as his win drought is now 118. His last Cup Series checkered flag came June 5, 2017 at this very track.
  • Toyota has won two of the past three DIS starts, and five of the past nine Cup runs at the Monster Mile since the start of the 2016 season.
  • Hamlin won Saturday’s race, edging Truex. The last Cup driver to win both Dover races in a single season was Johnson during the 2009 campaign.

Who will the top finishers be in the Drydene 311 – Race 2?

TRUEX JR. (+400 for Sunday’s race) is always dangerous at Dover, posting three career Cup wins at his unofficial home track, including his first-career checkered flag at the Autism Speaks 400 at Dover in Spring 2017.

Truex has finished fourth or better at Dover in seven of his past eight Cup starts, including wins in the Fall 2017 and Spring 2019 races.

Hendrick’s CHASE ELLIOTT (+800) was a respectable fifth in Saturday’s Drydene 311, following up his checkered flag performance in the inaugural race on the Daytona Road Course last weekend. In nine career Cup starts at the Monster Mile, Dawsonville’s Elliott has rattled off seven finishes inside the top 5, including a win in the Fall 2018 race.

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Is it possible for JGR’s KYLE BUSCH (+800) to fly under the radar? He was a very quiet third in Saturday’s run, as he is still searching for the first elusive checkered flag of the season. While 2020 has been weird on numerous levels outside the sporting world, Busch’s goose egg in the win column might actually be the strangest thing that has happened in NASCAR. He could end that at any point, and the 18 looked strong Saturday.

Dover International Speedway long-shot bets

Hendrick’s JIMMIE JOHNSON (+2000) has 11 victories at this track. He is retiring after this season, and even his biggest haters probably want to see him in the playoffs in his final ride off into the sunset. OK, probably not. But it’s now or never, as the regular season is winding down. This is his best chance at a win this season, and a good way to make the playoffs. He could still make the playoffs without a victory, but remember, he missed a start in Indianapolis due to a positive COVID-19 test, so it’s gonna be a tight squeeze on points.

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

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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.

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Indy 500 betting odds, picks and best bets

Previewing Sunday’s Indianapolis 500 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway sports betting odds and lines, with IndyCar Series analysis, picks and tips.

The 104th running of the Indianapolis 500 is set for Sunday at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, previously scheduled for May 24. The green flag drops at 1 p.m. ET with the race televised on NBC. Below, we analyze the Indianapolis 500 odds and betting lines, with IndyCar Series picks and tips with odds from BetMGM sportsbook.

Indy 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 11:30 a.m. ET.

Team Penske’s Simon Pagenaud kissed the bricks and drank the celebratory milk after taking checkers in the most recent installment of the Indy 500 on May 26, 2019.

  • Team Penske has won back-to-back Indy 500’s, with Will Power winning May 27, 2018. The historic owner also has three Indy wins in the past five starts, as Juan Pablo Montoya raced to the win on May 24, 2015.
  • Pagenaud will start on Row 9, with Power going off from Row 8.
  • Marco Andretti edged out Scott Dixon during “Fast Nine” qualifying last Sunday by .017, so Andretti will lead the field to the green flag. Dixon, the 2008 Indy 500 winner, will also still start on Row 1.
  • Seven drivers in the starting grid have won the Indianapolis 500, including Helio Castroneves with three Indy victories.

Who is going to win the Indianapolis 500?

DIXON (+450) is the chalk for the 104th running of the Indy 500, and he is looking for his second brick kiss. He picked up three straight wins to kick off the 2020 season, winning the Genesys 300 on June 6, GMR Grand Prix on July 4, as well as Race 1 of the Grand Prix at Road America on July 11. Five of his six finishes are inside the top 5, and he sits atop the IndyCar Series standings with 244 points.

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PAGENAUD (+1400), the defending 500 champ, sits second in the overall standings. If he is to repeat, he’ll have to win all the way from Row 9. We haven’t had a back-to-back winner since Castroneves in 2001 and 2002, but Pagenaud has the goods to break that drought.

JOSEF NEWGARDEN (+1000) doesn’t have an Indy 500 win, but there’s a first time for everything. He has been on a roll, sitting third in the standings with one victory and 191 points. Newgarden won in the second end of the doubleheader in Iowa last time out, and he has back-to-back top-5 finishes. No one is hotter lately.

Indianapolis 500 long-shot bets

If you’re looking for a dark horse, look no further than Arrow McLaren SP driver PATO O’WARD (+4000). He is fourth in standings with 162 points, ahead of the likes of Power and Graham Rahal. O’Ward will fly under the radar leading up to Sunday’s big race, and he is a tremendous value. He enters with four finishes of eighth or better in his past five starts, including a runner-up finish in Race 2 at the Grand Prix at Road America on July 12.

Andretti Motorsport driver COLTON HERTA (+2000) isn’t as big of an underdog as O’Ward, but he is still a pretty strong value. He is seventh in the overall standings with 140 points, and he is on a roll with three top-5 finishes, including a season-best, fourth-place finish at the GMR Grand Prix on July 4. He struggled in Iowa in a doubleheader in mid-July, but other than that he has been rock solid.

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Drydene 311 at Dover Race 1 odds, picks and best bets

Previewing Saturday’s Drydene 311 at Daytona International Speedway sports betting odds and lines, with NASCAR analysis, picks and tips.

The NASCAR Cup Series moves to Dover International Speedway for the Drydene 311.The green flag drops Saturday at 4 p.m. ET for the first race of the weekend NASCAR Cup Series doubleheader televised on NBC. Below, we analyze the Drydene 311 odds and betting lines, with NASCAR picks and tips with odds from BetMGM sportsbook.

Drydene 311 – Race 1: What you need to know

Odds courtesy of BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports’ betting odds for a full list. Lines last updated Friday at 11:25 p.m. ET.

Joe Gibbs Racing driver Martin Truex Jr. won the spring race at Dover, and he was a runner-up to former Ganassi driver Kyle Larson in last season’s fall run at the Delaware one-mile track.

  • Truex Jr. picked up his first-career Cup series win on June 4, 2007, and the New Jersey native has three wins, seven top-5 finishes and 16 top-10 runs with 892 laps led in 28 career starts at DIS.
  • Hendrick Motorsports driver Jimmie Johnson leads all active drivers with 11 career victories at Dover, and 17 of his 36 career starts have been fifth place or better. He has a 9.92 Average-Finish Position (AFP), best among all active drivers with at least 10 career starts at the track.
  • Chevrolet has checkers in nine of the past 14 Cup series races at Dover, although just three in the past eight runs with Toyota picking up four wins during the span.

Who will the top finishers be in the Drydene 311 – Race 1?

TRUEX JR. (+350 for Saturday’s race) is the chalk for Race 1. This place is special to him, as it is his unofficial home track, and it was where he picked up his first-career Cup checkered flag.

Truex has posted 892 laps led, fifth-best in the field, and he has posted a 5.6 AFP over the past 10 Cup starts, best among all drivers on the circuit.

Hendrick’s CHASE ELLIOTT (+600) had a disastrous run at Dover last fall in a playoff race. He experienced some sort of undisclosed engine failure, ending his day after eight laps. Despite that poor run, he still has six top-5 finishes in his eight career Cup starts at the Monster Mile, and his 8.6 AFP is second-best only to MTJ.

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You should never overlook KEVIN HARVICK (+400). The driver of the No. 4 machine has two wins in 38 Cup starts, which isn’t great, but half of his career starts have resulted in finishes of 10th or better at DIS. He has also led the pack for 1,408 laps, so he knows what it takes to be out front at Dover. And his past four starts have been a win in Spring 2018, a sixth-place start in the Fall 2018 race and a pair of fourth-place showings in 2019. He’ll be right there.

Dover International Speedway long-shot bets

Hendrick’s JIMMIE JOHNSON (+2500) hasn’t won a Cup series race since June 4, 2017, when he picked up his 83rd career Cup Series win, tying Hall of Famer Cale Yarborough. He is one behind Bobby Allison and Darrell Waltrip for fourth place all time. This weekend is when he joins those two with 84 victories. Time is running out on Johnson in his final season, but he’ll make that run to Victory Lane at his best track.

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FireKeepers Casino 400 at Michigan odds, picks and best bets

Previewing Saturday’s FireKeepers Casino 400 at Michigan International Speedway sports betting odds and lines, with NASCAR analysis, picks and tips.

The NASCAR Cup Series moves to the Michigan International Speedway for the FireKeepers Casino 400. The green flag drops Saturday at 4 p.m. ET with the race televised on NBCSN. Below, we analyze the FireKeepers Casino 400 odds and betting lines, with NASCAR picks and tips with odds from BetMGM sportsbook.

FireKeepers Casino 400: What you need to know

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

Stewart-Haas Racing driver Kevin Harvick (surprise!) won the last NASCAR Cup Series race at MIS last season, with Penske Racing’s Joey Logano winning the FireKeepers Casino 400 last season in the spring.

  • Harvick has won two of the past three Cup races at Michigan, and he is averaging a 2.8 Average-Finish Position (AFP) in his past four starts in the Irish Hills.
  • Ford has won four consecutive races at Michigan, a very popular track with two of the sport’s biggest manufacturers right down Interstate 94 in Detroit. Chevrolet won the previous three races before Ford’s current run, with Toyota winning just once in the past 16 Michigan races.
  • Six of the previous 13 pole sitters have picked up checkered flags in Michigan, including Logano last spring. In fact, each of Logano’s three wins at MIS have come from the pole.
  • Johnny Klausmeier, the crew chief for Clint Bowyer, was suspended for Saturday’s race after the No. 14 Ford was found with two lug nuts not safely secured. As such, Greg Zipadelli will fill in atop Bowyer’s box.
  • Brad Keselowski, the only Michigan native on the circuit, signed a contract extension this week to remain with Penske Racing. Will he celebrate in the Great Lakes State with a victory?

Who is going to win the FireKeepers Casino 400?

HARVICK (+400 for Saturday’s race) is once again the chalk, and as mentioned, he has a pair of checkered flags at Michigan in the past three stops. He has been one of the most consistent drivers since the restart.

Harvick enters Saturday’s race with three wins, 13 top-5s and 19 top-10s in his 38 career races in Michigan, posting an 11.66 AFP while leading 517 laps. Happy has finished fifth or better in five of his past nine Michigan starts.

Keselowski might be the lone Michigan native running at his home track, and he has a fat contract in tow, but LOGANO (+800) is the Penske driver to track this week. Ford has dominated at this track in recent seasons, and Logano has three career wins in the Irish Hills, while Keselowski continues to search for that first elusive win at the track. In fact, Logano has been 10th or better in eight of his past 10 starts at MIS.

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KYLE BUSCH (+900) just hasn’t been himself this season, however. Rowdy has 10 top 5 results, but zero victories. Busch is coming off a devastating 38th-place showing in Loudon last week, and he has led 10 or fewer laps in nine of the past 11, and 16 of the previous 20 runs. So why Busch? Well, he is just too talented of a driver to be sitting without a win at this point of the season, and he is overdue. He has six straight top-10 finishes in Michigan, and his AFP across the past four runs is a healthy 4.5.

Michigan International Speedway long-shot bets

If you’re thinking a little outside of the box, consider Ganassi Racing’s KURT BUSCH (+2800). Busch has been to Victory Lane at Michigan three times, although he also has eight DNFs to lead all active drivers. Three of his past four starts at Michigan have resulted in a finish of sixth or better.

If you’re looking for a REALLY long long-shot driver, look to RYAN PREECE (+50000). It sounds crazy, but a $1 bet could net you $500, so the risk is minimal. He was seventh at this track in the fall race and is coming off a respectable 16th-place run last week in New Hampshire where he was top 10 late in the race before fizzling.

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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.

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