2022 M&M’s Fan Appreciation 400 NASCAR odds, picks and predictions

Analyzing Sunday’s M&M’s Fan Appreciation 400 in Lond Pond, Pa., with NASCAR odds, picks and predictions.

The NASCAR Cup Series is at Pocono Raceway in Long Pond, Pa., Sunday for the 2022 M&M’s Fan Appreciation 400. The green flag is set to drop a little after 3 p.m. ET (USA Network). Below we analyze the 2022 M&M’s Fan Appreciation 400 odds and lines, with NASCAR picks and predictions.

Sunday’s race is scheduled for 160 laps and 400 miles on the 2½-mile, 3-turn track, also known as “The Tricky Triangle.” The track has 14-degree banking in Turn 1, 8-degree banking in Turn 2 and 6-degree banking in Turn 3.

The 2022 M&M’s Fan Appreciation 400 is the only NASCAR race of the season at Pocono for the first time since 1981.

2022 M&M’s Fan Appreciation 400: What you need to know

  • Joe Gibbs Racing’s Kyle Busch picked up the victory in the second end of a Saturday-Sunday doubleheader at Pocono last June after starting from the 19th position.
  • In the front end of the double dip last year, Hendrick Motorsports driver Alex Bowman posted a win after starting from the unlucky 13th position.
  • The last 5 winners at Pocono Raceway have started from the 9th position or higher.
  • Toyota has dominated in Long Pond, posting victories in 7 of the last 9 races at the track, while Ford and Chevy have just 1 win apiece during the span.
  • JGR’s Denny Hamlin leads all active drivers with 6 victories and an 11.1 average-finish position (AFP), while leading 797 laps with 14 top-5 runs in 32 Cup starts.

[tipico]

M&M’s Fan Appreciation 400 – Expert picks

Odds provided by Tipico Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated Thursday at 6:35 p.m. ET.

HAMLIN (+750) has dominated at Pocono over the years, and it’s difficult to bet against him. Two of those victories have been recent, in 2019 and 2020. He has had 3 DNFs in his 32 career Cup starts at Pocono, but he also had finished outside of the top 5 on just 18 occasions. He is a better bet than anyone in the field.

KYLE BUSCH (+750) is also a strong play. He is 2nd among all drivers with 4 Pocono wins. He has been up and down at this track, posting a 15.1 AFP with 6 DNFs while also leading 522 laps. What a perfect story it would be if the M&M’s-sponsored car wins the M&M’s race.

M&M’s Fan Appreciation 400 picks – Long shot

Sure, KURT BUSCH (+2000) isn’t a super long shot, but he also isn’t among the favorites. He has been to Victory Lane on 3 different occasions at the Tricky Triangle, posting a 14.4 AFP with 14 top-5 finishes among 21 top-10 runs and 596 laps led.

M&M’s Fan Appreciation 400 prop picks

WINNING MANUFACTURER – TOYOTA (+162)

Toyota has won 7 of the past 9 Cup races at this track, and Hamlin and Kyle Busch are 1-2 in terms of active driver wins in Long Pond. Toss in the fact Martin Truex Jr. also has 2 victories here with a 14.7 AFP in 32 Cup starts, and it’s hard to argue against Toyota.

ERIK JONES TOP-10 FINISH (+200)

The Petty GMS Motorsports driver had success in the JGR program in his recent Pocono starts. He has a respectable 14.4 AFP with 5 top-5 runs in 10 career Cup starts at the 3-turn track. For a chance to double up, Jones is worth taking a flier. He had a 4th-place finish in Atlanta 2 weeks ago, and he is 11th or better in 2 of his previous 4 starts.

Bet legally online with a trusted partner: Tipico Sportsbook, Sportsbook Wire’s official sportsbook partner in CO, NJ and soon IA. Bet now!

If you’re looking for more sports betting picks and tips, access all of our content at SportsbookWire.com and BetFTW, or try out our USA TODAY Parlay Calculator. Please gamble responsibly.

Follow Kevin J. Erickson on Twitter. Follow SportsbookWire on Twitter and like us on Facebook.

Gannett may earn revenue from Tipico for audience referrals to betting services. Tipico has no influence over nor are any such revenues in any way dependent on or linked to the newsrooms or news coverage. See Tipico.com for Terms and Conditions. 21+ only. Gambling problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER (NJ), 1-800-522-4700 (CO), 1-800-BETS-OFF (IA).

[lawrence-newsletter]

[lawrence-auto-related count=3 category=1950]

2022 Ambetter 301 NASCAR odds, picks and predictions

Analyzing Sunday’s Ambetter 301 in Loudon, N.H., with NASCAR odds, picks and predictions.

The NASCAR Cup Series heads to New Hampshire Motor Speedway in Loudon Sunday for the 2022 Ambetter 301. The green flag is set to drop a little after 3 p.m. ET (USA). Below we analyze the 2022 Ambetter 301 odds and lines, with NASCAR picks and predictions.

Sunday’s race is scheduled for 301 laps on the 1.058-mile flat track quad-oval at New Hampshire Motor Speedway.

Since the start of the 2018 season New Hampshire has hosted just one race per year, and it has bounced up and down between July and August on the schedule. Last July, it was Aric Almirola steering his Ford to Victory Lane, claiming checkers for that manufacturer for the 4th consecutive race.

2022 Ambetter 301: What you need to know

  • Joe Gibbs Racing’s Denny Hamlin leads all drivers with a 9.6 Average-Finish Position in 28 career starts on the flat track at Loudon. He is tied with teammate Kyle Busch and his older brother Kurt Busch with 3 victories.
  • Kevin Harvick leads all drivers with 4 wins at NHMS in 38 career starts, posting a 12.4 AFP with 13 top-5 finishes and 22 top-10 runs.
  • Kyle Busch leads all active drivers with 1,134 laps led at this track, while turning in a 14.3 AFP in 30 career starts.
  • Hendrick Motorsports driver Alex Bowman has struggled mightily at this New England stop, posting a 23.2 AFP while managing just 1 top-10 finish in 10 Cup starts.
  • Ricky Stenhouse Jr. hasn’t been much better than Bowman, posting just 1 top-10 finish in 19 Cup starts, leading just 13 laps while posting a 22.7 AFP.

[tipico]

Ambetter 301 – Expert picks

Odds provided by Tipico Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated at 12:05 a.m. ET.

HAMLIN (+1000) is a strong play based upon his career numbers at this track. In his 28 career Cup starts he has finished outside of the top 10 just 11 times, leading 755 laps. He has also never had a DNF at the track.

KEVIN HARVICK (+1200) has been one of the strongest drivers on flat tracks, and he has certainly had his share of success at New Hampshire. In his 38 Cup starts, he has finished inside the top 10 an amazing 22 times. He has led 831 laps, and his 12.4 AFP is among the best.

Ambetter 301 picks – Long shot

COLE CUSTER (+20000) is worth a small-unit play. He has been a quick study in his 2 Cup starts at NHMS, finishing 8th and 14th, good for an 11.0 AFP. That’s 3rdd-best among active drivers with at least 2 Cup starts at the track. He is worth a roll of the dice for a big-time payday.

Ambetter 301 prop picks

DENNY HAMLIN – TOP TOYOTA (+270)

It’s a little bit of a risk, but I like Hamlin to have a strong race Sunday. Hamlin can help you earn more than 2 1/2 times your potential return, and his biggest competition will be from Kyle Busch (+230) and Martin Truex Jr. (+270). Both of those drivers have been strong at NHMS, too.

COLE CUSTER TOP-10 FINISH (+750)

Again, Custer has finished 8th and 14th in his 2 Cup runs at Loudon. While the chances of him winning are rather slim, a top-10 finish is certainly a lot more doable. This number represents a tremendous value that’s too hard to pass on.

Bet legally online with a trusted partner: Tipico Sportsbook, Sportsbook Wire’s official sportsbook partner in CO, NJ and soon IA. Bet now!

If you’re looking for more sports betting picks and tips, access all of our content at SportsbookWire.com and BetFTW, or try out our USA TODAY Parlay Calculator. Please gamble responsibly.

Follow Kevin J. Erickson on Twitter. Follow SportsbookWire on Twitter and like us on Facebook.

Gannett may earn revenue from Tipico for audience referrals to betting services. Tipico has no influence over nor are any such revenues in any way dependent on or linked to the newsrooms or news coverage. See Tipico.com for Terms and Conditions. 21+ only. Gambling problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER (NJ), 1-800-522-4700 (CO), 1-800-BETS-OFF (IA).

[lawrence-newsletter]

[lawrence-auto-related count=3 category=1950]

2022 Ally 400 odds, picks and predictions

Analyzing Sunday’s 2022 Ally 400 odds at Nashville Superspeedway, with NASCAR odds, picks and predictions.

The NASCAR Cup Series heads to Nashville Superspeedway in Lebanon, Tenn., Sunday for the 2022 Ally 400. The green flag is set to drop a little after 5 p.m. ET (NBC). Below we analyze the 2022 Ally 400 odds and lines, with NASCAR picks and predictions.

Sunday’s race is scheduled for 300 laps and 400 miles on the 1.3-mile oval at Nashville Superspeedway. The Cup Series made its debut at the track in 2021.

2022 Ally 400: What you need to know

  • Hendrick Motorsports driver Kyle Larson posted the victory in last season’s inaugural race, leading 264 of the 300 laps after starting from the 5th position. Larson goes off 3rd Sunday.
  • Joe Gibbs Racing driver Denny Hamlin picked up the pole honors after Saturday’s rain-shortened, qualifying session. He finished 21st last season in Nashville after starting 13th.
  • Current TrackHouse Racing’s Ross Chastain, who drove for Chip Ganassi last season, was a runner-up to Larson at this track last year. He started 19th and led 4 laps before his 2nd-place finish. The Florida watermelon farmer will start from the 7th spot Sunday.
  • Hendrick’s Chase Elliott actually led the 2nd-most laps to his teammate Larson last season in Nashville, turning 13 laps in first. However, a disqualification after a post-race inspection due to loose lug nuts dropped him to 39th.

[tipico]

Ally 400 – Expert picks

Odds provided by Tipico Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated at 6:30 a.m. ET.

LARSON (+480) is listed as the favorite, and rightly so after he dominated this track last season en route to the Cup Series inaugural win. Nobody was better, or even close, to the No. 5 machine.

However, HAMLIN (+900) is worth a roll of the dice since he is going off from the pole position. He struggled at the track in 2021, dropping 8 spots from his original starting spot. But it’s always nice to be out front and see a bunch of clean air to start.

Ally 400 picks – Long shot

ARIC ALMIROLA (+4000) ended up in 4th place at last season’s inaugural Music City race. He has been a bit uneven this season in what will be his final time racing a full schedule.

The “Cuban Missile” is also a worth a look in the props section. Playing an ALMIROLA TOP-10 FINISH (+130) is still plus-money.

Ally 400 prop picks

AUSTIN DILLON TOP-10 FINISH (+220)

The driver of the No. 3 machine, who is also now a reality TV star, posted a respectable 12th-place showing last season after scooting up from a starting spot of 28th.

DANIEL SUAREZ TOP-10 FINISH (-125)

Suarez has had 2 weeks to celebrate, becoming just the 5th foreign-born driver to secure checkers in a Cup Series win with his successful Sonoma run. He will look to build upon the confidence of that victory, and should be able to run inside the top 10 on the 1.3-mile oval.

Bet legally online with a trusted partner: Tipico Sportsbook, Sportsbook Wire’s official sportsbook partner in CO, NJ and soon IA. Bet now!

If you’re looking for more sports betting picks and tips, access all of our content at SportsbookWire.com and BetFTW, or try out our USA TODAY Parlay Calculator. Please gamble responsibly.

Follow Kevin J. Erickson on Twitter. Follow SportsbookWire on Twitter and like us on Facebook.

Gannett may earn revenue from Tipico for audience referrals to betting services. Tipico has no influence over nor are any such revenues in any way dependent on or linked to the newsrooms or news coverage. See Tipico.com for Terms and Conditions. 21+ only. Gambling problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER (NJ), 1-800-522-4700 (CO), 1-800-BETS-OFF (IA).

[lawrence-newsletter]

[lawrence-auto-related count=3 category=1950]

O’Reilly Auto Parts 500 at Texas odds, picks and best bets

Previewing Sunday’s O’Reilly Auto Parts 500 at Texas Motor Speedway sports betting odds and lines, with NASCAR analysis, picks and tips.

The NASCAR Cup Series heads to Texas Motor Speedway for the O’Reilly Auto Parts 500. The green flag drops Sunday at 3 p.m. ET with the race televised on NBCSN. Below, we analyze the O’Reilly Auto Parts 500 odds and betting lines, with NASCAR picks and tips with odds from BetMGM sportsbook.

O’Reilly Auto Parts 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 7:05 a.m. ET.

Sunday’s race at Texas Motor Speedway will be the 39th installment since its NASCAR Cup Series debut race back in 1997 – won by Jeff Burton.

  • Kevin Harvick won last season’s race from the pole, and has taken checkers in three of the past five Cup races in Fort Worth. Last year’s win from the pole was the first time that had been done in 13 Texas races when Kyle Busch turned the trick in the spring 2013 race.
  • Harvick has registered 10 straight finishes inside the top 10 at Texas, and has been 10th or better in 22 of his 34 Cup starts at the track.
  • Joe Gibbs Racing’s Erik Jones leads all drivers with a 9.43 Average-Finish Position (AFP) in seven Cup starts, while Ganassi Racing’s Matt Kenseth is second among active drivers with a 9.47 AFP in 30 Texas starts.
  • Chevrolet has been to Victory Lane just once in the past eight Texas starts, while Ford has three wins and Toyota has four checkered flags during the span.
  • Seven-time champ Jimmie Johnson leads all active drivers with seven Cup victories at Texas. Kyle Busch, Denny Hamlin and Harvick each have three victories at the track.

Who is going to win the O’Reilly Auto Parts 500?

HARVICK (+350 for Sunday’s race) has not only been the gold standard at Texas Motor Speedway lately, but he and HAMLIN (+600) have been the two most consistent drivers since NASCAR resumed the regular season.

Harvick has two wins in the past four Cup races, and has been 10th or better in 14 of his 17 starts overall this season.

JOHNSON (+2200) hasn’t won since the June 4, 2017, Dover race. Eventually the No. 48 machine is going to return to Victory Lane. Why not in Texas? Johnson, who will start out of the 20th spot in Sunday’s grid, won from the 24 spot in the 2017 spring race. J.J. is certainly worth a small-unit bet at this price point.

Place legal sports bets on NASCAR action in CO, IN, NJ and WV through BetMGM. Sign up and bet at BetMGM now!

JOEY LOGANO (+1100) is a pretty strong value at this price given the fact he has finished seventh or better in seven of the past eight Texas starts. He hasn’t won since the Duck Commander 500 back in spring 2014, but his 10 top-5 finishes in 23 Cup starts at TMS is certainly impressive.

Texas Motor Speedway long-shot bets

WILLIAM BYRON (+3500) has rather long odds, but he is worth a look this weekend. He was 17th in the fall race at Texas, but he has finished 10th and sixth in the previous two spring runs in Fort Worth.

MATT KENSETH (+3500) has a pair of Texas wins on his resume, while posting 14 top-5 runs, 19 top-10 finishes and 883 laps led in 30 career Cup starts with a 9.47 AFP. As such he certainly warrants plenty of consideration.

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

Follow @JoeWilliamsVI on Twitter, and follow SportsbookWire on Twitter and 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.

[lawrence-newsletter]

[lawrence-auto-related count=3 category=1950]

Big Machine Hand Sanitizer 400 Powered by Big Machine Records from Indianapolis odds, picks and best bets

Previewing Sunday’s Big Machine Hand Sanitizer 400 Powered by Big Machine Records at Indianapolis Motor Speedway sports betting odds and lines, with NASCAR analysis, picks and tips.

The NASCAR Cup Series moves to the Indianapolis Motor Speedway for the Big Machine Hand Sanitizer 400 Powered by Big Machine Records. The green flag drops Sunday at 4 p.m. ET with the race televised on NBC. Below, we analyze the Big Machine 400 odds and betting lines, with NASCAR picks and tips with odds from BetMGM sportsbook.

Big Machine 400: What you need to know

Odds courtesy of BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports’ betting odds for a full list. Lines last updated Saturay, July 4 at 5:30 p.m. ET.

Sunday’s race at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, the largest sporting venue in the world with a capacity of 235,000, will take place in front of no fans due to the COVID-19 global pandemic and social distancing practices.

  • Seven-time series champ Jimmie Johnson tested positive for the coronavirus Friday and will miss the race – and likely a few more. His streak of 663 consecutive Cup starts will end – a streak that ranks fifth all time behind Jeff Gordon (797), Ricky Rudd (788), Bobby Labonte (704) and Rusty Wallace (697).
  • Stewart-Haas Racing driver Kevin Harvick (+400 for Sunday’s race) is the chalk in Indy. He won last season’s race from the pole position. In 19 career starts at the Brickyard, he has two wins, seven top-5 finishes and 13 top-10 showings, while leading all active drivers with an 8.95 Average-Finish Position (AFP).
  • Ford had not won in 18 consecutive Cup races at IMS from 2000-2017 before Penske Racing’s Brad Keselowski (+800) broke through for checkers in 2018. With Harvick’s win last season, Ford has consecutive wins at the Indiana 2.5-mile oval for the first time since 1996-97.
  • Three of the past seven winners at Indianapolis have come from the No. 1 spot on the starting grid, while six of the previous seven have started ninth or better.

Who is going to win the Big Machine 400?

HARVICK (+400) won last summer at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, and leads all active drivers with an 8.95 AFP. He has finished eighth or better in each of his past six starts, including top-5 showings in three of the previous five.

Harvick was 13th in the 2013 version of this race. In the previous six starts at the track, Happy has posted a 4.7 AFP.

While Keselowski gets a lot of the attention due to his 2018 win at this track, the more consistent Penske driver at IMS is JOEY LOGANO (+800). He was a runner-up to Harvick last season, and has been the bridesmaid in two of his past five Indianapolis runs. In his previous seven IMS starts he is averaging a 5.9 AFP, making him WORTH A BET.

DENNY HAMLIN (+500) has been delivering consistency in the No. 11 FedEx Toyota lately, including a win at Pocono last Sunday. He has actually never won at Indianapolis in 14 tries, but has a strong 12.4 AFP with five top-5 finishes, eight top-10 showings and 112 laps led with zero DNFs.


Place legal sports betting on NASCAR action in CO, IN, NJ and WV through BetMGM. Sign up and bet at BetMGM now!


KYLE BUSCH (+500) is among the favorites despite the fact he has zero victories so far during the 2020 NASCAR Cup Series schedule, and there just seems to be something off with the No. 18 team. If Busch and his team can finally figure out the right combination, HE IS A STRONG BET to win at this track. He posted back-to-back wins at IMS in 2015-16.

Indianapolis Motor Speedway long-shot bets

WILLIAM BYRON (+2500) appeared in the long-shot bets section last weekend at Pocono, but was unable to come through. He has been a quick study during the early years of his Cup career, posting a 19th-place finish at Indy in 2018 before improving to fourth in last season’s installment.

RYAN NEWMAN (+8000) is WORTH A SMALL-UNIT BET at this price. He won this race in 2013, and has racked up finishes of 12th or better in eight of his past nine starts at the track. “Rocket Man” is also a Hoosier State native, so he brings more intensity than usual when running on his home turf.

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

Follow @JoeWilliamsVI on Twitter, and follow SportsbookWire on Twitter and 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.

[lawrence-newsletter]

[lawrence-auto-related count=3 category=1950]

Pocono 350 odds, picks and best bets

Previewing Sunday’s Pocono 350 at Pocono Raceway sports betting odds and lines, with NASCAR analysis, picks and tips.

The NASCAR Cup Series is back at the Pocono Raceway for the Pocono 350. The green flag drops Sunday at 4:20 p.m. ET with the race televised on FOX. Below, we analyze the Pocono 350 odds and betting lines, with NASCAR picks and tips with odds from BetMGM sportsbook.

Pocono 350: What you need to know

Odds courtesy of BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports’ betting odds for a full list. Lines last updated Sunday at 5 a.m. ET.

The NASCAR boys just ran on the track Saturday in the first doubleheader weekend in Cup Series history. Stewart Haas driver Kevin Harvick streaked to victory, holding off Joe Gibbs Racing’s Denny Hamlin by a few car lengths.

  • Leavine Family Racing driver Christopher Bell and Front Row Motorsports’ Michael McDowell showed Saturday that the little guys can compete, especially in these shorter-length races. The rookie Bell had a tremendous Cup debut at the “Tricky Triangle,” racing his way to fourth place, while McDowell finished eighth.
  • Toyota’s streak of five consecutive Pocono victories was snapped Saturday with Harvick’s win. Ford now has three wins in the past eighth Pocono runs, while Chevrolet hasn’t been to victory in Long Pond since the Axalta “We Paint Winners” 400 in the Spring 2016 race.
  • Lucky Nine? Harvick started in the ninth position Saturday and raced to the win, while Hamlin won from the ninth starting spot last July at Pocono. Penske Racing’s Ryan Blaney (+1200 for Sunday’s race) starts ninth in the 350.
  • Aric Almirola (+1600) recorded a third-place finish Saturday, his highest finish in a Cup car during a Pocono start. His previous best was seventh, set during the Spring ’18 run.

Who is going to win the Pocono 350?

HAMLIN (+500) was my top pick for Saturday’s race, and he was just edged out by Harvick. Hamlin could have used some lapped traffic to disrupt Happy’s flow, but it just never came into fruition and the No. 11 had to settle for runner-up.

Hamlin is 12th or better in seven of his past eight Pocono starts, including a win last July, and the runner-up showing on Saturday. He was the top finishing Toyota in Saturday’s race.

KYLE BUSCH (+550) was unable to pick up the checkered flag Saturday, but still has three wins in his past six Pocono starts. He ended up in fifth place Saturday, which isn’t too shabby. In fact, Rowdy has placed inside the top 10 in eight consecutive starts at the “Tricky Triangle” since a disastrous 31st-place showing in the Spring ’16 start.


Place legal sports betting on NASCAR action in CO, IN, NJ and WV through BetMGM. Sign up and bet at BetMGM now!


MARTIN TRUEX JR. (+1000) made his presence felt with a solid sixth-place run, giving JGR three cars – joining Hamlin and Kyle Busch – in the top six positions. Truex was third in last season’s summer race, and has been sixth or better in five of his past seven Pocono starts. At this price (+1000), TRUEX IS A VERY GOOD VALUE.

Pocono Raceway long-shot bets

BELL (+6500) turned in a fourth-place showing in his Pocono Cup debut Saturday, so he has to be on the radar of bettors at this price as we eagerly wait to see what he can do for an encore. Even if he falls a few positions, you can scoop him up and RING THAT BELL AT +310 FOR A TOP-10 FINISH.

WILLIAM BYRON (+2200) had a solid 14th-place showing Saturday, setting him up to start from the seventh spot in Sunday’s grid. He has a solid 10.2 Average-Finish Position (AFP) in five career Cup starts at the Pennsylvania tri-oval, so keep an eye on the No. 24 car. If you’re not feeling him for checkers, but perhaps to place inside the top 10, he is just about even-money at +105.

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

Follow @JoeWilliamsVI on Twitter, and follow SportsbookWire on Twitter and 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.

[lawrence-newsletter]

[lawrence-auto-related count=3 category=1950]

Pocono Organics 325 odds, picks and best bets

Previewing Saturday’s Pocono Organics 325 at Pocono Raceway sports betting odds and lines, with NASCAR analysis, picks and tips.

The NASCAR Cup Series heads to the Pocono Raceway for the Pocono Organics 325 in partnership with Rodale Institute. The green flag drops Saturday at 3:30 p.m. ET with the race televised on FOX. Below, we analyze the Organics 325 odds and betting lines, with NASCAR picks and tips with odds from BetMGM sportsbook.

Pocono Organics 325: What you need to know

Odds courtesy of BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports’ betting odds for a full list. Lines last updated Friday, June 26 at 8:20 a.m. ET.

Saturday’s race at Pocono Raceway will take place as a part of a two-day, four-race card in Long Pond, Pa. Saturday kicks off with the Pocono Organics 150 to benefit Farm Aid, a Gander RV & Outdoors Truck Series race at 12:30 p.m. ET. Then our Pocono Organics race follows. Sunday will feature the Xfinity Series’ Pocono Green 225 Recycled by J.P. Mascaro & Sons at 12:30 p.m., followed by the Cup Series’ Pocono 350 at 4 p.m.

  • Joe Gibbs Racing driver Denny Hamlin (+800 for Saturday’s race) won the July race at Pocono last season, starting from the ninth position. According to NASCAR’s Loop Data, he has averaged a 105.1 Driver Rating at Pocono Raceway since 2005 to lead the circuit.
  • Toyota has rattled off five consecutive victory at Pocono, all from the JGR stable of cars, including three checkered flags going to Kyle Busch (+500).
  • Kyle Busch was the last driver to win from the pole position at the Overton’s 400 during the July ’17 race at Pocono. He is the only driver in the past 13 starts to win from the pole in the shadows of the twin spires in Pennsylvania.
  • Erik Jones (+2000) is the only current JGR driver who hasn’t won at Pocono in the Cup series, but he leads all active drivers with an 8.3 Average-Finish Position, including four top-5 runs, in six career starts.

Who is going to win the Pocono Organics 325?

HAMLIN (+800) has been super consistent over the years at this track, rattling off five wins, 11 top-5 results and 18 top-10 showings with 726 laps led and an 11.96 AFP in 28 career starts. The driver of the No. 11 Toyota has finished 20th or better in 22 of his 28 outings at the track, too.

Hamlin is 12th or better in six of his past seven Pocono starts, including a win last July.

KYLE BUSCH (+500) has three wins in the previous five starts at Pocono, and he has been ninth or better in each of his past seven outings. He has posted a 100.7 Average Driver Rating since ’05 at the track, third among all active drivers. While he has five DNFs in 30 career starts, or roughly 16.7 percent of his starts, he is the one to beat at Pocono lately.


Place legal sports betting on NASCAR action in CO, IN, NJ and WV through BetMGM. Sign up and bet at BetMGM now!


BRAD KESELOWSKI (+800) is the best bet among non-Toyota cars. The Penske Racing driver hasn’t won at Pocono since the Good Sam RV Insurance 500 in August 2011, starting in a Dodge from the 13th position. While that was a while ago – and Dodge is no longer associated with the sport – he has been eighth or better in eight of his past nine starts with three runner-up finishes and one DNF.

Pocono Raceway long-shot bets

WILLIAM BYRON (+2000) has just four Cup starts under his belt at the three-turn Pennsylvania track. He has been a quick study, however, finishing sixth in the July ’18 race, ninth in the June ’19 run and fourth in the July ’19 outing. Overall, he has a 9.3 AFP in his four Cup starts, making him worth a small-unit investment.

ERIK JONES (+2000) is another young driver who has really turned heads in the early part of his career. In six Pocono starts he has been eighth or better in five of the outings, including three finishes inside the top 3. Jones was a runner-up last July to his teammate Hamlin, and his 8.3 AFP over the past 10 Pocono races is the best among all active drivers.

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

Follow @JoeWilliamsVI on Twitter, and follow SportsbookWire on Twitter and 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.

[lawrence-newsletter]

[lawrence-auto-related count=3 category=1950]

Dixie Vodka 400 at Homestead-Miami odds, picks and best bets

Previewing Sunday’s Dixie Vodka 400 at Homestead-Miami Speedway sports betting odds and lines, with NASCAR analysis, picks and tips.

The NASCAR Cup Series heads down to Homestead-Miami Speedway for the Dixie Vodka 400. The green flag drops Sunday at 3:30 p.m. ET with the race televised on FOX. Below, we analyze the Dixie Vodka 400 odds and betting lines, with NASCAR picks and tips with odds from BetMGM sportsbook.

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 Saturday, June 13 at 6:20 a.m. ET.

Sunday’s race at Homestead-Miami Speedway will be the first sporting event with fans in the stands since mid-March. NASCAR will allow 1,000 fans, just military members or first responders, to attend as honorary guests. Fans will be required to wear masks, will be screened upon arrival and will be expected to follow physical-distancing guidelines at six feet apart.

Even with a smattering of people in the grandstands, this event will have a much different look and feel from previous seasons. From 2002 to 2019, the South Florida track hosted the final race of the season, leading to the crowning of the Cup Series champion. Joe Gibbs Racing’s Kyle Busch (+500 for Sunday’s race) won the championship with a checkered flag at this track last season, his second trip to Victory Lane at HMS in five years.

  • Six of the previous seven races have been won by a driver starting fifth or better. Denny Hamlin (+1000), Joey Logano (+800), Brad Keselowski (+1000), Busch and Chase Elliott (+700) are in starting spots 1 through 5.
  • Toyota has been the Victory Lane in two of the past three at Homestead-Miami Speedway, and four of the past seven.
  • Busch leads all drivers with 463 laps led, although he ranks 12th among active drivers with a 16.33 Average-Finish Position (AFP) across his 15 career starts at this track.
  • Rick Ware Racing’s J.J. Yeley (+100000) and Front Row Motorsports’ Michael McDowell (+50000) lead all active drivers with four DNFs apiece.

Who is going to win the Dixie Vodka 400?

HAMLIN (+1000) was a big disappointment at Martinsville Wednesday night, but has had strong results at this track in the past. Look for a nice bounce back. Plus, he is a strong value at this price.

Hamlin has two career wins at Homestead-Miami Speedway, while posting four top-5 runs, 10 top-10 finishes, 256 laps led and a 10.53 AFP in 15 starts at the track.

KEVIN HARVICK (+400) is always a threat at Homestead-Miami Speedway. He leads all active drivers with a sparkling 6.42 AFP in 19 career starts. While he has just one win, he has placed inside the top 5 on 11 different occasions while leading 414 laps. He has never finished lower than 20th at this track, too.


Place legal sports betting on NASCAR action in CO, IN, NJ and WV through BetMGM. Sign up and bet at BetMGM now!


CHASE ELLIOTT (+700) has yet to taste victory at HMS, but has never finished lower than 15th, either. In fact, he has a 9.50 AFP, second best in the field among drivers with at least four starts.

Homestead-Miami Speedway prop bets

HARVICK (-154) is a strong play to finish inside the top 5. In addition, HAMLIN (+140) is worth a roll of the dice to finish in the top 5, too.

Among the best finishing position matchups, take HAMLIN (-112) to finish better than Keselowski. CLINT BOWYER (-106) is a good bet to outpace William Byron, while Florida native ARIC ALMIROLA (+125) is a value play over Tyler Reddick.

Homestead-Miami Speedway long-shot bets

AUSTIN DILLON (+1400) has the best potential to crash the party and spoil the day for the favorites. He has shown tremendous and consistent improvement since making his debut at this track in 2014. He improved to 15th in 2015, 12th in 2016, 11th in both 2017 and 2018 and eighth last season.

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

Follow @JoeWilliamsVI on Twitter, and follow SportsbookWire on Twitter and 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.

[lawrence-newsletter]

[lawrence-auto-related count=3 category=1950]

Blue-Emu Maximum Pain Relief 500 at Martinsville odds, picks and best bets

Previewing Wednesday’s Blue-Emu Maximum Pain Relief 500 at Martinsville Speedway sports betting odds and lines, with NASCAR analysis, picks and tips.

The NASCAR Cup Series moves to Martinsville Speedway for the Blue-Emu Maximum Pain Relief 500. The green flag drops Wednesday at 7:15 p.m. ET with the race televised on FOX Sports 1. Below, we analyze the Blue-Emu Maximum Pain Relief 500 odds and betting lines, with NASCAR picks and tips with odds from BetMGM sportsbook.

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 Wednesday, June 10 at 5:20 a.m. ET.

Penske Racing’s Brad Keselowski (+600 for Wednesday’s race) won the spring NASCAR Series Cup race at venerable Martinsville Speedway in 2019, while Joe Gibbs Racing’s Martin Truex Jr. (+600) picked up checkers in the fall race during the playoffs.

  • Both winners in 2019 started from the third position in the grid, and each of the previous 13 winners have started third or lower. The last driver to win from Row 1 was Jimmie Johnson (+2000), both in the spring 2013 race and fall 2012 installment.
  • Ford has won three of the previous four Martinsville races, while Toyota has won two of the past five. Johnson last took Chevrolet to Victory Lane in the fall 2016 race.
  • Johnson leads all active drivers with 2,863 laps led in his 36 career starts at Martinsville. He has nine victories, 19 top-5 finishes and 24 top-10 runs with just two DNFs and a 9.31 Average-Finish Position (AFP).
  • Five drivers in Wednesday’s field have at least two grandfather clocks – the “trophy” for winning at Martinsville – in their shops: Johnson (9), Denny Hamlin (5), Kurt Busch (2), Kyle Busch (2) and Keselowski (2) each have multiple wins at the paper-clip short track in the hills of Virginia.
  • Team Penske’s Ryan Blaney (+1100) is on the pole for Wednesday’s race. In eight career starts at Martinsville he has no wins, but a solid three top-5 finishes, four top-10 wins, 145 laps led and 12.88 AFP.

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

The Virginia native Hamlin (+700) is second among active drivers with 1,566 laps led in 28 starts with five victories and a 9.39 AFP. Hamlin, who is from Chesterfield, Va., has also posted 15 runs inside the top 5 with 21 in the top 10.

JGR’s Hamlin goes off from the 12th spot on Wednesday night. Two of his five wins at Martinsville have come from the pole, but his other three victories are when he started 15th or lower.

TRUEX JR. (+600) has managed just one win in his career at Martinsville, the fall race last season. But he has been eighth or better in each of his past five Martinsville runs, including four top-5 finishes, and he has a 7.1 AFP across his past 10 starts at the track. That’s third best among all drivers dating back to the spring 2015 run. Truex goes off fifth.


Place legal sports betting on NASCAR action in CO, IN, NJ and WV through BetMGM. Sign up and bet at BetMGM now!


KESELOWSKI (+600) enters Wednesday’s race with eight consecutive top-10 finishes, including wins in the spring races in 2017 and 2019. The Penske driver, who has two victories across the past four races, will start from the outside of Row 3. In fact, Penske has three Fords starting in the top six, with Blaney (+1100) on the pole and Joey Logano (+900) firing off third. All three Penske drivers are worth a look, with Keselowski the best bet of the triumvirate.

Martinsville Speedway prop bets

KESELOWSKI (+100) is a value play over Kyle Busch in head-to-head betting, while BLANEY (-105) is a decent option against his teammate Logano.

You can also bet on the Top Ford Car. Put your money on KESELOWSKI (+250) as he looks to bring his manufacturer another strong finish.

Martinsville Speedway long-shot bets

JOHNSON (+2000) continues to endure the longest win drought of his career dating back to June 2017 at Dover International Speedway. He has racked up nine grandfather clocks for the Hendrick shop and his living room, but No. 10 might be the most special if he is able to bring it home Wednesday night. Give him a look at this price, as he is bound to break through – plus, Martinsville is one of his best tracks.

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

Follow @JoeWilliamsVI on Twitter, and follow SportsbookWire on Twitter and 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.

[lawrence-newsletter]

[lawrence-auto-related count=3 category=1950]

NASCAR Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte odds, picks and best bets

Previewing Sunday’s Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway sports betting odds and lines, with NASCAR analysis, picks and tips.

The NASCAR Cup Series returns to Charlotte Motor Speedway Sunday at 6 p.m. ET for the Coca-Cola 600. Below, we analyze the Coca-Cola 600 odds and betting lines, with NASCAR picks and tips with odds from BetMGM sportsbook.

Coca-Cola 600: What you need to know

Odds courtesy of BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports’ betting odds for a full list. Lines last updated Friday, May 22 at 10 a.m. ET.

After a pair of exciting races at Darlington Raceway, NASCAR Cup Series drivers head up to Charlotte for the longest mileage race of the season. Joe Gibbs Racing’s MARTIN TRUEX JR. (+600) is back to defend his crown after winning the grueling Memorial Day weekend race last season. MTJ has won two of the past three tri-oval races at Charlotte, and three of the past six, including two Coca-Cola 600s. As such, he’ll be a popular betting choice.

  • Same-day qualifying will set the field for the Coca-Cola 600, unlike the two previous Darlington races where practice and time trials/qualifying were eliminated. However, the starting grid for next Wednesday’s Charlotte race will be determined by Sunday’s 600 finishing order, using an inversion of positions 1-20, with the positions 21-40 remaining the same.
  • Truex has three wins with seven top-5 results and 11 top-10 showings with 972 laps led and a 14.07 Average-Finish Position in 27 career starts at Charlotte.
  • The winner of the past three Coca-Cola 600 races has been 14th (Truex), 1st (Kyle Busch) and 22nd (Austin Dillon). Three of the past six Coca-Cola 600 races have been won by the pole sitter, however.
  • Toyota has dominated at Charlotte, winning four of the past five Coca-Cola 600 races.

Who is going to win the Coca-Cola 600?

JGR’s KYLE BUSCH (+400) is the overall favorite at Charlotte, as he looks to return to Victory Lane. Busch has just one career win in 30 starts at the Concord, N.C. track, taking checkers in the 2018 installment of the 600.

Busch trails only Hendrick Motorsports driver Jimmie Johnson in laps led at Charlotte Motor Speedway among active drivers, leading the field for 1,449 laps. Johnson has 1,930 in his 35 starts.

DENNY HAMLIN (+900) picked up a victory in Wednesday’s rain-shortened Darlington race, providing his manufacturer with a win at the Toyota 500. As mentioned above, Toyota has dominated the 600 recently, so Hamlin isn’t a bad play to go back-to-back. In fact, all cars in the JGR stable are solid plays this weekend until someone can knock them from the perch.


Place legal sports betting on NASCAR action in NJ, NV, IN, CO and WV through BetMGM. Sign up and bet at BetMGM now!


Kevin Harvick (+600) of Stewart-Haas Racing and Joey Logano (+850) of Penske Racing are among the top four favorites along with Busch and Truex. Harvick won the Bank of America 500 back in 2014, but hasn’t won a 600 since the 2013 installment when he started 15th. Logano also has a BoA 500 win under his belt, but has yet to pick up checkers in the 600. If you are picking between the two, Happy’s three-career Charlotte wins and eight top-5 showings with a 15.4 AFP is much more attractive than Logano’s six top-5 placements in 20 career starts with a 12.5 AFP at Charlotte.

Charlotte Motor Speedway long-shot bets

Want to think a little outside of the box and go for a long-shot play? Ricky Stenhouse Jr. (+3000) of JTG Daugherty Racing might be worth a roll of the dice. Sure, last Sunday he lasted halfway through Lap 1 at Darlington before an accident, but he’ll put that in the rear-view mirror. His past four starts at Charlotte Motor Speedway have resulted in finishes of 15th, 13th, 10th and 5th, including a 7.5 AFP across his past two 600 starts.

Hendrick’s Alex Bowman (+1200) isn’t exactly a long shot, but anything over +1000 is rather nice when it cashes. He has turned in finishes of ninth and seventh in his past two 600 starts.

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

Follow @JoeWilliamsVI on Twitter, and follow SportsbookWire on Twitter and 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.

[lawrence-newsletter]

[lawrence-auto-related count=3 category=1950]