Tag: jimmie-johnson

Super Start Batteries 400 at Kansas odds, picks and best bets

Previewing Thursday’s Super Start Batteries 400 Presented by O’Reilly Auto Parts at Kansas Speedway sports betting odds and lines, with NASCAR analysis, picks and tips.

The NASCAR Cup Series moves to the Kansas Speedway for the Super Start Batteries 400 Presented by O’Reilly Auto Parts. The green flag drops Thursday at 7:30 p.m. ET with the race televised on NBCSN. Below, we analyze the Super Start Batteries 400 odds and betting lines, with NASCAR picks and tips with odds from BetMGM sportsbook.

Super Start Batteries 400: What you need to know

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

Thursday’s race at Kansas Speedway will be the 29th installment since its NASCAR Cup Series debut race back in 2001 – won by Jeff Gordon.

  • Denny Hamlin took checkers in the last Kansas Cup race (Oct. 20, 2019), while Brad Keselowski raced to a win in the spring run (May 11, 2019).
  • All three manufacturers have had success at Kansas Speedway in recent seasons, with Chevrolet, Ford and Toyota each posting a win across the past three races. In the past six races, though, Toyota has three checkered flags, while Chevrolet has raced to wins in 12 of the 28 Cup races at the track.
  • Richard Childress Racing’s Austin Dillon was an upset winner last Sunday at Texas. He has an impressive 13.8 Average-Finish Position (AFP) across his past eight Kansas starts. Fellow RCR driver Tyler Reddick ended up second in Texas, and was ninth in his Kansas Cup debut last season.
  • Hendrick Motorsports driver Chase Elliott was the last driver to steer a Chevy to Victory Lane at this track and has a sparkling 2.33 AFP across his past three Kansas starts.

Who is going to win the Super Start Batteries 400?

ELLIOTT (+650 for Thursday’s race) has one win in his past three Kansas Cup starts along with three consecutive top-5 showings. While there has been a couple of upset winners the past two weekends with Cole Custer at Kentucky and Dillon winning in Texas, look for one of the favorites to come through in this one.

Elliott started 13th in his winning run at Kansas in the Fall of 2018, and the average starting position of the past three winners is 13.3.

KEVIN HARVICK (+450), of course, is among the favorites Thursday night. He leads all drivers with a 9.79 AFP (min. two Cup starts) in 28 Cup races in Kansas, picking up three victories with eight top-5 showings and 15 top-10 runs. He also leads the way among all drivers with 855 laps led.

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MARTIN TRUEX JR. (+650) went off the rails at Texas, clipping teammate Kyle Busch in the middle of the run and was never able to recover, ending up 29th. Look for MTJ to return with a vengeance at Kansas, a track where he has won twice, posting eight top-5 finishes and led 759 laps in 23 Cup starts, good for a 13.87 AFP.

Kansas Speedway long-shot bets

JIMMIE JOHNSON (+3500) has three wins in 27 career Cup starts while posting a 10.33 AFP. Of course, all of that success came with crew chief Chad Knaus at the top of JJ’s pit box. Meanwhile, the seven-time Cup champion Johnson hasn’t won since June 2017. Will he never win a Cup race again? Don’t bet on it. He’s a GREAT SMALL-UNIT PLAY at this price.

Knaus, by the way, will be away from William Byron’s team for the birth of his second child. Keith Rodden will take over crew chief duties for the No. 24.

TYLER REDDICK (+3500) had his best career Cup finish last Sunday, rolling to a second-place finish. Is it Reddick’s turn this week? This will be only his second Kansas Cup race – as mentioned above, he finished ninth last year.

Lastly, don’t forget Kansas native CLINT BOWYER (+4000) at his home track. While he has never won in 23 career starts here, he has three top-5 showings, eight top-10 runs, 63 laps led and a 15.7 AFP. One of these days he is going to win in his native Sunflower State.

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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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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.

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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.

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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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Quaker State 400 presented by Walmart odds, picks and best bets

Previewing Sunday’s Quaker State 400 presented by Walmart at Kentucky Speedway sports betting odds and lines, with NASCAR analysis, picks and tips.

The NASCAR Cup Series moves to the Kentucky Speedway for the Quaker State 400 presented by Walmart. The green flag drops Sunday at 2:30 p.m. ET with the race televised on FOX Sports 1. Below, we analyze the Quaker State 400 odds and betting lines, with NASCAR picks and tips with odds from BetMGM sportsbook.

Quaker State 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 1:10 p.m. ET.

Sunday’s race at Kentucky Speedway will be the 10th installment since its NASCAR Cup Series debut race won by Joe Gibbs Racing driver Kyle Busch in 2011.

  • Busch has won this race twice, the inaugural event in 2011, and again in 2015.
  • Kyle’s older brother, Kurt Busch, won last season’s Kentucky race, starting from the fourth position. It was the first time a Chevrolet picked up checkers at Sparta, Ky., snapping a two-race win streak for Toyota.
  • Penske Racing’s Brad Keselowski has won this race three times, leading all drivers in that category. JGR’s Martin Truex Jr. joins Keselowski and Kyle Busch as multiple winners. Truex drove to Victory Lane in back-to-back races in 2017 and ’18.
  • Ganassi Racing’s Matt Kenseth, who finished second at Indianapolis Sunday, won the 2013 Kentucky race from the 16th starting position. He is the only winner in the nine-year history of the event to start outside of the top 10.
  • Seven-time champ Jimmie Johnson, who had his streak of 663 consecutive starts snapped when a positive coronavirus test forced him to skip Indianapolis last week, will race Sunday. He tested negative on Monday and Tuesday, green-lighting his return to the Hendrick Motorsports No. 48 Chevrolet.

Who is going to win the Quaker State 400?

KYLE BUSCH (+650 for Sunday’s race) has had a surprisingly difficult season, failing to win any of the 16 races. However, he has three runner-up finishes and seven top-5 showings so far. He led 100 laps at Bristol on May 31, but a total of just 16 laps in the seven races since. Despite those struggles, he has dominated at Kentucky in the past.

Busch has three straight top-5 runs at Kentucky, and he leads all drivers with a 4.7 Average-Finish Position (AFP) in nine Kentucky starts. He has eight top-10 showings with two victories.

BRAD KESELOWSKI (+800) leads everyone with three wins in the first nine Kentucky races, including a win from the pole in 2014. Two of his past three starts at the track have been adventures, finishing 39th in 2017 and 20th last season. He is also second to Kyle Busch (621) with 524 laps led all time at the track.

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KEVIN HARVICK (+450) has won two of his past three races, including last week’s thriller at Indy. “Happy” went off the rails with a 22nd-place finish last season at Kentucky, but before that, he had a string of six consecutive top-10 showings. His 10.8 AFP in nine Kentucky starts is fourth-best among all active drivers.

Kentucky Speedway long-shot bets

ERIK JONES (+2500) is a tremendous value at this price as he has finishes of sixth, seventh and third in three-career Cup starts at the track. That third-place run came last season, and he is second to teammate Kyle Busch among active drivers in AFP at Kentucky (minimum three starts).

KURT BUSCH (+2000) won last season’s race at Kentucky, so why not again? He is fifth among active drivers with a 10.8 AFP in nine starts, including two top-5 runs, six top-10 showings and 137 laps led. Before his win last season, he was sixth in 2018. He now has four top-10 showings in his past five Kentucky starts. At this price he is a solid value and worth a small-unit wager.

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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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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.

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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.

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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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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.

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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.

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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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Folds of Honor QuikTrip 500 at Atlanta odds, picks and best bets

Previewing Sunday’s Folds of Honor QuikTrip 500 at Atlanta Motor Speedway sports betting odds and lines, with NASCAR analysis, picks and tips.

The NASCAR Cup Series heads to Atlanta Motor Speedway for the Folds of Honor QuikTrip 500. The green flag drops Sunday at 3 p.m. ET on FOX. Below, we analyze the Folds of Honor QuikTrip 500 odds and betting lines, with NASCAR picks and tips with odds from BetMGM sportsbook.

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 Friday, June 5 at 6:05 p.m. ET.

Penske Racing’s Brad Keselowski (+800) is the defending winner of this race, and he picked up checkers last season after starting from the 19th position.

  • The past three winners of the NASCAR Cup Series race in Atlanta have been in a Ford, with the three previous winners in a Chevrolet. A Toyota hasn’t been to Victory Lane in Atlanta since the AdvoCare 500 in 2013 when Kyle Busch (+650) raced to the win.
  • Hendrick Motorsports driver Chase Elliott (+600) has drawn the pole position, as starting spots 1-12 were a random draw from charter teams in those positions in team owner points.
  • The pole sitter hasn’t won in Atlanta in 18 Cup races dating back to Kasey Kahne (now retired) when he won the Golden Corral 500 in his Dodge March 20, 2006.
  • Four of the past six winners in Atlanta have started in position No. 10 or lower in the starting grid.
  • Stewart-Haas Racing driver Kevin Harvick (+450) leads all active drivers with 1,197 laps led in Atlanta. The next closest competitor is Ganassi’s Kurt Busch (+1600) with 802.

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

While a pole sitter hasn’t hoisted the trophy in Atlanta since 2006, ELLIOTT (+600) is always a good choice. He has been running very consistently since the restart of the season and has been in contention for every race since the return.

Elliott leads all active drivers with a 10.5 Average-Finish Position (AFP) in four starts in Atlanta, posting a top-5 run and three top-10 finishes. He has never ended up lower than 19th at the track.

KURT BUSCH (+1600) has three wins under his belt in Atlanta, while turning in seven top-5 showings and 14 top-10 runs in 28 career starts. Plus, he has a strong 14.9 AFP along with those 802 laps led. Father Time isn’t catching up with the veteran – he turns 42 in August – especially as far as Atlanta in concerned, as he leads all drivers with a 6.9 AFP across the past 10 starts at the track. That includes finishes of fourth, seventh, eighth and third over the past four runs.

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KESELOWSKI (+800) is running with a lot of confidence, and is the defending champ of this race. He also won last week at Bristol for his second victory in the past three races. And remember, Ford has been to Victory Lane in each of the past three Atlanta runs, so …

Atlanta Motor Speedway prop bets

KURT BUSCH (-125) is almost a near certainty to finish INSIDE THE TOP 10, so play that. In addition, take the elder BUSCH (-115) over Jimmie Johnson in a head-to-head, best finishing position prop.

Another strong head-to-head play is ARIC ALMIROLA (-115) over Matt DiBenedetto. Almirola hasn’t exactly lit the track afire, but DiBenedetto just has never been able to figure the place out. In four Cup starts, DiBenedetto is 29th, 28th, 31st and 26th.

Atlanta Motor Speedway long-shot bets

Ol’ wily veteran MATT KENSETH (+6000) of Ganassi Racing is worth a roll of the dice here. He has never won in 29 tries in Atlanta, but has turned in 11 top 5s, 17 top 10s and he has led 363 laps in his career. He has an 11.93 AFP, best among all active drivers with at least five starts at the venerable, bumpy track.

If you’re looking for a REAL long shot to bet on, try DANIEL SUAREZ (+50000). He has three Cup starts under his belt in Atlanta, finishing 21st in his debut in 2017, 15th in 2018 and 10th in 2019. Of course, he is now in a more inferior machine, racing for Gaunt Brothers Racing in the No. 96 Toyota rather than his previous years with JGR and one season with SHR, thus the extremely long odds. But hey, it’s worth a $1 bet.

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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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Food City presents the Supermarket Heroes 500 at Bristol odds, picks and best bets

Previewing Sunday’s Food City presents the Supermarket Heroes 500 at Bristol Motor Speedway sports betting odds and lines, with NASCAR analysis, picks and tips.

The NASCAR Cup Series moves to Bristol Motor Speedway for the Food City presents the Supermarket Heroes 500. The green flag drops Sunday at 3:30 p.m. ET.  Below, we analyze the Supermarket Heroes 500 odds and betting lines, with NASCAR picks and tips with odds from BetMGM sportsbook.

Supermarket Heroes 500: What you need to know

Odds courtesy of BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports’ betting odds for a full list. Lines last updated Friday, May 29 at 3:35 p.m. ET.

Hendrick Motorsports driver Chase Elliott (+900) was able to end his streak of bad luck by capturing checkers at the Alsco Uniforms 500 at Charlotte Motor Speedway Thursday night. He is among the favorites to win again Sunday.

  • Elliott leads all active drivers with an 11.5 Average-Finish Position (AFP) in eight career starts at Bristol. While he has never won at “The Last Great Colosseum,” he has three top-5 finishes, four top-10 showings and 199 laps led with no DNFs. He took third, 11th and fifth in his past three Bristol starts.
  • Joe Gibbs Racing driver KYLE BUSCH (+450) is the favorite, but he just hasn’t been himself. He’s only led 14 laps this season, and all of those occurred at the Daytona 500. That means the No. 18 machine hasn’t been out front in seven races dating back to Feb. 17. He leads all drivers with eight wins at Thunder Valley, posting a 13.45 AFP with 2,333 laps led in 29 career starts. He is sure to get it going at Bristol.
  • Ganassi Racing’s Matt Kenseth (+2500) is second among active drivers with four wins at Bristol. He owns 15 top-5 finishes and 22 top-10 runs in 36 career starts there with a 13.61 AFP and 1,583 laps led.
  • Kenseth’s Ganassi teammate KURT BUSCH (+1400) has managed six wins in 38 career starts at Bristol, second among active drivers only to his younger brother. The elder Busch has 12 top-5 finishes, 20 top-10 results and 1,095 laps led with only three DNFs.
  • Two of the past four pole sitters at Bristol have ended up winning, and four of the past 10 starters from the No. 1 position have come away with checkers.
  • Toyota has won four of the past five starts at Bristol Motor Speedway.

Who is going to win the Supermarket Heroes 500?

Both BUSCH BROTHERS would make for solid plays here – with a KYLE win paying 4.5 to 1 or better yet, a KURT victory scoring a nice 14-to-1 payoff.

Meanwhile, Hendrick Motorsports driver JIMMIE JOHNSON (+2000) is looking to snap a 103-start win drought. He is one of eight active drivers with two or more wins at the track.

The seven-time champ Johnson has a 13.28 AFP in 36 career starts with only 15 of his results outside of the top 10. He also has 914 laps led at Bristol and just one DNF.

Stewart-Haas Racing’s KEVIN HARVICK (+800) had a strong car Thursday night in Charlotte, but he faded late. He is also one of those multiple winners at Bristol, and figures to be right there in the end. He has 912 laps led and a 13.84 AFP in his career at the short track.

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BRAD KESELOWSKI (+1400) of Penske Racing had several years of ugly results at Bristol, but he showed well in last season’s summer “Night Race” with a third-place run. He has two career checkered flags at the short track, as does his teammate JOEY LOGANO (+600). The two Penske drivers have combined to lead 1,461 total laps at Thunder Valley, too. And don’t forget about Penske’s Ryan Blaney (+1600). He finished seventh, fourth and 10th in his past three Bristol runs.

Bristol Motor Speedway long-shot bets

Harvick’s teammate CLINT BOWYER (+2500) has never won in 28 career starts at Bristol, but he is always in the mix. He has seven top-5 showings, 15 top-10 finishes and a strong 14.07 AFP with only two DNFs and 281 laps led. Bowyer is eighth or better in each of his past four Bristol starts. A $10 wager would profit $250 if he claims the checkered flag.

JTG Daugherty’s RICKY STENHOUSE JR. (+4000) turned in a top-5 finish in Thursday’s Charlotte race, and he’ll arrive at Bristol brimming with confidence. He has always showed well at the short track, posting a 14.43 AFP in 14 career starts and just one DNF, although he has never led one lap here. Last season was a train wreck, as he was 33rd in both starts, but he averaged a 7.3 AFP in four starts from Summer 2016 to Spring 2018 at BMS. Backing the 40-to-1 long shot is worth a roll of the dice.

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Alsco Uniforms 500 at Charlotte odds, picks and best bets

Previewing Wednesday’s Alsco Uniforms 500 at Charlotte Motor Speedway sports betting odds and lines, with NASCAR analysis, picks and tips.

The NASCAR Cup Series continues on at Charlotte Motor Speedway Wednesday at 8 p.m. ET for the Alsco Uniforms 500. Below, we analyze the Alsco Uniforms 500 odds and betting lines, with NASCAR picks and tips with odds from BetMGM sportsbook.

Alsco Uniforms 500: What you need to know

Odds courtesy of BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports’ betting odds for a full list. Lines last updated Monday, May 25 at 6:05 p.m. ET.

It was another really entertaining race Sunday evening at the Coca-Cola 600 from Charlotte. Penske Racing’s Brad Keselowski (+900 for Wednesday’s 500) will be looking for the double-dip sweep in the Queen City, but is he a good bet?

  • Keselowski will start from the 20th position Wednesday, as Sunday’s finishing positions 1-20 will be inverted for the starting grid. His four previous stops at CMS resulted in a 19.3 Average-Finish Position (AFP), so go another way.
  • MARTIN TRUEX JR. (+500) is the Alsco Uniforms 500 favorite. He enters with five straight finishes of sixth or better at Charlotte, including Sunday’s sixth-place result. Eight of his past nine starts at the track have been sixth or better, good for a 4.0 AFP.
  • Joe Gibbs Racing driver KYLE BUSCH (+600), who took fourth at the 600, admitted after Sunday’s race that he “stole a top 5 (finish)” and that his car was maybe a “ninth-place car at best.”  He hasn’t been hitting on all cylinders so far this season, but he has a 3.7 AFP in his past three Charlotte starts.
  • Rookies Christopher Bell (+15000) and Tyler Reddick (+4000) made their Cup debuts Sunday at Charlotte, with Reddick ending up eighth and Bell finishing ninth.

Who is going to win the Alsco Uniforms 500?

Hendrick Motorsports driver CHASE ELLIOTT (+600) was snake-bitten in each of the past two races, and his bettors definitely suffered a bad beat Sunday. Elliott had what seemed to be an insurmountable lead with two laps to go at the 600, but teammate William Byron (+2000) cut a tire, bringing out the caution flag.

Elliott’s crew chief Alan Gustafson followed by making a questionable call, pitting for four tires. So, Elliott didn’t get to restart from the front and couldn’t make up the difference in the two-lap overtime period. He did work his way all the way up to third by the time the checkered flag waved – and actually received a second-place finish when JIMMIE JOHNSON (+900) failed post-race inspection and was disqualified. Byron, by the way, finished 20th, so he will be the pole-sitter on Wednesday night.

But it’s been back-to-back heartbreakers for the No. 9 car.

Elliott was wrecked late at Darlington by Kyle Busch, turning two potential wins in the past two races into nightmare finishes for Elliott and his bettors.

Meanwhile, seven-time champ JOHNSON (+900) looks to be running with renewed vigor, as he looks to snap a 102-race win drought dating back to June 4, 2017 at Dover. He is getting closer, and is worth a small-unit bet at a track he has fared well in the past.

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Kevin Harvick (+900) of Stewart-Haas Racing quietly posted a fifth-place finish Sunday despite the fact it looked like he just didn’t have it. This is a scary sign for the rest of the field, as he and his team have a few days to figure it out.

The better bet than Harvick, however, might be Hendrick’s ALEX BOWMAN (+800). He led 164 laps at the 600 before settling for a 19th-place finish. He proved earlier at the Auto Club 400 in California that he can win races, and he had a runner-up in Darlington in the first race back.

Charlotte Motor Speedway long-shot bets

Reddick and Bell are strong plays based on their top-10 performances Sunday. However, don’t sleep on RICKY STENHOUS JR. (+10000) for a small-unit wager. He was 13th, 10th and 5th in his prior three stops in Charlotte before a 24th-place run Sunday. He has the tools to not just finish high, but win at this track.

A little less risk AUSTIN DILLON (+8000). He won on this track in the 600 back in May 2017. Dillon posted a 14th-place run in Sunday’s race, and is worth a roll of the dice.

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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.

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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.

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NASCAR Cup Series race at Darlington odds, picks and best bets

Previewing Sunday’s NASCAR Cup Series race at Darlington Raceway, with NASCAR betting odds, picks and best bets.

Say goodbye to those virtual races, as the NASCAR Cup Series returns for real at Darlington Raceway Sunday at 3:30 p.m. ET. Below, we analyze the betting odds and lines, with NASCAR picks and tips with odds from BetMGM sportsbook.

NASCAR changes: What you need to know

Sunday’s return to action after the pause due to COVID-19 will not have any practice sessions or qualifying. In fact, there will be no practice sessions for any May race, and qualifying will only be held for the Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte May 24. Here is what we know:

  • Positions 1 through 12 to be determined by a random draw from charter teams in those positions in team owner points
  • Positions 13-24 to be determined by a random draw among charter teams in those positions in owner points
  • Positions 25-36 to be determined by a random draw among charter teams in those positions in owner points
  • Positions 37-40 to be filled out by open, non-chartered teams in order of owner points

NASCAR standings & Darlington odds

Odds courtesy of BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports’ betting odds for a full list. Lines last updated Wednesday, May 13 at 1:25 a.m. ET.

A quick perusal of the current standings after four starts shows Stewart-Haas Racing’s (SHR’s) Kevin Harvick (+600 for Sunday’s Darlington race) sitting in first, one point ahead of Penske Racing’s Joey Logano (+750). Hendrick Motorsports teammates Chase Elliott (+850), Alex Bowman (+1300) and Jimmie Johnson (+2000) are in third through fifth, respectively, while Penske’s Ryan Blaney (+2200) sits sixth. SHR’s Aric Almirola (+5000) is tied for seventh with Kyle Larson (more on him below). Matt DiBenedetto (+5000) of Wood Brothers is ninth, while Penske’s Brad Keselowski (+850) rounds out the top 10.

As for Larson, he was released by Chip Ganassi Racing and indefinitely suspended by NASCAR for uttering a racial slur during a live virtual racing broadcast during the COVID-19 pause. While he has completed a mandated sensitivity training course, Matt Kenseth (+2000) is coming out of retirement to join CGR in the No. 42 car.

Who is going to win Sunday at Darlington Raceway?

Joe Gibbs Racing’s Kyle Busch (+500) is noticeably absent from the top 10 in the standings, but he is actually listed as the race favorite due to his recent run of success at the track. While he hasn’t won in the past 10 stops, he has been 11th or better in each of those starts.

Busch has finished seventh or better in eight of his past 10 starts at Darlington, posting a stellar 11.1 Average-Finish Position (AFP) in his 15 overall runs at the South Carolina track.

Johnson actually leads all active drivers with three wins at “The Lady In Black,” and he has a 12.1 AFP in 21 starts with nine finishes inside the top 5. He has also led 554 laps, fourth-most of any driver. Busch actually leads with 716 laps led, followed by Harvick (581) and Denny Hamlin (+700), another driver currently outside of the top 10 in standings. That could change in a hurry, however.

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Martin Truex Jr. (+800) is also flying a bit under the radar – he won this race in 2016, followed by his JGR teammate Hamlin in 2017. So, definitely do not base your wagering decisions on starting position alone. The past two winners have come from a starting position of 15th and 13th, and the last five winners have been from eighth or lower in the starting grid, so the pole hasn’t amounted to much lately.

Darlington Raceway long-shot bets

If you’re looking to back a long shot, why not Kenseth? He is a rather moderate underdog in his return to the track. Kenseth won at Darlington as recently as the 2013 season, and raced a Cup car in 2018, albeit a 25th-place fun. He has five top-10 starts in his past seven Darlington runs, including the 2013 win, so how amazing of a story would it be if he won Sunday?

SHR’s Clint Bowyer (+5000) has been a disaster at Darlington in recent years, posting a 40th-place run in 2017, a 36th-place finish in 2018 before running sixth last season. He is a great driver, but a long shot for a reason, as he has found the title “Track Too Tough To Tame” apropos. In 14 career Darlington starts, he has a dismal 21.6 AFP with just two top-10 showings and only 17 laps led. Still, a driver of his caliber at this price is worth a small-unit bet, especially with all of the chaos and uncertainty heading into the season restart.

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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