NASCAR betting odds lines picks predictions best bets – Page 9

2021 Instacart 500 odds, picks and prediction

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

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

2021 Instacart 500: What you need to know

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

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

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

Get some action on this NASCAR race with a legal, online bet at BetMGM in CO, IA, IN, MI, NJ, PA, TN, VA and WV. Risk-free first bet up to $500, paid in free bets. Terms and conditions apply. Bet now!

Who is going to win the 2021 Instacart 500?

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

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

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

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

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

Play our new free daily Pick’em Challenge and win! Play now!

2021 Instacart 500 long-shot bet

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

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

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

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

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

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

[lawrence-newsletter]

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

2021 Pennzoil 400 odds, picks and prediction

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

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

2021 Pennzoil 400: What you need to know

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

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

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

Who is going to win the 2021 Pennzoil 400?

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

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

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

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

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

Play our new free daily Pick’em Challenge and win! Play now!

2021 Pennzoil 400 long-shot bet

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

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

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

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

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

[lawrence-newsletter]

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

2021 Dixie Vodka 400 odds, predictions and picks

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

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

2021 Dixie Vodka 400: What you need to know

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

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

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

Who is going to win the 2021 Dixie Vodka 400?

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

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

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

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

Play our new free daily Pick’em Challenge and win! Play now!

2021 Dixie Vodka 400 long-shot bet

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

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

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

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

[lawrence-newsletter]

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Play our new free daily Pick’em Challenge and win! Play now!

O’Reilly Auto Parts 253 long-shot bet

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

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

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

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

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

[lawrence-newsletter]

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

Daytona 500 odds, picks and prediction

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

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

Daytona 500: What you need to know

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

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

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

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

Special Daytona 500 Betting Promotion!

Bet $1 on any driver to win, WIN $100 (in free bets) if your driver just completes a lap. New customer offer, available in CO, IA, IN, MI, NJ, TN, VA and WV. PA residents, don’t miss BetMGM‘s risk-free, first-bet offer!

Place all of your legal, online sports bets at BetMGM. Terms and conditions apply. Bet now!

Who is going to win the Daytona 500?

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

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

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

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

Play our new free daily Pick’em Challenge and win! Play now!

Daytona 500 long-shot bet

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

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

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

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

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

[lawrence-newsletter]

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

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.

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

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

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. Follow SportsbookWire on Twitter and like us on Facebook.

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

[lawrence-newsletter]

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

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.

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

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.

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. Follow SportsbookWire on Twitter and like us on Facebook.

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

[lawrence-newsletter]

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

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.

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

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.

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. Follow SportsbookWire on Twitter and like us on Facebook.

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

[lawrence-newsletter]

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

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.

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

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?

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. Follow SportsbookWire on Twitter and like us on Facebook.

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

[lawrence-newsletter]

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

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.

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

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.

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. Follow SportsbookWire on Twitter and like us on Facebook.

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

[lawrence-newsletter]

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