Tag: William Byron

Breaking down NASCAR’s playoff picture after Kevin Harvick won the first elimination race

After Kevin Harvick dominated the first round of NASCAR’s playoffs, here’s a look at who advanced and who was eliminated.

Kevin Harvick won his ninth race of the 2020 NASCAR Cup Series season Saturday at Bristol Motor Speedway, taking the checkered flag in two of the first three playoff races. All season, Harvick has had the car to beat, and his nine wins are the most he’s had in a single season in his 20-year career.

But the night race at the .533-mile Tennessee short track was also the first elimination event in the 10-race playoffs.

The playoff field started with 16 drivers, but only 12 advanced to the next round and remain eligible for the championship still: Harvick, Denny Hamlin, Brad Keselowski, Joey Logano, Chase Elliott, Martin Truex Jr., Alex Bowman, Austin Dillon, Aric Almirola, Kyle Busch, Clint Bowyer and Kurt Busch.

After the next three races in the Round of 12, the playoff field will shrink down to eight drivers and then eventually to the final Championship 4, who will compete for a title at Phoenix Raceway in November.

Here’s a breakdown of the current NASCAR Cup Series playoff picture after the first elimination race.

Which drivers enter the Round of 12 playing catch up?

Yes, the Round of 16 just ended, but it’s impossible to not look ahead at the next elimination event in a few weeks. And four drivers start the next round below the upcoming cutoff mark: Almirola, Kyle Busch, Bowyer and Kurt Busch.

Disappointed in his inability to catch and pass Harvick for the late lead at Bristol, Kyle Busch offered a series of short and curt answers during his post-race Zoom press conference. He said he doesn’t feel like his team has the speed to keep up with Harvick and Hamlin.

And when asked how he feels about starting the Round of 12 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, his “home” track, Busch responded without much optimism at this point:

“We’ll be eliminated next round, so don’t care.”

William Byron eliminated before Bristol’s halfway point

William Byron entered the playoffs with a bit of momentum on his side after earning his first Cup Series victory in the regular-season finale at Daytona International Speedway. But after coming in 21st at Richmond Raceway last weekend, he was just below the top-12 cutoff line.

Bryon started Saturday night’s Bristol race 15th, and he was eliminated from the playoffs during the second stage because of damage to his No. 24 Chevrolet. Running 10th at the time, he rear-ended Christopher Bell in the No. 95 Toyota, and Byron and his spotter, Tab Boyd, put the blame on Joey Gase in the No. 51 Ford.

Calling the playoff-eliminating incident “ridiculous,” Byron explained his perspective on the situation after being cleared by the in-field care center:

“The No. 51 just checked up in the middle of the straightaway and had nowhere to go. And the No. 95 slammed on the brakes to try to not hit him, and I slammed into him because I was on his bumper. So just a terrible situation, but not really sure why that happened or what really transpired for him to stop like that.”

In addition to Byron, Ryan Blaney, Matt DiBenedetto and Cole Custer were eliminated from the playoffs.

Round of 12 opens at Las Vegas and closes at the Roval

This round is not going to be easy with the three upcoming tracks. With only 12 playoff drivers remaining, the next round starts at Las Vegas Motor Speedway with the South Point 400 on Sunday, Sept. 27 at 7 p.m. ET.

But then the playoffs will head to the Talladega Superspeedway before taking on Charlotte Motor Speedway’s half-oval, half-road course track — or Roval — in the second elimination race. Though very different tracks, both are unpredictable and could create chaos, as well as some real problems for playoff drivers.

(Jasen Vinlove-USA TODAY Sports)

And with the Roval serving as a cutoff race, there’s even more pressure on drivers to have strong performances in the first two races this round.

“It’s not a fun place to be,” Logano said Thursday about the possibility of being on the cutoff bubble at the Roval. The No. 22 Team Penske Ford driver clinched his spot in the Round of 12 in the middle of the Bristol race.

“It’s a stressful place. … You’re gonna have to win at some point, and the pressure is gonna be on one way or another. So you want to try to make the next two races be able to score as many points as possible to position yourself in a good spot, but at some point the pressure is gonna be there. Yeah, I don’t want to have my back against the wall at the Roval. But if it does, it does, and we’ll handle it then.”

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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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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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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.

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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.

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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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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.

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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.

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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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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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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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NASCAR driver William Byron got his start in iRacing, which has ‘come full circle now’

For The Win spoke with rising NASCAR star William Byron about the competition and culture of the virtual racing world.

NASCAR driver William Byron knows the iRacing world better than most — if not all — of the drivers currently competing online while the COVID-19 pandemic has the real-life season on hold.

When some drivers’ racing roots go back to go-karts or two wheels or dirt, the 22-year-old driver of the iconic No. 24 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet got his start in the virtual racing world, highlighting the rare but conceivable route of turning simulation racing into a career on an actual track. And because of that, Byron is regularly a favorite to win in the eNASCAR iRacing Pro Invitational Series, an exhibition series started while the regular NASCAR season is postponed because of the coronavirus outbreak.

And after leading the most laps in the first two races of the Pro Invitational Series but finishing empty-handed, Byron led 116 of 150 laps and took the checkered flag in the third event, which was two weekends ago at the virtual Bristol Motor Speedway.

He’s also a favorite to win the next virtual event Sunday at Richmond Raceway (1 p.m. ET) — where NASCAR would have competed in real life this weekend — and said that with not much else to do, he’s been on iRacing at least an hour every day.

William Byron does a burnout on the virtual Bristol Motor Speedway in this computer-generated in-game image. (Chris Graythen/Getty Images)

After the motor sports world moved entirely online, iRacing is now in the spotlight with NASCAR’s exhibition races even being broadcast on FOX and FS1. So For The Win spoke with Byron this week about his return to virtual racing and the culture of online competition.

This interview has been condensed and edited for clarity.

Does all this focus on iRacing right now take you back to some good ol’ days?

It does, yeah, definitely. It’s how I got started, so it’s crazy to see it come full circle now. It’s definitely different because it’s taken on a new meaning and a serious meaning.

Because technology advances so rapidly, is iRacing now comparable at all to what you did growing up? Has it changed much, or is it still fairly similar?

It has changed quite a bit. There’s a lot of things that they’ve added since my first time on the sim. They’ve changed the tire wear — like the heat of the tires and the way they build air pressure and wear out differently based on how you drive the car. The aerodynamic properties of the car have gotten a lot different and a lot more in-tune with what they really are. So those things have changed quite a bit, which I think has really changed the game for us.

How would you describe the online culture of iRacing? Aside from not interacting with people face-to-face, how is it different from real life?

I think honestly there’s some differences in the culture online because everyone can talk to each other, and that’s much different than, obviously, what we normally work with.

But there’s also a lot of similarities in the way that the racing is online because the code of conduct that iRacing has is very similar to the real-life code of conduct. So it’s honestly not all that different.

Is there more trash talking because you can talk to each other?

I would say so. There’s the ability to have that for sure, and that’s definitely unique. Everyone can talk on the chat at the same time, so there’s more discussion back and forth between people than in real life when you can’t talk to the other people out there.

Is it ongoing conversation, or are you concentrating the whole time?

During green flag [runs], there’s not really much talking. But during the cautions, people talk back and forth.

Can you compare the competition in real life to iRacing or is that not fair?

I think honestly there’s more quality competition just because everyone has access to the same resources, so I think it makes the races really close and competitive. Obviously, real racing is very competitive, and there’s a lot there. But I think there are a lot of people on iRacing that are super competitive and a lot of equal abilities.

How would you describe the intensity of your rig on a scale of Denny Hamlin to a folding chair and a laptop?

Mine’s a middle ground between a Timmy Hill setup and a Denny Hamlin setup I would say. Over the years, I’ve learned what I need and sim seats, who does my simulator setup, they do a good job of building some good, quality rigs that are also not too elaborate.

Is there a virtual track you like to race on that you haven’t gotten to in real life?

I would say Montreal in Canada. That’s a really cool track. It’s a road course. I think it’d really be they used to race XFINITY cars there, so that’s a track I’d love to race on that I’ve ran laps at virtually.

What’s your favorite car to drive in iRacing?

Honestly, my favorite thing recently has been the sprint cars because those things are really, really fun to drive. They’re difficult. The dirt racing’s been a lot of fun to work with and drive.

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NASCAR: William Byron, Ryan Blaney to run special paint scheme to honor Kobe Bryant

The No. 24 and No. 12 cars will be purple and gold for Sunday’s race in California.

The NASCAR Cup Series returns to California this weekend for the Auto Club 400 in Fontana, an hour east of Los Angeles, and the sport will pay tribute to Kobe Bryant, Gianna Bryant and the seven other victims of the tragic helicopter crash in various ways at Auto Club Speedway. Bryant’s number 24 will reportedly be painted on the infield grass at the track, and the names of the victims will be read during pre-race ceremonies.

Two drivers, William Byron and Ryan Blaney, will run special paint schemes to honor the victims. Byron, driver of the No. 24 Axalta Chevrolet for Hendrick Motorsports, will race this weekend with a special purple-and-gold scheme.

Hendrick Motorsports announced that Axalta will make a donation to After-School All-Stars, an organization Bryant was involved with, and that proceeds from the sale of die-cast cars will be donated as well.

Ryan Blaney, driver of the No. 12 BODYARMOR Ford for Team Penske, will also race with a purple-and-gold scheme that features Gianna’s No. 2 and Bryant’s No. 24 on the car.

Driver Daniel Suarez will also wear special gloves and shoes during the race to honor the victims.

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NASCAR Betting: Pennzoil 400 odds, picks and best bets

Previewing Sunday’s NASCAR Cup Series Pennzoil 400 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, with NASCAR betting odds, picks and best bets

The NASCAR Cup Series moves to the Las Vegas Motor Speedway Sunday afternoon for the Pennzoil 400 at 3:30 p.m. ET. Below, we analyze the Pennzoil 400 betting odds and lines, with NASCAR picks and tips.

The weather won’t be a problem like it was in Daytona last weekend, when a surprise rain storm ended up pushing the race to Monday. The haulers had one less day to travel across the country, subsequently canceling the mid-week hauler parade down The Strip, but the cars and drivers will be ready to go Sunday with no interruptions.

Who is going to win the 2020 Pennzoil 400 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway?

Odds courtesy of BetMGM; access them at USA TODAY Sports for a full list. Odds last updated Friday at 3:30 p.m. ET.

The winner of the most recent Cup race at Vegas, Joe Gibbs Racing driver Martin Truex Jr. (+550), is among the favorites at this race. Only Vegas-born driver and teammate Kyle Busch (+500) and Stewart-Haas Racing’s Kevin Harvick (+500) have shorter odds.

MTJ has posted two wins in 16 career starts in Vegas, with five top-5 showings and eight top-10 finishes with a 10.9 Average-Finish Position (AFP). He’ll be a very popular selection this weekend. Truex also tops the charts with a 123.8 Driver Rating across the past five starts in Vegas, according to NASCAR’s Loop Data. Busch has a win in 17 career starts, posting nine top-10 showings and a 12.7 AFP.

New to sports betting? A successful $10 wager on Truex to win would return a profit of $55.

Looking to place a bet on this race or other motorsports? Get some action in the NASCAR race through BetMGM. Sign up and bet at BetMGM now!

Penske Racing driver Joey Logano (+700) will also be a pick many gravitate toward, as he has a 5.0 AFP and 116.8 Driver Rating across his past five starts at LVMS while running a circuit-best 95.4 percent of his laps inside the Top 15 during the impressive span. He also has eight consecutive top-10 showings at the track.

Logano’s teammate Brad Keselowski (+600) is also a solid play, as he has three straight finishes of third or best at Vegas, including a win. He is a nice selection to finish in the Top 3 (+150).

2020 Pennzoil 400 longshot bets

Keselowski and Logano’s teammate, Ryan Blaney (+2000), kicked off his 2020 campaign with a second-place run at Daytona. He heads into this one with a 95.6 Driver Rating over the past five Vegas starts while posting an 8.8 AFP. He has finished seventh or better in five of his past six starts at the track, too, including three top-5 showings in the previous four.

Hendrick Motorsports’ William Byron (+2500) and Alex Bowman (+3000) finished in the Top 10 in the second Vegas race last season, with Byron seventh and Bowman sixth. Those two are worth a small-unit bet with rather moderate odds. Tossing a little change on their veteran teammate, seven-time Cup champ Jimmie Johnson (+3000) is also worth a shot. He has four career wins at Vegas to lead all active drivers, and he is 12th or better in seven of his past 10 starts at the track.

Want some action in this one? Place a bet at BetMGM now. For more sports betting tips, visit SportsbookWire.com.

Follow @JoeWilliamsVI and @SportsbookWire on Twitter.

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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