The top eight drivers in the standings continue their quest for this season’s NASCAR.
Cup Series racing title with the playoff shifting to Martinsville Speedway this Sunday for the running of the First Data 500. Race time on NBC Sports Network is set for 2 p.m.
First Data 500 -Top Value Bets
Denny Hamlin punched his ticket to this elimination round by winning last Sunday’s race at Kansas. Chase Elliott worked his way into the final eight drivers with a second-place finish as my top-valued favorite for that race with Kyle Busch rounding out the Top 3.
The betting odds to win at Martinsville are on the NASCAR board at 5Dimes online sportsbook, and the following three drivers offer the best betting value in their numbers.
Top Favorite – Kyle Busch +275
Busch has remained at the top or near the top of the Cup Series standings all season long. His No. 18 Toyota is ranked first, heading into this elimination round with a total of 4046 points. Although he is in a great position to stay in the top four for the season-ending championship race, he has yet to win a playoff race through the first six events. Somewhere along the line, Busch is going to have cross the finish line first to guarantee that spot in the championship field, and this Sunday could be his best chance.
Busch finished third in the first race at Martinsville this season. Going back to the 2015 Cup Series season, he has finished in the top five in his last eight trips around this track, including a pair of victories.
Top Contender – Kevin Harvick +1240
As another top contender to win this year’s racing title, it is time that Harvick makes his way to the Winner’s Circle. His last point-race victory was at Indianapolis in the final regular-season race of the year. This was part of three wins on the year. He has finished ninth or better in five of the first six playoff events, but he also knows he has to get the No. 4 Ford across the finish line first in one of the next three playoff races to secure a shot at his second career racing championship. What makes Harvick so attractive at these long odds this week is his ability to stay competitive in almost every race he runs. Holding down fifth place in the current standings with 4028 total points, he has placed in the top 10 in 22 of 32 events this season.
Harvick finished sixth in the first race at this track early in the season, but his average finishing position here over the course of his Cup Series career is just 15.1. He has been able to finish in the top 10 in each of his last four trips around the short track at Martinsville.
Top Longshot – Kyle Larson +4400
It took Larson 75 races to end his winless drought going back to the 2017 season with the recent playoff win at Dover. Sitting in seventh place in the current standings with 4011 total points, it is probably going to take another victory in one of the next three races to keep his title hopes alive. Following a wreck at Talladega two weeks ago, the No. 42 Chevrolet faded to 14th place at Kansas. Consistency from week-to-week has been an issue for this team, but it is hard to pass up such long odds on a driver that still has a chance to win it all.
The driving force behind these long odds is a dismal 23.6 average finishing position at Martinsville through 11 previous Cup Series races. His best career finish here was third in the first race of the 2016 season.
