NASCAR’s Cup Series wraps up the two-race season series at Pocono Raceway this Sunday afternoon with the running of the Gander RV 400. Race time on NBC Sports Network is set for 2 p.m.
Gander RV400 – Value Bets
Last Sunday in New Hampshire, betting on Kevin Harvick as my top-valued favorite at +660 odds finally paid off with his first Cup Series victory of the season. He was able to work his way past Denny Hamlin down the stretch with Erik Jones back in the mix with a second-straight third-place finish.
Turning my full attention to Sunday at Pocono, the following three drivers offer the best betting value based on posted odds to win at 5Dimes online sportsbook.
Gander RV400 Top Favorite – Brad Keselowski +550
Keselowski has been quietly racing in the wings this season. However, the No. 2 Ford is fifth in total points (663) and just one of three teams with three or more Cup Series victories this year. Firmly in place for a playoff spot in the 16-driver field, Keselowski can focus on what he does best; race hard with a ‘no holds barred’ mentality to winning races. His last Top 5 run was at Chicago, and he is coming off a 10th-place finish at New Hampshire. Keselowski has already led 790 laps this year to surpass his total laps led in two of the past three seasons.
The primary value in his odds to win this race is a solid track record in recent runs at Pocono. He took second in the first race here this season, and he has finished inside the top five drivers in seven of his last eight trips around this oval.
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Gander RV400 Top Contender – Chase Elliott +1760
As one of my favorite young guns of NASCAR, I am always looking to put Elliott in the mix at longer odds. He remains in solid shape for the 10-race playoff with his earlier victory at Talladega coupled with an eighth-place standing in total points with 615 through 20 events. The No. 9 Chevrolet has been struggling in recent weeks with six-straight runs outside the top 10, which helps to explain the higher odds. I am leaning more towards his overall racing resume this season in this pick.
I am also looking at his limited track record at Pocono when it comes to betting value. Elliott has finished 10th or better in six of seven previous Cup Series events at this track highlighted by a fourth-place run in the first race here this season.
Gander RV400 Top Longshot – Eric Jones +2200
Jones is another young gun that has caught my eye for this Sunday’s race. This season is just his third full-time in the Cup Series, and he has been able to post six runs inside the top five. Driving the No. 20 Toyota, Jones is at top form with those back-to-back third-place runs in his last two events. He broke through last season in the second race at Daytona for his first career win. This season, he is holding down 14th place in the standings with 516 total points to dial up the pressure to win again and secure a playoff spot.
This race will be his sixth career start at Pocono in a point race, and the early results have been impressive. Jones has a 9.6 average finishing position in those first five runs. This includes a fifth-place finish in this event last year, and a third-place run in the first race this season.
