Brad Keselowski

Thirty-eight of the 40 starting positions for the 2021 Daytona 500 will be determined in Thursday's Duels. 

Alex Bowman and William Byron locked into front-row spots on the starting grid from Wednesday's qualifying session. The rest of the drivers will fight for positions on the second row and beyond on Thursday. 

The first of the two Duels will decide the odd-numbered positions on the grid. Polesitter Bowman will lead the field for that race, which includes two-time reigning Daytona 500 champion Denny Hamlin and Joey Logano.

The second Duel carries more star power with Kurt and Kyle Busch, Kevin Harvick, Chase Elliott, Ryan Blaney and Brad Keselowski among the 22 drivers. 

Hamlin and Elliott are viewed as the favorites to win their respective Duels, but there are a few experienced drivers with longer odds who could carry better value for the pair of 150-mile races. 

        

Daytona Duel Odds

Odds via DraftKings Sportsbook.

Duel 1

Denny Hamlin (+550; bet $100 to win $550)

Joey Logano (+650)

Kyle Larson (+700)

Aric Almirola (+750)

Alex Bowman (+900)

Ricky Stenhouse Jr. (+1000)

    

Duel 2

Chase Elliott (+650)

Ryan Blaney (+700)

Kyle Busch (+700)

Kevin Harvick (+700)

Brad Keselowski (+700)

Bubba Wallace (+1000)

William Byron (+1100)

Martin Truex Jr. (+1100)

     

Predictions

Team Penske Wins At Least One Race

Team Penske has a three-year winning streak in the Duels. 

Ryan Blaney took first in his Duel in 2018 and Joey Logano captured victories in 2019 and 2020. 

Blaney started "Speedweeks" off with a strong run in the Clash, which was run on the Daytona road course for the first time. 

The No. 12 car driver was denied a victory on Tuesday after a final-lap collision with Chase Elliott led to Kyle Busch crossing the finish line first. 

Blaney may have the best chance of the three Team Penske drivers to win on Thursday since he posted the best speed between him, Logano and Brad Keselowski in qualifying and has a teammate to draft with in the second Duel. 

Keselowski will begin Duel 2 two rows behind Blaney, and both start the race on the inside lane. If they link up early, they could be a formidable one-two punch for the entire race. 

Logano may not receive as much help in Duel 1 since seven of the eight cars at the top of the grid are Chevrolets and Toyotas. 

If Blaney and Keselowski perform well, they could challenge the Hendrick Motorsports duo of Elliott and Byron, who both start in the top five. 

If a Penske-Hendrick showdown occurs, it would be a battle of five of the last six Duel winners. Stewart-Haas Racing is the only other team with a Duel victory in that span.

Given Penske's recent history in the Duels, a bet on Blaney or Keselowski at +700 in Duel 2, or even Logano at +650 to take Duel 1 should be worth it. 

      

Bubba Wallace Extends Strong Showing At Daytona

Bubba Wallace had the fastest Toyota during Wednesday's qualifying session. In fact, the No. 23 car driver was one of three team members in the top 12. 

Of course, a lot can change between now and Sunday because qualifying counts one lap and the actual race is a 500-mile shootout, but right now, he has the fastest Toyota. 

Wallace is expected to have improved results in 2021 with better horsepower under his engine because of 23XI Racing's partnership with Joe Gibbs Racing. 

If Wednesday's qualifying session is a sign of things to come, Wallace should be in the mix for a top position in Duel 2. 

Although he is not a member of Joe Gibbs Racing, Wallace could receive help from Kyle Busch and Martin Truex Jr. since they are the only three Toyota competitors entered in Duel 2. 

Wallace, Busch and Truex will all start on the outside lane, so they could work together to generate momentum off that side of the track to earn an early edge over Elliott, Keselowski, Blaney and Kevin Harvick, all of whom start on the inside for Duel 2. 

If Wallace runs well again on Thursday, he could be one of the popular long-shot selections to win the Daytona 500, or be a popular pick for top-five or top-10 prop bets. 

            

Follow Joe on Twitter, @JTansey90.

Statistics obtained from NASCAR.com.

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Chase Elliott, Brad Keselowski, Denny Hamlin or Joey Logano will leave Phoenix Raceway on Sunday as the 2020 NASCAR Cup Series champion.

That quartet advanced to the final four after a dramatic penultimate race at Martinsville Speedway—won by Elliott—last time out. Keselowski and Logano are the only members of the group to have won the Cup Series in their careers.

In addition to crowning a champion Sunday, NASCAR will bid farewell to Jimmie Johnson, who is retiring from the competition after a two-decade career in which he's won seven championships.

While the title race and Johnson's farewell will capture the spotlight, there is a chance Kevin Harvick steals the show in the chase for his 10th victory of the season.

                      

Series Finale 500 Information

Date: Sunday, November 8

Start Time: 3 p.m. ET 

TV: NBC

Live Stream: NBCSports.com or NBC Sports app

                 

Odds

Kevin Harvick: +400 (bet $100 to win $400)

Chase Elliott: +450

Denny Hamlin: +450

Brad Keselowski: +450

Joey Logano: +500

Kyle Busch: +900

Odds via DraftKings Sportsbook

                

Starting Lineup

And here’s your starting lineup for the NASCAR Cup Series championship race. pic.twitter.com/Y5dATIwWPh

— Jeff Gluck (@jeff_gluck) November 4, 2020

             

Preview

The four championship contenders do not have to win the Season Finale 500 to become champion.

But if a member of the quartet crosses the finish line first, he will capture the 2020 Cup Series title.

Elliott, Hamlin and Keselowski have the same odds to capture first place, while Logano is slightly behind the trio.

Harvick is the bookmakers' favorite to win the race. He produced a series high nine wins, but he failed to qualify for the final four based off points out of Martinsville.

In March, Harvick landed in second place behind Logano in the Cup Series' first trip of the season to Arizona. Elliott was seventh, Keselowski took 12th and Hamlin finished 20th. Harvick has nine victories at Phoenix, which solidifies his favorite status to win the race.

Logano believes Team Penske is best prepared to complete the season sweep at Phoenix and win the title, per NASCAR.com's Terrin Waack:

"Honestly, I feel l like this year feels a lot like 2018. It's actually kind of funny because I think about 2018 where we had not the best summer months, then we kind of picked it up as the playoffs started [and] won Martinsville, the first race of the third round, which set up to race for a championship in Miami that year. ...

"I think the experience is there, the speed is there. I think the mentality of the way we race is there. I truly believe that we're the favorites to win this thing."

The No. 22 car driver competed with the least amount of pressure in the past two races after automatically advancing to the final four by way of his victory at Kansas Speedway on Oct. 18.

Hamlin is the only other title contender to win at Phoenix, capturing the March 2012 and November 2019 competitions at the circuit. The Joe Gibbs Racing driver drew the worst starting position of the four finalists, all of whom start in the first two rows.

Elliott is on the pole thanks to the starting position formula that heavily weighed his victory at Martinsville. He will be racing for a trophy while sending off his Hendrick Motorsports teammate Johnson, who is proud of what he has accomplished in the NASCAR Cup Series, telling ESPN's Ryan McGee.

"My entire life has always been about the experience. All I ever wanted to do was win one race. After I did that, I had to adjust my goals. Now I am adjusting them all the time. I have had opportunities that I never dreamed of. I have a lot more of those opportunities coming. I don't know where all it will take me, where it will take my family, but that's the exciting part."

Johnson does not have a victory in 2020, but if there is a track where he can go out a winner, it is Phoenix, where he owns four victories.

                   

Follow Joe on Twitter, @JTansey90. Statistics obtained from Racing Reference.

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The NASCAR Cup Series' last three playoff finalists will be determined Sunday at Martinsville Speedway.

Joey Logano moved on to the final four with a victory at Kansas Speedway on Oct. 8. No one joined him in the automatic bid group last time out since Kyle Busch earned his first win of the season at Texas Motor Speedway.

Kevin Harvick, Denny Hamlin and Brad Keselowski sit in the advancing positions going into the Xfinity 500. Keselowski comes in on the bubble with a 25-point advantage over Alex Bowman and Chase Elliott. Martin Truex Jr. sits 36 points back of Keselowski, and Kurt Busch is 81 points adrift of the cutoff.

Although Truex has plenty of ground to gain, he could throw a wrench in the postseason plans of some drivers given he has won the past two races at the short track in Virginia.

                      

Xfinity 500 Information

Date: Sunday, November 1

Start Time: 2 p.m. ET 

TV: NBC

Live Stream: NBCSports.com and NBC Sports app

               

Starting Lineup

Keselowski on the pole and Truex on the front row for Sunday at Martinsville. #nascar pic.twitter.com/nogzaEvoPP

— Bob Pockrass (@bobpockrass) October 29, 2020

           

Odds

Martin Truex Jr.: +325 (bet $100 to win $325)

Denny Hamlin: +550

Brad Keselowski: +550

Chase Elliott: +700

Kyle Busch: +800

Joey Logano: +800

Ryan Blaney: +900

Kevin Harvick: +900

Odds via DraftKings Sportsbook.

          

Preview

Harvick, Hamlin and Keselowski are in the best positions to join Logano in the final four at Phoenix Raceway on Nov. 8. The four competitors who advance to final round are the only drivers eligible to win the championship.

The trio just need solid runs to accumulate more points and fend off any challenges from the four drivers beneath the cut line.

Harvick is 15 points ahead of Hamlin and needs 39 points to secure his spot in the championship round. Since Hamlin is only two points above Keselowski, the two have to battle for positioning throughout the race in case Bowman, Elliott, Truex or Busch wins.

Keselowski produced wins at Martinsville in 2017 and 2019 and took third behind Truex and Ryan Blaney on June 10 on the Virginia short track.

The No. 2 car driver shared his thoughts about Sunday's race with Fox Sports' Bob Pockrass: "We just need to have a solid day at Martinsville. The two cars in front of us are real close in points. If we have a solid day, we'll be just fine."

Truex could be the biggest threat to steal a position away from Hamlin or Keselowski because of his recent history at the track. The No. 19 car driver led 132 of the 500 laps in June's event at Martinsville and is in possession of back-to-back wins on the short track.

The 2017 Cup Series champion would have been in a better position to move on had his team not suffered a 20-point pre-race penalty in Texas. While he has had success at Martinsville, Truex knows how unpredictable the track can be, as he told NASCAR.com's Zack Albert:

"Yes and no. I mean, a must‑win at any track, no matter how good you've been there in the past, I think is a challenge. The last race there that we ran and to lead all the laps that we did, whatever, it's no guarantee. We've got to work hard this week to make sure we're prepared. I know the guys have already been doing that. So definitely optimistic. It's a good track for us, but it's a short track and a lot can happen on restarts and things. We'll go there and do the best job we can."

Bowman, Elliott and Busch all finished in the top 10 in June, but only the latter has a Martinsville victory on his resume from 2014.

Elliott acknowledged in conversation with Autoweek's Matt Weaver that he will enter Sunday looking to win and not to rely on points: "For us, we need to go win. That's kind of the bottom line. I'm not even going to look at points because, in my opinion, it really doesn't matter."

Bowman, Truex and Busch should share that same mentality, which sets up Sunday's race to be one of the most thrilling of the 2020 season.

                    

Follow Joe on Twitter, @JTansey90. Statistics obtained from Racing-Reference.

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One of Kevin Harvick, Denny Hamlin, Brad Keselowski and Chase Elliott will not get a chance to run for the 2020 NASCAR Cup Series title.

The four favorites to advance to the championship round of the postseason were surprised by Joey Logano's victory at Kansas Speedway. That leaves three positions—two to potential race winners—left to move on from the round of eight. The first of those two races takes place Sunday at Texas Motor Speedway.

Harvick and Hamlin captured three of the past four races in Fort Worth, Texas. The exception to that trend was Austin Dillon's victory in July. Keselowski and Elliott do not have wins at the track, and they finished ninth and 12th in the season's first trip to the course.

Alex Bowman, Martin Truex Jr. and Kurt Busch are still alive in the round of eight, but their best way to get into the final four is through a victory because of the gap in points between themselves and the top four.

                     

Autotrader EchoPark Automotive 500 Information

Date: Sunday, October 25

Start Time: 3:30 p.m. ET

TV: NBCSN 

Live Stream: NBCSports.com or NBC Sports app

             

Starting Lineup

Kevin Harvick on the pole, Joey Logano on the front row for Cup race at Texas. #nascar pic.twitter.com/k3sD3tERBW

— Bob Pockrass (@bobpockrass) October 21, 2020

           

Odds

Kevin Harvick: +240 (bet $100 to win $240

Denny Hamlin: +450

Joey Logano: +750

Chase Elliott: +850

Ryan Blaney: +1000

Martin Truex Jr.: +1000

Brad Keselowski: +1100

Kyle Busch: +1500

Odds via DraftKings Sportsbook.

                 

Preview

Harvick and Hamlin are two of four racers to take three or more wins at Texas Motor Speedway.

All three of Harvick's triumphs in the Lone Star State occurred in the past six races. He started in the top three in each of those victories. On Sunday, the No. 4 car driver begins the 500-mile race in the pole position with Logano next to him.

Hamlin will have to make up some ground since he begins the race on the fourth row alongside Kurt Busch. The Joe Gibbs Racing competitor won back-to-back races at Texas in 2010 and picked up his third victory at the track in 2019.

You could make the case that Hamlin may have trouble winning since he owns a single victory at Texas since 2011, but he still possesses seven top-five finishes and 13 top-10 placings.

Hamlin produced a rare 20th-placed finish at Texas in July, and his form at the track suggests he will rebound from that result. If he lands in the top five or 10 again, Hamlin should feel safe about his position in the final four heading into the race at Martinsville Speedway on Nov. 1. The same can be said about Harvick's playoff chances.

Keselowski could be face much more difficulty than the top two drivers in the playoff standings. He has five top-five placings in 24 races at Texas. Those statistics convinced the oddsmakers to give the Penske Racing driver higher odds than other playoff competitors to win Sunday.

Elliott may be in a tough spot as well given he did not finish in the top 10 in each of his past three starts at Texas. If Keselowski and Elliott slip up Sunday, it may open the door for Bowman and Truex to pick up points and threaten their playoff positions at Martinsville.

Keselowski sits on the cut line with an eight-point advantage over Elliott. Bowman is 19 points back of Elliott, there is a four-point difference back to Truex and Busch is 40 points behind the No. 19 car driver.

Busch most likely needs a victory at Texas or Martinsville to advance, while Bowman and Truex still have an opportunity to move on through points if the Texas trends of Keselowski and Elliott continue Sunday.

                   

Follow Joe on Twitter, @JTansey90. Statistics obtained from Racing-Reference.

           

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The third stage of the NASCAR Cup Series postseason begins Sunday at Kansas Speedway.

Eight drivers are left in contention for the series title. That list will be trimmed to four after the next three races.

Chase Elliott sits on the pole for the Hollywood Casino 400. He is coming off a victory at the Charlotte Motor Speedway road course.

Since the playoffs began September 6, five drivers have made it to Victory Lane, with Kevin Harvick being the only racer to do so twice. Harvick has three victories at Kansas, with the most recent occurring in 2018.

Harvick and Elliott are two of six competitors still alive in the NASCAR postseason who have won at Kansas since the start of the 2014 season.

                     

Hollywood Casino 400 Information

Date: Sunday, October 18

Start Time: 2:30 p.m. ET 

TV: NBC 

Live Stream: NBC Sports app or NBCSports.com.

             

Starting Lineup

Chase Elliott on the pole and Joey Logano joins him on the front row Sunday at Kansas. #nascar pic.twitter.com/N486wT6ktW

— Bob Pockrass (@bobpockrass) October 14, 2020

            

Odds

Denny Hamlin: +400 (bet $100 to win $400)

Kevin Harvick: +400

Martin Truex Jr.: +550

Chase Elliott: +600

Brad Keselowski: +800

Ryan Blaney: +1200

Kyle Busch: +1400

Joey Logano: +1400

Odds via DraftKings Sportsbook.

            

Preview

Hamlin appears to have a slight edge on Harvick because of his back-to-back wins at Kansas.

The No. 11 car driver is second behind Harvick in the points standings and is likely the biggest threat to the No. 4 car's championship hopes. Hamlin owns two more stage wins than Harvick this season, but the Stewart-Haas Racing driver possesses more victories, laps led, top-five and top-10 finishes.

In July, Hamlin led the most laps on the way to his third victory at the midwestern speedway.

Joe Gibbs Racing was in control of the summer race at Kansas, as Hamlin, Kyle Busch and Martin Truex Jr. combined to lead 153 of the 267 laps.

Busch is the only member of the trio who did not advance to the final eight. He lost out on that spot after his brother, Kurt Busch, captured victory at Las Vegas Motor Speedway at the end of September.

While Harvick could challenge the Gibbs Toyotas, Brad Keselowski might be the team's biggest competition Sunday. He was in front for 30 laps in July, won at Kansas in 2019 and could use a victory to shrink the gap between himself, Harvick and Hamlin going into Texas Motor Speedway on Oct. 25.

Harvick holds a 13-point advantage over Hamlin, and Keselowski is 32 points back of the series leader. The trio has combined for 20 victories out of 32 in 2020.

Elliott sits eight points behind Keselowski, and a high finish could help him gain separation over Joey Logano in the race for the top four.

After the next three races, the list of championship contenders will be cut in half ahead of the season finale at Phoenix Raceway.

Elliott carries a five-point advantage over Logano into the round of eight following his triumph on the Charlotte road course. The Hendrick Motorsports driver could have an advantage starting on the pole since two of the past six winners at Kansas won from the front starting position.

Truex, Alex Bowman and Busch are the other three drivers still alive in the championship hunt. If one of those drivers wins, he would secure a spot in the final four and put more pressure on Elliott and Logano to advance through points.

While it is possible that a driver outside the playoff places is triumphant, it seems unlikely Sunday given the dominance of the circuit's top racers at Kansas.

                  

Follow Joe on Twitter, @JTansey90. Statistics obtained from Racing Reference.

The NASCAR Cup Series has become more than familiar with Bristol Motor Speedway in 2020, but there is something new about Saturday night's trip to the short track in Tennessee. 

The Bass Pro Shops Night Race marks the first time the Cup Series will use the short track as a playoff venue. 

Typically, the final race of the season at Bristol takes place in August, but with the augmented schedule, the venue is being used for the third time in 2020. The track hosted a 500-mile race in May and was the All-Star Race venue in July. 

The final trip to Bristol in 2020 serves as the last race in the three-event first phase of the postseason. The list of championship contenders will be trimmed from 16 to 12 following Saturday's race. 

Kevin Harvick and Brad Keselowski secured spots in the round of 12 with victories in the last two races, while Denny Hamlin is through on points. 

If one of the other 13 drivers win the Bristol night race, he will automatically qualify as well. The rest of the round-of-12 competitors will be determined by points. 

            

Bass Pro Shops Night Race Information

Date: Saturday, September 19

Start Time: 7:30 p.m. ET

TV: NBCSN

Live Stream: NBCSports.com and NBC Sports app

,      

Starting Grid

All-Penske front row for Saturday night at Bristol with Keselowski on the pole and Logano starting second: #nascar pic.twitter.com/1Pp0KhTuXH

— Bob Pockrass (@bobpockrass) September 16, 2020

       

Odds

Denny Hamlin (+450; bet $100 to win $450)

Kyle Busch (+575) 

Chase Elliott (+600)

Kevin Harvick (+600)

Brad Keselowski (+600)

Joey Logano (+900)

Ryan Blaney (+1400)

Kurt Busch (+1600)

Martin Truex Jr. (+1600)

Austin Dillon (+1800)

Clint Bowyer (+2000)

Odds via DraftKings Sportsbook.

       

Preview

Hamlin does not have to win to advance to the next round, but he seems like the most likely champion.

The No. 11 car driver is the defending champion of the season's second race at Bristol and he starts in a favorable spot in seventh. 

Passing is difficult on the short track with high banking, which makes starting position a crucial part of the winning formula. 

Three of the last five Bristol winners started from the pole position, including Hamlin a year ago. Only five champions have come from beneath the top 10 to finish in Victory Lane since 2012. 

Hamlin also holds an advantage through his team's performance at short tracks. Joe Gibbs Racing won four of the last six Bristol races through Hamlin and Kyle Busch.

Martin Truex Jr. owns four wins at Martinsville Speedway and Richmond Raceway in the last two years, while Busch has three triumphs at the other two short tracks since 2017.

Of the three Joe Gibbs Racing drivers in the playoffs, Busch is in the most danger of missing the round of 12. 

The No. 18 car has yet to find Victory Lane in 2020, but Busch owns more top-five finishes than 11 of his playoff competitors. 

Truex may be the best bet to win off odds value. He typically is not as high as +1800, and his recent short-track history could finally result in a Bristol victory. 

Keselowski is the biggest threat to the Joe Gibbs cars, as he won the May race at Bristol, starts on the pole and is coming off a short-track win at Richmond. 

The No. 2 car won from the pole position back in May, and if Keselowski gets off to a fast start, he could leave the playoff competitors fighting for points to advance.

Clint Bowyer enters Bristol on the 12th-place bubble with a three-point advantage over William Byron. Cole Custer, Matt DiBenedetto and Ryan Blaney are also on the outside looking in. 

Since the gap between Aric Almirola in 10th and Blaney is 34 points, the projected standings could shuffle throughout the night. 

Blaney may have the toughest path to the top 12 since he finished in last place because of a crash in May at Bristol and has finished outside the top 10 in six of the previous seven races. 

Byron could be in the best spot to leap into the top 12 since he only has to make up a three-point difference on Bowyer and finished eighth in the season's first Bristol race.

         

Follow Joe on Twitter, @JTansey90.

Statistics obtained from Racing Reference.

Brad Keselowski won the Federated Auto Parts 400 at Richmond Raceway in Richmond, Virginia on Saturday, clinching a spot in the NASCAR Cup Series playoffs' Round of 12 in the process.

"Man, that's AWESOME!"

Brad @Keselowski is through to the Round of 12 in the #NASCARPlayoffs after a win at @RichmondRaceway! @Team_Penske pic.twitter.com/RulgGjSC5I

— NASCAR on NBC (@NASCARonNBC) September 13, 2020

Keselowski led 192 of the race's 400 laps on the .75-mile short track. He began the race in the ninth starting position.

Martin Truex Jr., Joey Logano, Austin Dillon and Chase Elliott rounded out the top five. Other notables included Kyle Busch (sixth), Kevin Harvick (seventh), Denny Hamlin (12th) and Jimmie Johnson (31st).

The win marks Keselowski's fourth victory of the year as well as his 10th top-five finish. Richmond has been particularly good to Keselowski, who has finished no worse than 11th in any of his last 10 races there.

Keselowski also now has 34 lifetime NASCAR Cup Series wins, tied for 24th with Edward Glenn "Fireball" Roberts Jr. all time.

The race for the top 12 is shaping up to be a good one. Keselowski already booked his spot in his quest for a second NASCAR Cup Series championship, and the same goes for Harvick and Hamlin:

Three drivers are locked into the Round of 12.

For the other 13 drivers, they've got to fight next weekend at @BMSupdates to earn a spot. Here are the standings after @RichmondRaceway. #NASCARPlayoffs pic.twitter.com/cmbOA2pRZL

— NASCAR on NBC (@NASCARonNBC) September 13, 2020

Bristol Motor Speedway in Bristol, Tennessee is next on the schedule, with the Bass Pro Shops Night Race on tap for Saturday at 7:30 p.m. ET. The playoff field will be cut from 16 to 12 after that race.

The NASCAR Cup Series is scheduled to run its fifth set of back-to-back races at the same track Saturday and Sunday at Dover International Speedway in Delaware. 

The racing weekend kicks off Saturday with the first of two 311-mile races at the Monster Mile.

Chase Elliott, who won Sunday at the Daytona road course, starts on the pole and will be accompanied by Denny Hamlin on the front row. 

Elliott, Hamlin and eight others are already locked into the NASCAR playoff field. The order of the final six positions will be determined by the two Dover races and the regular-season finale on the Daytona oval August 29.

Jimmie Johnson has the best starting position of the drivers—sixth—fighting to get into the playoff. The No. 48 car driver needs a victory in one of the final three races or has to make up a 25-point gap on William Byron to qualify for the playoffs in his final season as a full-time Cup driver. 

            

Drydene 311 Information

Date: Saturday, August 22

Start Time: 4 p.m. ET 

TV: NBCSN 

Live Stream: NBC Sports app or NBCSports.com

         

Starting Lineup

Saturday's Dover Cup race starting lineup. pic.twitter.com/p5reoOZZ8g

— Matt Weaver (@MattWeaverRA) August 19, 2020

      

Odds

Kevin Harvick (+350; bet $100 to win $350)

Martin Truex Jr. (+350)

Chase Elliott (+550)

Denny Hamlin (+600)

Ryan Blaney (+1100)

Kyle Busch (+1300)

Brad Keselowski (+1400)

Joey Logano (+1600)

Aric Almirola (+1800)

Odds via Caesars Palace

         

Preview

Johnson's best remaining chance to automatically qualify for the playoffs with a victory comes at Dover. 

The seven-time NASCAR Cup Series champion has 11 victories at the mile-long course, with the last one coming in 2017. 

In addition to his 11 Dover wins, Johnson owns the most top-10 finishes and laps led at the track and is tied with Matt Kenseth with the highest total of top-five placings. 

Johnson comes to Delaware off a fourth-place finish at the Daytona road course, where he finished four positions ahead of Byron, his Hendrick Motorsports teammate. 

If he does not win, the 44-year-old needs more than four spots of separation between himself and the No. 24 driver to gain significant ground in the hunt for the final playoff position. 

Byron and Matt DiBenedetto are the only drivers who could face a serious risk of losing their respective positions, whether it be through a win from a competitor underneath them or a loss in points. 

Aric Almirola, Kyle Busch and Kurt Busch are in comfortable positions as the three best drivers without a victory, while Clint Bowyer owns a 22-point advantage over DiBenedetto and has a 66-point gap on Johnson. 

If there is not a new winner Saturday, those four drivers would feel much safer about their playoff prospects. Even if two new victors emerge Sunday at Dover and at Daytona next week, they would not be overtaken as long as they have more points than DiBenedetto. 

The normal cast of potential winners should be in the mix to take the checkered flag Saturday, as Kevin Harvick and Martin Truex Jr. are the co-favorites. 

Truex is the only driver in the field with a 2019 victory at Dover, and Harvick most recently won there in 2018. 

If Harvick, Truex and Hamlin are not up front, they should be around the lead, as they have 48 top-10 finishes this season between them. 

The other driver with the most top-10 finishes is Brad Keselowski, with 16, has longer odds to win at Dover than Harvick, Truex and Hamlin. Among that quartet, he has the fewest top-10s in the last 10 Dovers with four.

Keselowski has three wins this season, and his Penske team has not been shy to try different pit strategies to get around the competitors for the lead. 

In terms of betting value, Keselowski and his teammate Ryan Blaney, who has eight top-five finishes, carry the best prices for how much success they have had this season.

         

Follow Joe on Twitter, @JTansey90

Statistics obtained from Racing Reference

Make it three wins in 2020 for Brad Keselowski.

The veteran driver won the Foxwoods Resort Casino 301 at the New Hampshire Speedway on Sunday, leading the final 81 laps to close out the victory in convincing fashion.   

Career win No. 33 for Brad @Keselowski ties him with Fireball Roberts on @NASCAR's all-time wins list!

LOBSTAH TIME for the driver of @Team_Penske's No. 2 car at @NHMS! pic.twitter.com/6gJy5aXohN

— NASCAR on NBC (@NASCARonNBC) August 2, 2020

Brad @Keselowski put on a show in with those burnouts at @NHMS!#Foxwoods301 // #NASCAR pic.twitter.com/1jWZ5tjt6D

— NASCAR on NBC (@NASCARonNBC) August 2, 2020

Denny Hamlin, Martin Truex Jr., Joey Logano and Kevin Harvick rounded out the top five. Hamlin won the first stage, while Keselowski took the second. 

Brad Keselowski wins the NASCAR Cup race New Hampshire. Third win of the season.

Denny Hamlin finishes second.

Another top-five for Kevin Harvick.

We have a Big 3.

— Matt Weaver (@MattWeaverRA) August 2, 2020

After the race—which had spectators in attendance and a capacity of around 12,000 fans—Keselowski said on the NBCSN broadcast that it was nice to dominate a race, especially in front of a live audience (h/t Daniel McFadin of NBC Sports):

"We've had a lot of great races this year with the No. 2 car, but we just hadn't really gone out and kind of dominated a race. I was talking to [crew chief] Jeremy Bullins and that's what we need to get to that next level. We're right there, we need to go out and just dominate a race and that's what today was for us. … It's so great to be racing in front of fans again. It feels like forever, so welcome back, guys."

"We just haven't really went out and kinda dominated a race."

Well, @keselowski you can cross that off the list! pic.twitter.com/jYLQSagyWD

— NASCAR (@NASCAR) August 2, 2020

Jeremy said it best…we made a statement today. Feels good to get #3! pic.twitter.com/x9fEDBT6eF

— Brad Keselowski (@keselowski) August 2, 2020

Time to bust out the lobster for Keselowski and crew. 

"This is the same tire and similar track to Phoenix and we know that's what you've got to do to win the championship, win Phoenix," he added. "We put on a great show today, we're pumped. The playoffs are a long way away but I'm excited."

Speaking of playoffs, here's how that race looks after Sunday's result:

Just six races remain before the @NASCAR Playoffs field is determined!

Here's a look at the standings after Sunday's #Foxwoods301 at @NHMS. pic.twitter.com/yUiQlkdcBa

— NASCAR on NBC (@NASCARonNBC) August 2, 2020

NASCAR legend Jimmie Johnson remains on the fringes of the playoff picture, yet again a major storyline after he finished 12th on Sunday. It would be a major disappointment to see Johnson ride off into the sunset without one last berth in the playoffs, but he'll need to put up some very strong performances down the stretch to fight his way in. 

Denny Hamlin won his fifth race of the 2020 season after passing Kevin Harvick with 13 laps remaining and holding off Brad Keselowski and Martin Truex Jr. to win the Super Start Batteries 400 at Kansas Speedway in Kansas City on Thursday.

🏁 @dennyhamlin WINS at @kansasspeedway!

His fifth #NASCAR win of 2020! pic.twitter.com/4E15ffOdIl

— NASCAR on NBC (@NASCARonNBC) July 24, 2020

Hamlin, who entered the night sixth in the NASCAR Cup Series standings, is now alone in first in 2020 season wins this year, edging Harvick and his four. Hamlin also registered his 11th top-five finish.

Keselowski, Truex, Harvick and Erik Jones rounded out the top five. Other notables include Stage 1 winner Kyle Busch, who took 11th. Ryan Blaney, who entered Thursday second in the NASCAR Cup Series standings, finished 20th.

The NASCAR Cup Series will now move to New Hampshire Motor Speedway for the Foxwoods Resort Casino 301 on Sunday, August 2, but before then, here's a look at stage-by-stage highlights and results.

      

Stage 1

Joe Gibbs Racing dominated the first stage, with Kyle Busch, Denny Hamlin and Martin Truex Jr. finishing first through third. They held off Team Penske teammates Ryan Blaney and Brad Keselowski, who rounded out the top five.

Keselowski gave it his best effort and lived dangerously while passing Truex on the inside:

This racing, though ... pic.twitter.com/4xrc0nL76T

— FOX: NASCAR (@NASCARONFOX) July 24, 2020

Ricky Stenhouse Jr.'s night ended before the first stage concluded due to a mechanical issue that caused a fire in the cockpit, per Fox Sports' Bob Pockrass.

Well, that's not good. Ricky is done for the day. pic.twitter.com/mfS7C0xtH1

— FOX: NASCAR (@NASCARONFOX) July 24, 2020

His evening ended early after 58 laps, continuing a rough stretch for JTG Daugherty Racing.

It's been a frustrating stretch for @JTGRacing.

After three straight last-place finishes for Ryan Preece, Ricky Stenhouse Jr. reports an electrical fire and climbs out of his car in stage 1 at @KansasSpeedway. His day is done and he'll finish last. pic.twitter.com/4Lz0iLsGwH

— NASCAR on NBC (@NASCARonNBC) July 24, 2020

It was anything but rough for Joe Gibbs' team, however, after a dominant opening run that earned Busch a total of 10 stage points.

                    

Stage 2

The battle between Gibbs cars continued in the second stage as Truex passed Hamlin for the lead:

NEW LEADER: @MartinTruex_Jr takes the lead away from Denny Hamlin.

Cruising right along in Stage 2 at @KansasSpeedway on NBCSN. #NASCAR pic.twitter.com/AiAXcJXMwt

— NASCAR on NBC (@NASCARonNBC) July 24, 2020

Later in the race, Chris Buescher averted a near disaster when his No. 17 car slid into the wall. Thankfully, his car grazed the wall as opposed to a hard impact:

SLIIIIIIIIDEWAYS

📺: NBCSN 📱: https://t.co/BHXvTwJmNc pic.twitter.com/Xvt3Bj0Fia

— NASCAR (@NASCAR) July 24, 2020

Fitting on the night @taylorswift13 drops her new album that we see sparks fly.

Courtesy of @Chris_Buescher. #NASCAR pic.twitter.com/HyE7s8jt6v

— NASCAR on NBC (@NASCARonNBC) July 24, 2020

The end of the second stage saw Penske take the win over Gibbs with Keselowski finishing first.

                

Stage 3

All hell broke loose in the final stage with multiple crashes marring the action.

Matt Kenseth and Bubba Wallace got into an accident:

Trouble for Matt Kenseth and Bubba Wallace!@NASCAR is on NBCSN. pic.twitter.com/hdiIajH63c

— NASCAR on NBC (@NASCARonNBC) July 24, 2020

That preceded a massive crash involving even more drivers:

BIG WRECK!

Multiple drivers involved in this one late at @KansasSpeedway on NBCSN! Matt Dibenedetto, Joey Logano, Kevin Harvick, Jimmie Johnson and more! pic.twitter.com/SYfDnV0B6M

— NBC Sports (@NBCSports) July 24, 2020

Not long afterward, Ryan Preece's No. 37 car suffered a horrific crash, although Preece thankfully appeared OK and talked to his crew immediately afterward. He was able to walk away.

A vicious hit for @RyanPreece_. #NASCAR pic.twitter.com/8ooOdoEEEe

— NASCAR on NBC (@NASCARonNBC) July 24, 2020

He spoke with reporters afterward:

"I'm alright. Just ready for this year to turn around."

Great to hear from @RyanPreece_ after this hard crash. #NASCAR pic.twitter.com/ENOT6b6Diw

— NASCAR on NBC (@NASCARonNBC) July 24, 2020

The crashes eventually stopped long enough for some intense racing down the stretch with Keselowski and William Byron going back and forth:

Less than 50 to go and we've got a Brad Keselowski/William Byron battle for the lead at @KansasSpeedway!

Get to NBCSN now if you're not already there! #NASCAR pic.twitter.com/FiftXysOr7

— NASCAR on NBC (@NASCARonNBC) July 24, 2020

Byron held the lead going into a caution after Corey Lajoie's smoking No. 32 car needed attention:

CAUTION for Corey LaJoie.

That's just what race leader William Byron needed. #NASCAR pic.twitter.com/Msto5cXQL9

— NASCAR on NBC (@NASCARonNBC) July 24, 2020

But Kevin Harvick later stormed into the lead off a restart:

WHAT A MOVE.@KevinHarvick to the lead on the restart! Now less than 20 laps remain on NBCSN from @KansasSpeedway! #NASCAR pic.twitter.com/oOfhqNb5n8

— NASCAR on NBC (@NASCARonNBC) July 24, 2020

However, it was Hamlin who eventually took home the win, passing Harvick and holding off Keselowski for the victory.

.@DennyHamlin has his FIFTH WIN of 2020!

He kicks off the second half of the @NASCAR season in victory lane at @KansasSpeedway! pic.twitter.com/y18K0Masob

— NASCAR on NBC (@NASCARonNBC) July 24, 2020

Hamlin celebrated with his family afterward:

This is awesome!@DennyHamlin's kids can't travel to the track with him, so we brought Taylor and Molly in through video chat to help them celebrate with dad. #NASCAR pic.twitter.com/9l1A9Pf4n0

— NASCAR on NBC (@NASCARonNBC) July 24, 2020

The 39-year-old is looking for his first-ever NASCAR Cup Series victory. He has finished as high as second and in the top 10 a total of 11 times.