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NASCAR at Richmond 2021: Odds, TV Schedule, Live Stream and Drivers

Apr 17, 2021
Martin Truex Jr., approaches the third turn during the NASCAR Cup Series auto race at Martinsville Speedway in Martinsville, Va., Sunday, April 11, 2021. (AP Photo/Steve Helber)
Martin Truex Jr., approaches the third turn during the NASCAR Cup Series auto race at Martinsville Speedway in Martinsville, Va., Sunday, April 11, 2021. (AP Photo/Steve Helber)

The NASCAR Cup Series completes its first run through its circuit of short tracks Sunday at Richmond Raceway.

The Toyota Owners 400 ends a three-race stretch on the shortest tracks in NASCAR. Joey Logano won on dirt at Bristol Motor Speedway and Martin Truex Jr. captured first at Martinsville Speedway.

Truex won two of the past three races at Richmond. Those results landed him the title of betting favorite for Sunday afternoon's competition.

Brad Keselowski is the defending champion at the track. He is one of the many top drivers still looking for his first race victory of 2021.

                      

Toyota Owners 400 Information

Date: Sunday, April 18

Start Time: 3 p.m. ET 

TV: Fox

Live Stream: FoxSports.com or Fox Sports app

               

Starting Lineup

          

Odds

Martin Truex Jr.: +400 (bet $100 to win $400)

Denny Hamlin: +600

Kyle Larson: +700

Brad Keselowski: +750

Chase Elliott: +850

Joey Logano: +850

Kyle Busch: +900

Kevin Harvick: +1100

Ryan Blaney: +1600

Via DraftKings Sportsbook.

                   

Preview

Truex comes into Richmond as the driver to beat.

The Joe Gibbs Racing team member is the only competitor with two Cup Series wins in 2021, and he has been dominant on short tracks recently. Truex has five first-place finishes at Martinsville and Richmond since the start of the 2019 season.

The prolonged success makes Truex one of the best bets for the Sunday's race. The No. 19 car starts on the pole, and he has plenty of experience running up front on short tracks.

Truex has 12 top-10 finishes and six top-five placings at Richmond in 29 starts. He finished second behind Keselowski in September. He does not carry much value outside of a top-three finish prop, but that could be worth the wager since he has two wins and a second-place mark in his previous three trips to Richmond.

Keselowski is among the challengers attempting to dethrone Truex as king of the Virginia short tracks. The No. 2 car driver beat out Truex at Richmond in September, and he boasts similar stats as Truex with 12 top-10 finishes and six spots in the top five.

With seven winners locked into the playoff field, Keselowski and other drivers used to being at the top of the Cup Series need to show a bit of urgency in getting to Victory Lane.

It is not time to panic yet, but if we continue to see variety in race winners, some notable names may not make the 16-driver postseason field through points. Kevin Harvick is among the group of winless drivers, but he has yet to show the winning speed that helped him trade wins with Denny Hamlin in 2020.

Harvick has not finished above ninth in the past three races, and he failed to land in the top three of any competition in 2021. In 2020, Harvick had two wins and two more top-three finishes through the first 10 races of the season.

There is still time for the Stewart-Haas Racing crew to figure things out, but until then, Harvick will be further up the odds chart than he was last season. At +1100 to win and -175 to finish in the top 10, Harvick could be a driver to pinpoint in prop bets.

Kyle Busch is another driver to watch, as he won both Richmond races in 2018 and has four top-10 placings in 2021.

                      

Follow Joe on Twitter, @JTansey90. Statistics obtained from NASCAR.com.

If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, crisis counseling and referral services can be accessed by calling 1-800-GAMBLER (1-800-426-2537) (IL).

Gambling problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER (NJ/WV/PA), 1-800-9-WITH-IT (IN), 1-800-522-4700 (CO), 1-800-BETS OFF (IA), or call or text the TN REDLINE: 800-889-9789 (TN).

21+. NJ/PA/WV/IN/IA/CO/IL/TN only. In partnership with Meadows Racetrack & Casino. Eligibility restrictions apply. See draftkings.com/sportsbook for details.

NASCAR at Martinsville 2021 Results: Martin Truex Jr. Earns 2nd Win of Season

Apr 12, 2021
Martin Truex Jr waves to fans from Victory Lane after winning a NASCAR Cup Series auto race at Phoenix Raceway, Sunday, March 14, 2021, in Avondale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ralph Freso)
Martin Truex Jr waves to fans from Victory Lane after winning a NASCAR Cup Series auto race at Phoenix Raceway, Sunday, March 14, 2021, in Avondale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ralph Freso)

Martin Truex Jr. won his second race of the 2021 NASCAR Cup Series season, collecting the checkered flag in the Blue-Emu Maximum Pain Relief 500 at Martinsville Speedway in Ridgeway, Virginia.

Truex is the first driver to notch two wins this year, which vaults him to the top of the championship playoff standings. He has been dominant on short tracks of late, with Sunday's victory his fifth in his last 11 tries, per DriverAverages.com.

The cliche "it's not how you start, it's how you finish" held true Sunday. Truex led just 20 of the 500 laps, but he dominated when it counted the most.

"It was pretty incredible here at the end," he said in his post-race interview on FS1 (via PRN). "We never could quite get it the way we wanted, but at the end it came to life."

Down the final stretch, the Blue-Emu Maximum Pain Relief 500 became a three-horse race between Truex, Denny Hamlin and Chase Elliott, who were comfortably ahead of the rest of the field. Truex subsequently opened a wide lead on Elliott and Hamlin, leaving them in a fight for second place.

As Truex coasted to the finish line, Elliott edged out Hamlin. Hamlin didn't have a lot to show for leading more than 100 laps (276) than the next closest driver.

     

Blue-Emu Maximum Pain Relief 500 Leaderboard

1. Martin Truex Jr.

2. Chase Elliott

3. Denny Hamlin

4. William Byron

5. Kyle Larson

6. Joey Logano

7. Christopher Bell

8. Tyler Reddick

9. Kevin Harvick

10. Kyle Busch

Full leaderboard available on NASCAR.com

     

The race officially got underway Saturday, but drivers only managed to get 42 laps completed before steady rainfall hit Ridgeway. Rather than continue to wait things out, NASCAR announced the action would be postponed.

Track officials couldn't have asked for much better conditions Sunday.

Martinsville is the shortest track on the Cup Series and treated fans to plenty of three-wide stretches. Cautions were aplenty as well, and there would've been more than the 15 on the record were it not for some adept driving to avoid danger.

Things ground to a halt with 113 laps remaining. Chris Buescher and Kyle Busch spun out to set off a chain reaction that impacted multiple drivers. The Nos. 17 and 18 cars effectively formed a blockade, which briefly turned Martinsville Speedway into a parking lot.

When the dust cleared, five drivers were unable to continue and headed for the garage. Brad Keselowski was among those whose race ended early, and he reflected on how every step forward Sunday was accompanied by a step backward even before the crash.

The NASCAR Cup Series travels to Richmond Raceway for the Toyota Owners 400 on April 18. It's the first of two races at Richmond, the second of which comes in September following the start of the championship playoffs.

Keselowski was victorious in the last Richmond race, taking the checkered flag in the 2020 Federated Auto Parts 400. The 2012 series champion is still looking for his first victory, so perhaps his luck will turn around this time next week.

NASCAR at Bristol 2021 Results: Joey Logano Wins Historic Dirt Race in Overtime

Mar 29, 2021
Joey Logano walks along pit road prior to a NASCAR Cup Series auto race at Phoenix Raceway, Sunday, March 14, 2021, in Avondale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ralph Freso)
Joey Logano walks along pit road prior to a NASCAR Cup Series auto race at Phoenix Raceway, Sunday, March 14, 2021, in Avondale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ralph Freso)

Joey Logano held off Ricky Stenhouse Jr. and Denny Hamlin in overtime to win the Food City Dirt Race at Bristol Motor Speedway on Monday.

Logano took control in the middle stage, claiming a Stage 2 win and remaining at or near the top of the leaderboard for the remainder of the evening. He led 61 laps, second-most in the field.

Inclement weather forced officials to postpone the race—the first NASCAR Cup event on dirt since 1970—by one day, but conditions couldn't have been much better in Bristol, Tennessee. That isn't to say the event was totally drama-free as 10 cautions were called over the 250 laps.

The final caution came with only four laps remaining, providing Hamlin, who was running in second, with a lifeline. 

The Joe Gibbs Racing driver miscalculated by attempting to pass Logano on the outside. The No. 11 Toyota slid to the top of the track and opened the door for Stenhouse to overtake him for second. That left Logano with a clear path to his first victory of the 2021 season.

No matter how the Food City Dirt Race unfolded, Martin Truex Jr. was guaranteed to leave Bristol Motor Speedway with at least one victory Monday. The 40-year-old was victorious in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race that ran prior to the main event.

Truex's momentum carried over into the NASCAR Cup Series contest as he took the first stage.

The JGR driver was fortunate early into the race as Aric Almirola lost control and spun out in the middle of the track. The No. 19 car managed to slow down and weave his way around to avoid being a part of the collateral damage.

The dirt track was a great callback to the sport's history and made for excellent visuals. To those who actually had to do the driving, the novelty might have worn off quickly.

The surface provided less traction than a traditional concrete or asphalt track and presented different challenges in terms of managing the tires. Simply seeing where you were going was difficult at times as well.

Past experience didn't count for much, either. This was far from Kyle Larson's first rodeo on the dirt, which made the Hendrick Motorsports driver one of the top contenders in the eyes of many. 

Instead, Larson was dragged into a wreck in the first stage and quickly fell two laps back. While the No. 5 car eventually returned to the 0.533-mile oval, some modifications were required to make it race-ready.

Bristol already announced it will be bringing the dirt back next spring. That gives NASCAR plenty of time to make some adjustments based on Monday's action.

Drivers will get the weekend off before they're back on the track for the Blue-Emu Maximum Pain Relief 500 at Martinsville Speedway on April 10. Chase Elliott captured the checkered flag in the NASCAR Cup Series' penultimate race of the 2020 season at the 0.526-mile short track.

NASCAR at Atlanta 2021: Odds, TV Schedule, Live Stream and Drivers

Mar 20, 2021
Kevin Harvick (4) runs during a NASCAR Daytona 500 qualifying session Wednesday, Feb. 10, 2021, at Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)
Kevin Harvick (4) runs during a NASCAR Daytona 500 qualifying session Wednesday, Feb. 10, 2021, at Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)

The 2021 NASCAR Cup Series season has produced five different winners in its first five events.

The unpredictability of the first three races has given way to some of the top drivers regaining spots at the front of the field.

Martin Truex Jr. and Kyle Larson won in the past two races to provide some normalcy toward the top of the standings, but with three unexpected drivers in the playoff field already, the pressure is on the leading competitors to produce better results.

Kevin Harvick and Brad Keselowski should be in the mix to earn their first wins of the season Sunday at Atlanta Motor Speedway. They have two wins each in the past four trips to Georgia, and they have favorable starting positions for the Folds of Honor QuikTrip 500.

The high spots on the starting grid are significant because the winner in Atlanta typically comes from a top-10 position.

                 

Folds of Honor QuikTrip 500 Information

Date: Sunday, March 21

Start Time: 3 p.m. ET 

TV: Fox 

Live Stream: FoxSports.com and Fox Sports app

            

Odds

Kevin Harvick: +550 (bet $100 to win $550)

Kyle Larson: +650

Martin Truex Jr.: +650

Brad Keselowski: +750

Chase Elliott: +800

Denny Hamlin: +800

Joey Logano: +900

Kyle Busch: +1000

Ryan Blaney: +1500

Via DraftKings Sportsbook.

          

Starting Lineup

           

Preview

Harvick is once again at the top of the odds chart because he has been so consistent at Atlanta.

The No. 4 car driver won this event in 2020 and owns three victories at the track.

Harvick has been close to earning his first victory of the season. He has four top-10 finishes, including a sixth-place mark at Phoenix Raceway last time out. His strong run of results has allowed Harvick to begin the race in the top 10. NASCAR is aligning its starting lineup at most tracks based off a formula instead of using qualifying sessions to set the field.

Dating back to Harvick's first Atlanta win in 2001, 23 of the 30 champions have started inside the top 10. He will be on the inside of Row 4 next to Christopher Bell. Keselowski will be three positions ahead of him in fourth.

Keselowski has also been close to securing a trip to Victory Lane, as he has three top-five placings, including two in a row from the West Coast swing at Las Vegas and Phoenix. Although he is fourth on the odds chart, he should be considered a co-favorite along with Harvick because of his recent success at the track.

Harvick and Keselowski sandwich Larson and Truex on the odds board. Larson has performed well in his first season with Hendrick Motorsports, while Truex has three straight top-six finishes. Their early-season success placed them on the first three rows of the starting grid alongside some of their teammates.

Denny Hamlin is on the pole next to Truex. Joey Logano will accompany Keselowski on the second row. Larson and teammate Chase Elliott are on the third row.

Hamlin and Truex both finished in the top five behind Harvick in Atlanta last year. Elliott, Keselowski and Logano all landed in the top 10. While the winner most likely comes from that group of racers, there is one competitor to consider as a longer shot to win Sunday.

Ryan Blaney took fourth at Atlanta in 2020 and is coming off his first two top-10 marks of the season. The No. 12 car driver starts in the top 10 and should have a chance to gain positions early on in the race.

If he banks off the confidence gained from his past two finishes, Blaney could beat out Harvick, Keselowski and others to earn the win.

                 

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

If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, crisis counseling and referral services can be accessed by calling 1-800-GAMBLER (1-800-426-2537) (IL).

Gambling problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER (NJ/WV/PA), 1-800-9-WITH-IT (IN), 1-800-522-4700 (CO), 1-800-BETS OFF (IA), or call or text the TN REDLINE: 800-889-9789 (TN).

21+. NJ/PA/WV/IN/IA/CO/IL/TN only. In partnership with Meadows Racetrack & Casino. Eligibility restrictions apply. See draftkings.com/sportsbook for details.

NASCAR at Phoenix 2021 Results: Martin Truex Jr. Secures 1st Win of Season

Mar 14, 2021
Martin Truex Jr (19) and Joey Logano (22) race through Turn 4 during a NASCAR Cup Series auto race at Phoenix Raceway, Sunday, March 14, 2021, in Avondale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ralph Freso)
Martin Truex Jr (19) and Joey Logano (22) race through Turn 4 during a NASCAR Cup Series auto race at Phoenix Raceway, Sunday, March 14, 2021, in Avondale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ralph Freso)

The NASCAR Cup Series has had plenty of variety in 2021. 

Martin Truex Jr. became the fifth driver on the circuit to win in as many races after taking the checkered flag at Phoenix Raceway's Instacart 500 on Sunday. 

Joey Logano finished second, with Denny Hamlin, Brad Keselowski and Chase Elliott rounding out the top five. Ryan Blaney won the first stage, while Logano took the second. 

But the day belonged to Truex, who led for 64 laps and took control of the race after passing Logano following a late restart. It was a tough result for Logano, who led for a race-high 143 laps. 

"I can't really believe it. I'm kind of speechless," Truex said on the Fox broadcast after his win. "This feels pretty amazing, you know? Phoenix has been a tough one for us, and to come here and win this, I wish it was November, but hopefully we can come back here in November and have a shot at being in the final four."

It was a big victory for Truex, who hadn't won in his previous 29 races dating back to June 2020. 

"I've got an awesome team," Truex added. "We had a tough year last year. A little bit up and down, a little bit rocky. But really proud of them and...that was a hell of an effort today from everybody."

Up next for NASCAR is the Folds of Honor QuikTrip 500 at Atlanta Motor Speedway on Sunday on Fox at 3 p.m. ET. 

NASCAR at Las Vegas 2021: Odds, TV Schedule, Live Stream and Drivers

Mar 6, 2021
Brad Keselowski (2) and Chris Buescher (17) battle for position during a NASCAR Cup Series auto race, Sunday, Feb. 28, 2021, in Homestead, Fla. (AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee)
Brad Keselowski (2) and Chris Buescher (17) battle for position during a NASCAR Cup Series auto race, Sunday, Feb. 28, 2021, in Homestead, Fla. (AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee)

NASCAR begins its first West Coast swing of the 2021 Cup Series campaign Sunday.

The Pennzoil 400 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway will be the first competition held outside the state of Florida this season.

The first three races produced a trio of long-shot winners in Michael McDowell, Christopher Bell and William Byron. With three of the 16 playoff positions already locked up, the pressure is on some of the top drivers to regain control at the front of the pack and avoid any postseason bubble stress at the end of the season.

Some of the most established drivers on the circuit have won at the 1.5-mile track. Kurt Busch captured the previous race in Nevada, and Joey Logano has two wins in the past four Las Vegas races.

                  

Pennzoil 400 Schedule

Date: Sunday, March 7

Start Time: 3:30 p.m. ET 

TV: Fox

Live Stream: FoxSports.com and Fox Sports app

              

Odds

Kevin Harvick: +600 (bet $100 to win $600)

Martin Truex Jr.: +600

Brad Keselowski: +800

Joey Logano: +800

Chase Elliott: +900

Denny Hamlin: +900

Kyle Larson: +1000

Ryan Blaney: +1300

Kyle Busch: +1300

Kurt Busch: +1800

William Byron: +1800

via DraftKings Sportsbook.

              

Starting Lineup

            

Preview

Although there have been three unexpected winners on the Cup Series circuit, the established names are still at the top of the points standings.

Denny Hamlin and Kevin Harvick, who went back-and-forth with victories in 2020, top the points standings through three races.

Harvick ended up with the pole position for Sunday's race based off the formula NASCAR is using, with no qualifying sessions taking place at most tracks.

The No. 4 car driver will start alongside Byron, with Kyle Larson and Martin Truex Jr. occupying the second row. Hamlin will start on the third row next to McDowell.

Starting position could turn out to be key at Las Vegas since six of the past eight first-place finishers at the track began the race inside the top 10.

Ford has been the dominant manufacturer at the track lately, with Team Penske's Logano and Brad Keselowski leading the charge with five wins since 2014.

Keselowski could be the top driver to watch Sunday. The No. 2 car driver owns three victories at Las Vegas and starts five positions ahead of his Penske teammate.

Truex broke up Ford's dominance with victories in March 2017 and September 2019, and he could cash in on his co-favorite status if a Ford does not reach Victory Lane.

The Joe Gibbs Racing competitor has improved his finishing position in each of the three races and is coming off a third-place mark at the season's first 1.5-mile race at Homestead-Miami Speedway. Truex was in the mix for the lead with Byron and Kyle Larson, but he missed out on second after Tyler Reddick shot up the field to take silver.

If another long shot were to take over the race, Chris Buescher could be the man for the job. He led a bulk of the early laps at Homestead and has a pair of top-20 finishes from the past two races.

Buescher drives a Roush Fenway Racing Ford, so he may have the right setup under the hood to make a run at the top.

If another unexpected winner were to come out of Las Vegas, it would cut the list of available playoff spots to 12 and squeeze out some of the more inconsistent top drivers.

Kyle Busch, Ryan Newman and Ryan Blaney are among the more notable names beneath the top 15 in points. If they do not win, they need to put in more consistent runs to start making moves up the points standings.

                    

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

If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, crisis counseling and referral services can be accessed by calling 1-800-GAMBLER (1-800-426-2537) (IL).

Gambling problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER (NJ/WV/PA), 1-800-9-WITH-IT (IN), 1-800-522-4700 (CO), 1-800-BETS OFF (IA), or call or text the TN REDLINE: 800-889-9789 (TN).

21+. NJ/PA/WV/IN/IA/CO/IL/TN only. In partnership with Meadows Racetrack & Casino. Eligibility restrictions apply. See draftkings.com/sportsbook for details.

NASCAR at Martinsville 2020: Odds, TV Schedule, Live Stream and Drivers

Oct 31, 2020
Martin Truex Jr. (19) drives during a NASCAR Cup Series auto race Wednesday, June 10, 2020, in Martinsville, Va. (AP Photo/Steve Helber)
Martin Truex Jr. (19) drives during a NASCAR Cup Series auto race Wednesday, June 10, 2020, in Martinsville, Va. (AP Photo/Steve Helber)

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

           

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.

If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, crisis counseling and referral services can be accessed by calling 1-800-GAMBLER (1-800-426-2537) (IL).

Gambling problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER (NJ/WV/PA), 1-800-9-WITH-IT (IN), 1-800-522-4700 (NH/CO) or 1-800-BETS OFF (IA).

21+. NJ/PA/WV/IN/NH/IA/CO/IL only. Odds and lines subject to change. Eligibility restrictions apply. See draftkings.com/sportsbook for full terms and conditions.

NASCAR at Kansas 2020: Odds, TV Schedule, Live Stream and Drivers

Oct 17, 2020
Denny Hamlin drives during a NASCAR Cup Series auto race Sunday, Sept. 27, 2020, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/Isaac Brekken)
Denny Hamlin drives during a NASCAR Cup Series auto race Sunday, Sept. 27, 2020, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/Isaac Brekken)

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

            

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.

NASCAR at Bristol 2020: Odds, TV Schedule, Live Stream and Drivers

Sep 18, 2020
Denny Hamlin (11) drives into Turn 1 during a NASCAR Cup Series auto race Saturday, Sept. 12, 2020, in Richmond, Va. Hamlin who won Stage 1 was called for speeding in the pits and was penalized. (AP Photo/Steve Helber)
Denny Hamlin (11) drives into Turn 1 during a NASCAR Cup Series auto race Saturday, Sept. 12, 2020, in Richmond, Va. Hamlin who won Stage 1 was called for speeding in the pits and was penalized. (AP Photo/Steve Helber)

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

       

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.

NASCAR at Darlington 2020 Results: Kevin Harvick Secures Win in Playoff Opener

Sep 6, 2020
Kevin Harvick (4) runs during a NASCAR Cup Series auto race Sunday, Sept. 6, 2020, in Darlington, S.C. (AP Photo/Chris Carlson)
Kevin Harvick (4) runs during a NASCAR Cup Series auto race Sunday, Sept. 6, 2020, in Darlington, S.C. (AP Photo/Chris Carlson)

Kevin Harvick started the 2020 NASCAR playoffs in the best way possible.

Harvick won Sunday's Cook Out Southern 500 at Darlington Raceway in Darlington, South Carolina, which CBS Sports noted was included as a playoff race for the second time in its history and first time since 2004. He held off Austin Dillon on the closing stretch, but only after a shocking turn of events with less than 20 laps remaining.

Martin Truex Jr. and Chase Elliott were way ahead and battling for the lead when they both made contact with the wall while jockeying for position.

Truex was forced to pit, while Elliott fell way behind as his car slowed following the contact.

While there was a full field in the race, the 16 drivers in the NASCAR Cup Series playoffs were under the spotlight. That group will be trimmed to 12 following races at Richmond Raceway and Bristol Motor Speedway and eight after races in Las Vegas; Talladega, Alabama; and Concord, North Carolina. From there, Kansas Speedway, Texas Motor Speedway and Martinsville Speedway host the Round of 8 before the championship in Phoenix, Arizona.

Harvick was already ahead in the NASCAR Cup Series standings heading into the playoffs, per NASCAR.com:

1. Kevin Harvick, 2,057 points

2. Denny Hamlin, 2,047 points

3. Brad Keselowski, 2,029 points

4. Joey Logano, 2,022 points

5. Chase Elliott, 2,020 points

6. Martin Truex Jr., 2,014 points

7. Ryan Blaney, 2,013 points

8. Alex Bowman, 2,009 points

9. William Byron, 2,007 points

10. Austin Dillon, 2,005 points

11. Cole Custer, 2,005 points

12. Aric Almirola, 2,005 points

13. Clint Bowyer, 2,004 points

14. Kyle Busch, 2,003 points

15. Kurt Busch, 2,001 points

16. Matt DiBenedetto, 2,000 points

There was news even before the drivers started their engines, as Ryan Blaney was penalized when a pre-race inspection found an improperly mounted ballast. Crew chief Todd Gordon was ejected, while Blaney was docked 10 points and forced to start from the rear.

Elliott started in pole position and set the pace in the early going, topping last year's total of laps led:

https://twitter.com/aaronbearden93/status/1302744882822418432

The biggest development in the opening stage involved Brad Keselowski, who found the wall and fell a lap down.

On the other side of the field, Denny Hamlin took the lead when Elliott made a pit stop before Truex moved to the front and eventually won the first stage and the playoff point that came with it.

Truex maintained his dominance throughout Stage 2, winning it even though Harvick took the lead temporarily when he pitted much earlier than the leaders.

Elliott scraped the wall during the second stage, but he had a better go of it than Blaney. The No. 12 car's struggles continued, as Blaney fell a lap down because of a flat left rear tire. He even pitted right before Bubba Wallace spun out, costing himself a chance at returning to the lead lap.

It was a precursor to the start of Stage 3, which saw John Hunter Nemechek exit the race with a blown tire, Corey LaJoie exit the race with damage and Wallace fall out of the race because of a transmission problem. Blaney and Joey Logano each needed repairs during an early caution as well in a messy situation.

All the attrition didn't stop Elliott from taking the lead and setting up a dramatic race to the finish with Truex.

In fact, they were separated by less than a half-second with 20 laps remaining but more than four seconds ahead of Harvick, who was the closest challenger.

However, that battle for the lead ultimately cost both Truex and Elliott, which opened the door for Harvick.

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