NASCAR Betting - JGR rules at Richmond
NASCAR betting players have shaken off one of the craziest finishes in the history of Talladega Superspeedway, and now they’ll move onto Richmond International Raceway, site of the Russ Friedman 400.
Jimmie Johnson is the sportsbook favorite for this race, but history shows that both past and present JGR drivers have fared very well at the 0.75-mile track. Let's take a look at some of the top-ranked drivers in NASCAR odds for this race.
NASCAR Russ Friedman 400 odds: Jimmie Johnson looks for another epic finish
- WHAT: Crown Royal Presents the Russ Friedman 400
- WHEN: Saturday, May 2, 7:00 PM ET
- WHERE: Richmond International Speedway, Richmond, VA
- KEY STATS: Kyle Busch’s 6.8 average is tops among active drivers
- PICK: Kyle Busch
Johnson is favored at +400, and he was probably the first driver to leave Talladega after finishing 30th while getting caught up in one of the wrecks. That snapped a top-10 streak at five races for the No.48 driver, and his last three results were top-4s. Johnson has three wins at Richmond, all coming in the last four races on the short track.
JGR teammates Kyle Busch and Denny Hamlin are next at +600, and Busch’s 6.8 average in eight races here is tops among active drivers, while Hamlin is next at 8.8. Hamlin grabbed the pole for last year’s spring race here, while Busch finished second, and both are superb on NASCAR’s short tracks.
Ex-JGR wheelman Tony Stewart has NASCAR betting odds of +800, and he has a pair of wins at Richmond, along with a 10.7 average that is fourth among current drivers. Stewart was in line for a solid finish at Talladega before he dropped a cylinder on the last restart, but that shouldn’t take away from a solid start to the season for the No.14 team.
The NASCAR betting darkhorse to watch here? Clint Bowyer, the defending race-winner with odds of +2800. Bowyer’s 9.3 finishing average is behind only Busch and Hamlin, and he grew up short-track racing in Kansas, so he’s used to navigating cars in a small space.
LEE-ROY'S PICK: There are 10 drivers with a finishing average of 16 or better at Richmond, and this could be as exciting as Talladega last week. However, the winner this week will be Kyle Busch, who will be up on the wheel from the beginning of the race. Talladega was the second time this year that Busch led the most laps at a restrictor-plate track, only to get caught up in a wreck, and the No.18 driver usually drives his best when he’s angry. His teammate, Hamlin, should challenge him, but make Kyle Busch your NASCAR betting pick this week.
For NASCAR Talladega odds, visit the BetOnline.com Sportsbook.
Born in the betting capital of Las Vegas, Lee-Roy has grown to appreciate the likes of IndyCar and Formula 1 racing, but his first love is the high-speed ovals of NASCAR and he is a HUGE Tony Stewart fan. When it comes to motorsports handicapping, Buckles takes the checkered flag. Thoughts or questions? Email Comments@BetOnline.com.
