The NASCAR Cup Series returns to Darlington Speedway for the third time in 2020. The Southern 500 is one of my favorite races. Usually the races over 400 miles long tend to get boring, but I could watch the throwback paint schemes all night long. It should be fun to watch the playoff drivers try to stay alive in the playoffs and stay off the wall.
*Odds fro Caesar’s Palace in Las Vegas (9/2/2020)
Kevin Harvick (13-4): You have to bet a lot of money on Kevin Harvick in order to make any money, but he is the closest thing to a “sure bet” this week. The No. 4 team is bringing back the car that led 159 laps and went to Victory Lane at Darlington in May. This car also led 68 laps and went to Victory Lane at Indianapolis. There is no reason to believe this car will not smoke the field again Sunday night.
Chase Elliott (13-1): There is a lot to like about Chase Elliott Sunday night. He starts from the pole. He has the No. 1 pit stall. He had the second-fastest green flag speed in the last race at Darlington. He ranks has the best driver ranking on Steep Tracks this season (Bristol, Dover and Darlington) and he had this race won in May until Kyle Busch spun him out (and Chase Elliott walked up the track and flipped the No. 18 car the one-finger salute). Elliott is my favorite pick Sunday night for the money.
Erik Jones (14-1): I am not sure Erik Jones is going to win Sunday night. I am sure he will run up front and have a chance to win. Jones won the Southern 500 last year. This is by far his best track. Jones has finished 5th, 8th, 1st, 8th and 5th in his five races at the Track Too Tough to Tame. I really like Jones in head-to-head matchups and bets to finish in the top 5.
Tyler Reddick (50-1): Tyler Reddick had two great races at Darlington in May. The No. 8 car started 29th and finished 7th in the first race. Reddick came back and finished 13th in the second race but he had a top-10 running position. This rookie will have another good chance to win if he is able to keep the fenders clean Sunday night. Reddick is the best in the field (now that Kyle Larson is gone) at running the top of the track. I will put a few bucks on him at 50-1 odds.
Clint Bowyer (66-1): Did I read that right??? 66-1 odds for Clint Bowyer? I will take it. Bowyer had the fastest average green flag speed in the last race at Darlington. Bowyer led 71 of the 208 laps (34%), won Stage 1, won Stage 2 and was running in the top-five when he had a tire go down on lap 198. Bowyer had a good chance to win at Darlington in May. His odds are too good to pass up this week.
Good luck this week!
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