The 2022 NASCAR Cup season has been the year of the long-shot, but last week Denny Hamlin was able to find Victory Lane at 12-1 odds. The average odds of the race winners this season had been 23-1 before Hamlin won last week. Now the average is 21-1 odds. The drivers who ran well at Richmond are the same drivers who typically run well at Martinsville. It will likely be tough for a long-shot to win Saturday night, but there are a few drivers who are worth taking a chance with at Martinsville.
DRAFTKINGS ODDS FOR MARTINSVILLE
* The odds are from DraftKings Sportsbook. The odds could change between the time of this article and the time you place your bet.
** The first number is the amount of money based on the second number (the amount of the wager). So if you bet $1 on Martinsville, you will win $5.
Here are my best bets for the Blue-Emu Maximum Pain Relief 400…
MARTIN TRUEX JR (5-1): I usually do not like to bet the favorites but I really think Truex wins the race Saturday night. He has won the last two spring races at Martinsville and he had one of the fastest cars at Richmond last week. We have had seven winners in seven races this year. I will bet that Truex makes it eight for eight.
RAYN BLANEY (9-1): Blaney should win this race if you believe in the stats. Blaney leads almost every statistical category this season. He has the best driver rating, best average running position, fastest average green flag speed and he has led the most laps. Blaney led 157 laps and finished 11th in this race last year. It is hard to believe that he has not won yet this year. I will bet that the No. 12 car finally gets his Grandfather Clock Saturday night.
KYLE BUSCH (10-1): It is hard to trust Busch, but it is tough to bet against him too. There are a few reasons why I am betting on Busch to win Saturday night. Busch is no stranger to finishing up front at Martinsville. He finished second in the last race at Martinsville. Busch is always good when he competes in a lower series race before the Cup Series race. Busch will run the truck Series race Friday night. He also almost won on the short, flat track at the L.A. Coliseum, so I will take my chances with Rowdy this week.
JOEY LOGANO (10-1): The most similar track to Martinsville that the Gen-7 car has competed on in 2022 is the L.A. Coliseum. Logano won the Busch Light Clash at the Coliseum and he should have a good chance to get to Victory Lane Saturday night. He was running in the top-five last week until his team had problems in the pits. I like the speed Team Penske has right now.
TYLER REDDICK (18-1): Do you believe the short, flat track at the L.A. Coliseum is similar to Martinsville Speedway? If so, you need to bet on Reddick. The No. 8 car was the fastest car at the Busch Light Clash at the Coliseum. His stats at Martinsville are not great but he did finish eighth in this race last year. Richard Childress Racing has more speed in 2022 so I will bet Reddick at 18-1 odds Saturday night.
Long Shot Special: ERIK JONES (70-1): I am using the same narrative to bet Jones that I used to bet Tyler Reddick. I am looking at the speed they had on the short, flat track at the L.A. Coliseum. Jones ran up front in that race and he finished eighth. He has also had some success at Martinsville. Jones started 28th and finished eighth in his last race at Martinsville. He just needs a few breaks to get to Victory Lane at 70-1 odds Saturday night.
Good luck this week!
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