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NASCAR 2015 Sprint Cup Toyota Owners 400 Preview and Prediction

NASCAR 2015 Sprint Cup Futures

NASCAR’s Sprint Cup series returns to Saturday night racing this week with the running of the Toyota Owners 400 at Richmond International Speedway. This prime-time event is set to get underway at 7 p.m. and the race will be broadcast nationally on FOX.

NASCAR Sprint Cup Toyota Owners 400 Preview and Prediction

Race: Toyota Owners 400 at Richmond International Speedway
Date: Saturday, April 25, 2015       
Time: 7 p.m. (ET)                             
Broadcast: FOX
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2015 NASCAR SPRINT CUP STANDINGS (Link)

You would have to go back to the 2013 season to find the last time that Matt Kenseth won a Sprint Cup point race, but that drought final came to an end with a victory last Sunday at Bristol.

Jimmie Johnson took second and Jeff Gordon ended-up third.

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Turning to Saturday night’s event, the following are my top picks for favorite, contender and longshot based on current betting odds as provided by Sportsbook.ag.

The Favorite (odd of less than 10/1)

It has been four races since Kevin Harvick crossed the finish line first and that is long enough for me to go with the No. 4 car as my top favorite to win this week at +450 betting odds.

This team’s 38th-place finish last Sunday at Bristol was still impressive when you consider that Harvick led that race for 184 laps.

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It was the first time he finished outside the top 10 in his last 11 Sprint Cup point races dating back to race No. 33 of last season. There is also some added value in these odds with Harvick’s victory in this race in 2013 as part of three career Sprint Cup wins at Richmond.

The Contender (odds from 10/1 to 19/1)

Anyone who follows my NASCAR picks for Cappers Picks on a regular basis already knows that I am a big Dale Earnhardt Jr. fan, but I honestly think that there is some solid value in his +1200 betting odds to win this week. The No. 88 car is coming off a disappointing 16th-place finish at Bristol, so I already expect a much better run this time round.

Dale Jr. has posted four top-five finishes in the first eight point races on the 2015 schedule so current form remains good.

His recent performance at Richmond has not been the best, but he has placed in the top 10 of this event the past three years including a second-place finish in 2012.

The Longshot (odds 20/1 or greater)

This week’s pick of a longshot could also be considered a reach, but I am going with Martin Truex Jr. at +2500. With the exception of last Sunday’s 29th-place finish at Bristol, the No. 78 car has finished inside the top 10 in every other race this season including a second-place finish at Las Vegas.

I am relying heavily on current form with this pick given that Truex Jr.’s average finishing position at Richmond is 22.1 over the course of his nine years racing in the Sprint Cup series.

I am also drawing some glimmer of hope from a 10th-place finish in last year’s race, which followed a seventh-place finish in the second race at this track in 2013.

*SPRINT Cup Odds provided by Bovada (Click Here now – Open A free Nascar betting account today!)

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By Dave Schwab

David Schwab is a regular contributor to the Cappers Picks Blog. While not cheering for his beloved Philadelphia Eagles David can be found working on his blog at www.eaglesinc.com. David wants to hear from you so please comment below.