Posted on by PJ Walsh

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Martin Truex Jr. scored the first win of the 2019 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs last weekend in Las Vegas, and is hoping to make it back-to-back wins Saturday night in Richmond.

Truex won this race in the spring, and is unsurprisingly among the favorites at the Westgate SuperBook in Las Vegas.

To make this week’s NASCAR Props Challenge picks, I’ll rely on betting odds to project expected driver performance, as well as race trends from the April race at Richmond Raceway.

1. Which playoff driver earns the higher finish: Kyle Busch or Denny Hamlin?

This is close, but I’ll take Busch and his +300 odds to win the race over Hamlin’s +600.

Pick: Busch

2. Will all top-10 finishers be playoff drivers? Yes or No?

Daniel Suarez and Jimmie Johnson — both +8000 — have the best betting odds to win Saturday’s race among the drivers not currently in the playoffs.

Considering neither finished top 10 in the spring, I’m not very optimistic that a non-playoff driver finishes up there.

Pick: Yes

3. Toyota has won six of the last eight Richmond races. Will Toyota win again this weekend? Yes or No?

I typically don’t like taking one manufacturer over the field, but am going to make an exception here. Toyota drivers Kyle Busch (+300), Martin Truex Jr. (+500) and Denny Hamlin (+600) are on the short list of race favorites, with Erik Jones still in the mix at +1600.

Posted on by Staff Report

Richard Childress Racing announced Tuesday it will release Daniel Hemric as the driver of the team’s No. 8 Chevrolet following the 2019 season.

Hemric is in his first full-time Monster Energy Series season with the organization.

“Richard Childress Racing (RCR) has exercised its option and will release Daniel Hemric as driver of the No. 8 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Camaro ZL1 effective at the conclusion of the 2019 NASCAR race season,” a team statement read. “Daniel is a very talented driver and an outstanding person. We’d like to thank him for his commitment and dedication to RCR the past three years and wish him continued success in his future endeavors. Additional information on RCR’s Cup program will be announced at a later date.”

MORE: Silly Season tracker

Hemric, 28, has one top-five finish and two top 10s through 27 races this year. His best showing is a third-place run at Chicagoland. He’s coming off a 17th-place result at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.

Prior to the 2019 season, the Kannapolis, North Carolina, native drove the No. 21 Chevrolet for RCR’s NASCAR Xfinity Series program. He qualified for the Championship 4 in both 2017 and 2018, with a best finish of third in the final 2018 standings. Hemric logged 23 top-five finishes in that two-year stretch.

RELATED: More from Richard Childress Racing

His move to the Monster Energy Series was announced in September 2018, with a number change coming in December. The No. 31 previously driven by Ryan Newman became the No. 8 for Hemric.

The number has long been associated with the Earnhardt family, which has deep ties to the Kannapolis community that Hemric also calls home. Dale Earnhardt Jr. broke into NASCAR’s top series with the No. 8, and his father and grandfather had used the number in several different racing series.

“I’m disappointed it ended like this, but we’ve got nine more races together,” Hemric said, in part, of the news.

His full tweet:

Posted on by Data Skrive

Ross Chastain placed second in the NASCAR Gander Outdoors Truck Series at Las Vegas Motor Speedway Friday, 2.116 seconds off the winning pace.

Austin Hill earned the checkered flag in the race, with Christian Eckes crossing the finish line third. Sheldon Creed took fourth place, followed by Todd Gilliland in the No. 5 spot.

Chastain came away victorious in each of the first two stages.

The ninth-year driver qualified in second position at 178.012 mph. He led on 10 occasions for a total of 88 laps.

Chastain has tallied three career victories, 13 top-five finishes and has placed in the top 10 in 31 races.

There were 32 cars in the field and the race endured six cautions and 32 caution laps. Prior to the checkered flag there were 21 lead changes.

With Hill finishing out front in Shigeaki Hattori’s Silverado, Toyota added 40 points to its season totals. Overall, Toyota ranks No. 1 with 710 points, followed by Chevrolet in the No. 2 spot with 696. Ford sits at No. 3 with 628 points on the season.

Ross Chastain Driver Page | Get Ross Chastain Gear | NASCAR SHOP

Posted on by Data Skrive

Christian Eckes placed third in the World of Westgate 200 Friday at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. It’s Eckes’ second top-five finish of the season.

Austin Hill finished out front in the race, with Ross Chastain taking second. Sheldon Creed took fourth place, followed by Todd Gilliland in the No. 5 spot.

Ross Chastain took each of the first two stages.

Eckes qualified in the pole position at 178.077 mph.

Eckes still is looking for career win No. 1, boasts two top-five finishes and six finishes in the top 10.

There were 32 cars in the field and the race endured six cautions and 32 caution laps. Prior to the checkered flag there were 21 lead changes.

With Hill driving to victory in Shigeaki Hattori’s Tundra, Toyota added 40 points to its season totals. Overall, Toyota ranks No. 1 with 710 points, followed by Chevrolet in the No. 2 spot with 696. Ford sits at No. 3 with 628 points on the season.

Christian Eckes Driver Page | Get Christian Eckes Gear | NASCAR SHOP

Posted on by Data Skrive

Brennan Poole finished sixth in the World of Westgate 200 Friday at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.

Austin Hill earned the checkered flag in the race, with Ross Chastain taking second, and Christian Eckes placing third. Sheldon Creed took fourth place, followed by Todd Gilliland in the No. 5 spot.

Ross Chastain took each of the first two stages.

Poole qualified in 18th position at 175.353 mph.

Poole still is looking for career win No. 1, but owns one top-five finish and four finishes in the top 10.

There were 32 cars in the field and the race endured six cautions and 32 caution laps. Prior to the checkered flag there were 21 lead changes.

With Hill driving to victory in Shigeaki Hattori’s Tundra, Toyota added 40 points to its season totals. Overall, Toyota ranks No. 1 with 710 points, followed by Chevrolet in the No. 2 spot with 696. Ford sits at No. 3 with 628 points on the season.

Brennan Poole Driver Page | Get Brennan Poole Gear | NASCAR SHOP

Posted on by Data Skrive

Harrison Burton placed ninth in the World of Westgate 200 Friday at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.

Austin Hill brought home the win in the race, with Ross Chastain finishing second, and Christian Eckes crossing the finish line third. Sheldon Creed took fourth place, followed by Todd Gilliland in the No. 5 spot.

Chastain came away victorious in each of the first two stages.

Burton qualified in ninth position at 176.939 mph.

The fourth-year driver still is looking for career win No. 1, but boasts 11 top-five finishes and 17 finishes in the top 10.

There were 32 cars in the field and the race endured six cautions and 32 caution laps. Prior to the checkered flag there were 21 lead changes.

With Hill finishing out front in Shigeaki Hattori’s Tundra, Toyota added 40 points to its season totals. Overall, Toyota ranks No. 1 with 710 points, followed by Chevrolet in the No. 2 spot with 696. Ford sits at No. 3 with 628 points on the season.

Harrison Burton Driver Page | Get Harrison Burton Gear | NASCAR SHOP

Posted on by Data Skrive

Alex Bowman placed sixth in the South Point 400 Sunday at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.

Martin Truex Jr brought home the win in the race, with Kevin Harvick taking second, and Brad Keselowski placing third. Chase Elliott brought home fourth place, followed by Ryan Blaney to round out the top five.

Joey Logano picked up 10 bonus points by winning Stage 1, and Truex finished out front in Stage 2.

Bowman qualified in 19th position at 176.355 mph.

Bowman has tallied one career victory, seven top-five finishes and has placed in the top 10 in 22 races.

There were 39 cars in the field and the race endured four cautions and 22 caution laps. Prior to the checkered flag there were 24 lead changes.

With Truex driving to victory in Joe Gibbs Racing’s Camaro, Toyota added 40 points to its season totals. Overall, Toyota ranks No. 1 with 988 points, followed by Ford in the No. 2 spot with 958. Chevrolet sits at No. 3 with 916 points on the season.

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Posted on by Data Skrive

Riley Herbst crossed the finish line ninth in the Rhino Pro Truck Outfitters 300 Saturday at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.

Tyler Reddick earned the checkered flag in the race, with Christopher Bell taking second, and Brandon Jones placing third. Cole Custer took fourth place, followed by Justin Allgaier to round out the top five.

Bell won both Stage 1 and Stage 2.

Herbst qualified in 15th position at 176.603 mph.

The second-year driver still is in search of career victory No. 1, but has placed in the top 10 in four races.

There were 38 cars in the field and the race endured four cautions and 20 caution laps. Prior to the checkered flag there were 13 lead changes.

With Reddick driving to victory in Richard Childress’ Supra, Chevrolet added 40 points to its season totals. Overall, Toyota ranks No. 1 with 933 points, followed by Chevrolet in the No. 2 spot with 933. Ford sits at No. 3 with 919 points on the season.

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Posted on by Data Skrive

Gray Gaulding placed seventh in the Rhino Pro Truck Outfitters 300 Saturday at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.

Tyler Reddick earned the checkered flag in the race, with Christopher Bell finishing second, and Brandon Jones placing third. Cole Custer brought home fourth place, followed by Justin Allgaier in the No. 5 spot.

Bell came away victorious in each of the first two stages.

Gaulding qualified in 16th position at 175.753 mph.

The fourth-year driver still is looking for career win No. 1, but boasts one top-five finish and four finishes in the top 10.

Gaulding battled 37 other cars in the field and the race endured four cautions and 20 caution laps. There were 13 lead changes before the checkered flag.

With Reddick driving to victory in Richard Childress’ Camaro, Chevrolet added 40 points to its season totals. Overall, Toyota ranks No. 1 with 933 points, followed by Chevrolet in the No. 2 spot with 933. Ford sits at No. 3 with 919 points on the season.

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Posted on by Data Skrive

Brad Keselowski finished third in the South Point 400 Sunday at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. It’s Keselowski’s 10th top-five finish of the season.

Martin Truex Jr finished out front in the race, with Kevin Harvick taking second. Chase Elliott took fourth place, followed by Ryan Blaney to round out the top five.

Joey Logano picked up 10 bonus points by winning Stage 1, and Truex finished out front in Stage 2.

Keselowski qualified in 18th position at 176.361 mph.

The 12th-year veteran has tallied 30 career victories, 112 top-five finishes and has placed in the top 10 in 182 races.

There were 39 cars in the field and the race endured four cautions and 22 caution laps. Prior to the checkered flag there were 24 lead changes.

With Truex finishing out front in Joe Gibbs Racing’s Mustang, Toyota added 40 points to its season totals. Overall, Toyota ranks No. 1 with 988 points, followed by Ford in the No. 2 spot with 958. Chevrolet sits at No. 3 with 916 points on the season.

Brad Keselowski Driver Page | Get Brad Keselowski Gear | NASCAR SHOP