Matt DiBenedetto was announced Sunday night as the All-Star Race Fan Vote winner for the final spot in the NASCAR All-Star Race at Texas Motor Speedway (8 p.m. ET on FS1, MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio).
DiBenedetto was the top vote-getter among drivers not already qualified for the main event. The fans’ choice put his No. 21 Wood Brothers Racing Ford into the field as the 21st and final entry.
This also marks DiBenedetto’s second appearance in the All-Star Race – both coming during his tenure with the storied Wood Brothers organization. He qualified for last year’s event by winning the All-Star Open.
The No. 21 team was in the news this week as the 29-year-old driver will have a new crew chief for the remainder of the season with Jonathan Hassler taking the reins from Greg Erwin. Hassler was a longtime race engineer with Team Penske, the organization that shares a technical alliance with the Wood Brothers.
Kasey Kahne is the only previous Fan Vote winner to go on to win the main event. He accomplished that feat in 2008.
Aric Almirola won Sunday’s NASCAR All-Star Open at Texas Motor Speedway, joining stage winners Ross Chastain and Tyler Reddick in transferring into the NASCAR All-Star Race.
Chastain led just the last two laps in the first 20-lap segment, putting his No. 42 Chip Ganassi Racing Chevrolet into the night’s main event (8 p.m. ET, FS1, MRN, SiriusXM). The second 20-lap stint went to Reddick, who started his No. 8 Richard Childress Racing Chevy from the pole position and held off Almirola down the stretch. Almirola took command of the final 10-lap shootout to put his No. 10 Stewart-Haas Racing Ford in the All-Star Race.
Tyler Reddick led the first 18 laps before giving way to Chastain, finishing second in the opening stage. Corey LaJoie took third, followed by Matt DiBenedetto and Almirola.
“Yeah, I get to race with my heroes. It’s really cool,” said Chastain, who started at the rear of the field after an air-duct violation found in pre-race inspection. “It’s been a good weekend on-track, but off-track has obviously been really tough. It just fired me up more, though. This McDonald’s Chevy was obviously really good to come from the back like that and race with guys like Reddick and those guys. I thought I was getting turned on the backstretch there when he drove in the left rear. It’s a dream come true. I’m living my dream as a farmer and now I get to go NASCAR racing in the All-Star Race with my heroes. It’s amazing.”
With Chastain in the garage with starting spot secured, Reddick took control in Stage 2 and led all the way. Almirola finished second with DiBenedetto, Chris Buescher and Austin Cindric in tow.
Almirola led the final 10 laps to land his All-Star berth, followed by DiBenedetto, Buescher, Chase Briscoe and Cindric.
“It just helps make you happy about something,” Almirola said. “It has been a really tough year and the guys just continue to work their guts out and bring the best cars we can. Here at Texas today we have a really fast car. We took the long way in but I am glad we are racing for a million bucks tonight. I am thankful to all our partners that continue to stick behind us, even through the bad times.”
The 21st and final All-Star starting spot went to DiBenedetto as the top vote-getter in fan balloting who had not already qualified for the main event.
Three caution periods slowed the early action, just in the Open’s first round. Bubba Wallace brought out the first yellow flag on Lap 4 with a solo spin through Turn 2. Buescher also looped around through Turn 3 after contact from Ricky Stenhouse Jr. in a Lap 8 restart. All drivers continued without major damage. Buescher had been mired back after a penalty for jumping the initial start, beating pole-starter Reddick to the green flag.
Erik Jones and Daniel Suarez were both sidelined after completing just 13 laps. Jones lost control of his No. 43 Richard Petty Motorsports Chevrolet while racing Briscoe through Turns 3 and 4, then was clobbered by the No. 99 Trackhouse Racing Chevy of Suarez.
The No. 42 Chip Ganassi Racing Chevrolet driven by Ross Chastain will start at the rear of the field for the NASCAR All-Star Open at Texas Motor Speedway (6 p.m. ET on FS1, MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio) for a violation found in pre-race inspection.
The aero ducts and/or an aero duct opening on the No. 42 car did not conform to NASCAR rule specifications per the following rules:
–20.4.2.d, for NA18D Events, the approved CAD files are are the files included below in addition to the approved OEM CAD files. Body components must also conform to the nominal size, drawing number and part number as outlined in Table 20.4.2.d NA18D Events. Aero Ducts
–20.4.4.a, for NA18D Events, aero duct openings must conform to the CAD files: Chevrolet Aero Duct Hole Pattern.
Phil Surgen, the team’s crew chief, has been ejected from the event. The team has also been fined $25,000 for the violation.
Chastain was slated to start fifth in the 50-lap exhibition in which the winners of the three segments (20 laps, 20 laps and 10 laps are the lengths of the segments) would advance to the NASCAR All-Star Race (8 p.m. ET on FS1, MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio).
In addition to Chastain, the No. 33 Team Penske Ford driven by Austin Cindric and the No. 13 Motorsports Business Management Toyota driven by David Starr will start at the rear. Cindric, who was slated to start 16th, saw his No. 33 Ford fail pre-race inspection twice. Starr, who was slated to start 22nd in the 22-car field, was cited for unapproved adjustments.
The Pennsylvania native made himself right at home Saturday night at Oswego Speedway and won his first NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour race of the season in his first start. Hirschman, who now has four career tour wins, doubled his career series wins at the 0.675-mile oval in New York that has long been a Hirschman family stronghold.
Hirschman won at Oswego in 2018, and his earlier Modified Tour victories both came more than a decade ago in 2008 — at Spencer Speedway (Williamson, New York) and Chemung Speedrome (Chemung, New York).
“I love every ripple, bump and crack in this place,” Hirschman told TrackPass on NBC Sports Gold following the Steel Palace 150. “I’ve been coming here a long time and it’s a special place to my whole family. I’ve always just enjoyed coming up here. It always has a lot of character and it really suits me well. It’s tough, winning these races.”
Hirschman won by holding off Ryan Preece, a Modifieds veteran who currently races part time in the NASCAR Cup Series with JTG Daugherty Racing.
Preece pressured Hirschman heavily over the final 50 laps, tucking his No. 6 Chevrolet to the inside of Hirschman’s No. 60 but couldn’t make the pass for the lead — and win. Preece was attempting to score his second Oswego victory, having won there previously in 2017.
“We were just so close, and really this has been the Hirschman house, right?” Preece said. “I’ve finished second so many times to him here. Second place isn’t all that bad. … We were one more adjustment away for maybe having a little something for Matt.”
Hirschman had qualified third earlier in the day, emerging victorious in a race that had just one caution flag.
Series points leader Patrick Emerling piloted his No. 07 Chevrolet to a third-place finish, just ahead of Justin Bonsignore (No. 51), who is second in the points standings and was the most recent Tour winner at Oswego prior to Saturday. Kyle Ebersole completed the top five in his No. 5 Ford.
Max McLaughlin finished 11th on the evening in his fourth series start after qualifying from the pole position, the first of his career on the Modified Tour.
The Whelen Modified Tour returns to the track on June 19 at Riverhead Raceway in its second stop of the year there. Justin Bonsignore won the Miller Lite 200 on May 15, the third race of the season.
FORT WORTH, Texas – Kyle Busch boosted his NASCAR-record Xfinity Series win total with a 99th career victory in Saturday afternoon’s Alsco Uniforms 250 at Texas Motor Speedway.
The two-time NASCAR Cup Series champion held off veteran series regular Justin Allgaier by a mere .433 seconds in overtime to earn his second series win in as many races this year.
Busch led the last 32 laps but had to negotiate three late restarts including the last in overtime. It technically marked his second victory of the day as John Hunter Nemechek won the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race in a truck owned by Busch.
“Just being with a great group of guys and Joe Gibbs Racing is pretty awesome to drive to drive these Toyota Supras here in the Xfinity Series,’’ Busch said after an extended victory burnout the crowd enjoyed from the series all-time winningest driver.
“All in all, such a good car,’’ Busch added, noting he thought Allgaier’s No. 7 JR Motorsports Chevrolet was just as good as his Toyota on Saturday.
“I was just able to think through a few things there on a couple restarts that may or may not work but there at the end they did.’’
Busch, who led a race-best 94 of the 171 laps, noted the good pushes from behind he got on the restarts from the current Xfinity Series championship leader Austin Cindric, who finished third. The two drivers each won a stage.
At the end of the day, Busch is hopeful the lessons he learned Saturday and the good outcome he enjoyed will be beneficial in Sunday night’s NASCAR All-Star Race at the track.
It’s Busch’s 10th overall Xfinity Series win on the 1.5-mile Texas high banks, where he also has four NASCAR Cup Series and five NASCAR Camping World Truck Series victories. The trophy on Saturday marks the 300th win for Joe Gibbs Racing in the Xfinity and Cup ranks.
Just behind Allgaier and Cindric at the checkered flag were Joe Gibbs Racing drivers Daniel Hemric and Brandon Jones rounding out the top five. AJ Allmendinger, Noah Gragson, Brett Moffitt, Justin Haley and Michael Annett completed the top 10.
The top-10 result was especially significant for Gragson, driver of the No. 9 JR Motorsports Chevrolet. His work at Texas from a 30th-place start to a seventh-place finish was a solid rebound from a series of rough outings. He was running as high as fourth when he spun his tires on the next-to-last restart. His top-10 work halts a streak of three consecutive DNFs.
Cindric’s third place effort is his 10th top-five effort in 14 races, giving him a commanding 108-point advantage over Allmendinger in the championship standings.
The Xfinity Series’ next race is Saturday’s Tennessee Lottery 250 (3:30 p.m. ET, NBCSN, MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio) at Nashville Superspeedway. The event will mark the series’ first visit to the 1.33-mile track since 2011.
NOTE: The race-winning No. 54 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota of Kyle Busch passed NASCAR’s post-race inspection. There were no issues. NASCAR indicated the No. 54 car will be going back to the R&D Center for further evaluation. The No. 8 JR Motorsports Chevrolet of Josh Berry had one lug nut not safe and secure.
All-Star Race at Texas Motor Speedway (⏰ 8 p.m. ET | 📺 FS1 | 📻 MRN, SiriusXM)
Everything you need to know for Sunday’s All-Star Open and All-Star Race, each a non-points paying exhibition.
Where: Texas Motor Speedway, a 1.5-mile track located in Fort Worth, Texas All-Star Open: Drivers not locked into the feature race will compete in a segmented 50-lap qualifying race at 6 p.m. ET (FS1). The Open consists of three segments that are 20 laps, 20 laps and 10 laps Green flag: 8:10 p.m. ET Grand Marshal: Joe Gibbs and Tom Landry Jr. TV/Radio: FS1, MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio Forecast: Mostly clear, with a low around 75. Southeast wind around 5 mph, according to NOAA.gov Race Distance: 100 laps, 150 miles Six Rounds: Rounds 1-4 are 15 laps each, Round 5 is 30 laps and Round 6 is a 10-lap shootout Pit-road speed: 45 mph Caution car speed: 55 mph All-Star 101: Get the full lowdown
Starting lineup: See the full lineup | All-Star Open contenders Pit-stall assignments: See who is pitting whereBrian Lawdermilk | Getty Images
Five to watch
Here are five big story lines we’ll be following at Texas Motor Speedway.
1. Sunday’s All-Star Race at Texas Motor Speedway is just the third time the Cup Series has held the race outside of Charlotte, N.C. (the other venues were Atlanta Motor Speedway in 1986 and Bristol Motor Speedway in 2020). Austin Dillon and Kyle Busch each won at the track last season and the younger Busch brother has won here three times in the last 10 races.
2. Can anyone keep pace with Hendrick Motorsports? Kyle Larson has dominated in recent weeks. Teammates Chase Elliott, William Byron, and Alex Bowman haven’t been far behind. Hendrick’s nine All-Star wins lead all organizations and they’ve also had the most top fives and laps led. All of the drivers in the Hendrick stable are expected to be frontrunners at the 1.5-mile Texas oval, especially with Larson starting on the pole. Want some good news for the field? Each of the last eight All-Star Races was won by a different driver. Elliott is the defending winner and Larson claimed victory in 2019.
3. Pit crews better be on their game this weekend. A major bonus depends on it. $100,000 to be exact. That money will go to the team with the fastest Round 5 pit stop — learn all the details and procedures for timing.
4. Since 2010, only two drivers have won the All-Star Race and Cup Championship in the same year — Chase Elliott (2020) and Jimmie Johnson (2013). The feat has only been accomplished 11 times between six drivers, the others being Johnson (2006), Jeff Gordon (1995, 1997 and 2001), Dale Earnhardt (1987, 1990 and 1993), Rusty Wallace (1989), and Darrell Waltrip (1985). Could this year add to the list?
5. Joey Logano and Kyle Busch have both been climbing the ranks of most consecutive top-10 finishes in the All-Star Race, each with six — tying them with Ken Schrader, Dale Earnhardt Jr., and Denny Hamlin, while trailing only Dale Earnhardt (seven) and all-time leader Matt Kenseth (nine).
Race-day staples
Our biggest pieces of the week — get covered for race day from all angles.
•Power Rankings: Can anyone stop Larson from claiming his second $1 million check? | Scope the ranks •Paint Scheme Preview: Stars and schemes are out this weekend | See the schemes •Preview Show: Jonathan Merryman and Alex Weaver preview the race | Watch the show
Get in on the action
Think you know NASCAR? Put your mettle to the test with weekly gaming.
Every All-Star race has a story to tell — and a big bonus for the winner. Here’s what we’ve seen go down in the past.
•One for the history books: Best All-Star Race moments | See the moments •Winner, winner: All-time All-Star Race winners | See the list
• Just one pass away: Second-place finishers finally have their moment | All-Star runners-up
• Finish first with the fans:See the winners of the All-Star Race Fan Vote through the years | Fan Vote winners
Fast facts
Hard-hitting, race-relevant statistics, brought to you by the experts at Racing Insights.
• Ryan Newman was the last Cup Series rookie to win the All-Star Race, doing so in 2002. Dale Earnhardt Jr. is the only other driver to do so. • Hendrick Motorsports holds the longest streak for most consecutive All-Star Races with at least three cars — 22 (2000-2021). • Kyle Busch has led the most All-Star Race laps all-time (271) but only has one win. Jimmie Johnson holds the all-time record with four. • In 2018 at 42 years, five months, and eleven days old, Kevin Harvick became the fourth oldest winner in the All-Star Race. • Brad Keselowski and Ryan Blaney are the only drivers to lead over 57 laps in the All-Star Race without a win.
Catch the pack
Read up on all the headlines from the week leading up to Sunday’s race.
• Track access: Updates to protocols and procedures as COVID-19 restrictions ease | Read more
• Petty’s new show: Kyle Petty gears up for conversations with personalities, blending cars and local eats | See the teaser • New chief on the box: Johnathan Hassler takes charge of the No. 21 | Read more
• Stepping away from FOX?: Jeff Gordon weighing options for future | Read more
• Kurt Busch’s next steps: Why a potential move to 23XI Racing could be in the cards | Read more
Say what?
Notable quotes from the stars of the sport heading into Sunday’s race.
“We won Texas (Motor Speedway) last year, so going to Texas for the All-Star Race, we’re pretty confident. We feel like we have it setup that if we get in the right place on the track, that we can win with. The confidence is high and the chance to win a million dollars, you don’t get that very often. We’re locked in the race and we’re headed down there, we might as well take some money home after the trip. I’m looking forward to it. We’re going down there for one reason and that’s to win a million dollars.” — Austin Dillon, driver of the No. 3 Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet, on returning to Texas Motor Speedway.
“The format, it’s like a recipe. You can make cookies many different ways and in the end you still have a cookie. Not everybody is gonna like that cookie, but there’s a chance you’re gonna like it. I really don’t know that I have one, to stop talking about cookies and making myself hungry, I know that the way I won it eliminated the competition, but, in reality, that competition is eliminated anyway. You’re not gonna go from 20th to first in 10 laps. It just doesn’t happen, so it kind of is what it is and we deal with the ingredients that NASCAR provides for the All-Star Race going into it and you just do your best to try to make up for what you’re lacking, whether it’s track position, starting position, things like that and make a good day out of it.” — Ryan Newman, driver of the No. 6 Roush Fenway Racing Ford, on the changes to the All-Star Race format.
“I want to go race with my heroes. I want to race with the guys I’ve looked up to. But I can only do what the car can do, and I can only do what my capabilities are. … Like, I’m good (with the rules package). It’s the same for everybody. I know we’re bringing the best race car we can. We’re not shorting anything. We’re not taking it lightly this week.” — Ross Chastain, driver of the No. 42 Chip Ganassi Racing Chevrolet, on driving aggressively in the exhibition race.
NASCAR officials disqualified the Niece Motorsports No. 45 Chevrolet for a throttle-body violation discovered after Saturday’s Camping World Truck Series race at Texas Motor Speedway.
Ross Chastain had driven the No. 45 entry to an apparent third-place finish in the SpeedyCash.com 220 at the Fort Worth, Texas, track. But post-race technical inspection revealed a violation of Section 20.6.2.13.a in the NASCAR Rule Book, which states: “The throttle body must be used as supplied by the NT1 engine supplier without modification.”
As a result of the infraction, the Niece No. 45 was dropped to last place in the 36-truck field.
FORT WORTH, Texas — A day after celebrating his 24th birthday, John Hunter Nemechek celebrated his Camping World Truck Series best fourth win of the season and first of his career at Texas Motor Speedway in Saturday‘s Speedycash.com 220 — easily earning the win by a full 3.361 seconds over hard-charging NASCAR Cup Series regular Chase Elliott.
Moments after taking the checkered flag, an elated Nemechek was told to offer his sponsor audience at-track some love with a high-velocity celebration in his No. 4 Kyle Busch Motorsports Toyota.
“You don‘t have to tell me twice,‘‘ a thrilled Nemechek yelled to his crew.
While the final chase to the trophy came down to Nemechek and reigning NASCAR Cup Series champion Elliott, the win had really been Nemechek‘s to lose. He earned a series-best eighth stage victory (Stage 1), led a race-high 65 of the 147 laps on the afternoon, pulling away from the field and spending the last 22 laps out front.
“Unfortunately, I felt like I was in the same boat I always put myself in here,‘‘ said Elliott, who led 45 laps in the No. 24 GMS Racing Chevrolet.
“John Hunter got the better of me and making time when we pitted so congrats to him and that team.”
Ross Chastain was a full 10 seconds behind Elliott in third place when the checkered flag fell. However, the No. 45 truck was disqualified in post-race inspection under Rule 20.6.2.13.a that states the throttle body must be used as supplied by the NT1 engine supplier without modification and scored last in the 36-truck field.
Grant Enfinger, Austin Hill and Chandler Smith rounded out the top five, followed by Zane Smith, Todd Gilliland, Tyler Ankrum, Tanner Gray and Josh Berry.
Two-race winner Ben Rhodes, who is second to Nemechek in the championship, had been running seventh with only 14 laps remaining when he had to pit after making contact with the wall. A pit-road penalty followed, and Rhodes ended up 26th on the afternoon — his worst showing of the season and only the second time he has finished outside the top 10 on the year.
Another pair of weekly race favorites, reigning series champion Sheldon Creed — who won at Texas last October — and Stewart Friesen also suffered bad luck Saturday. Creed wrecked twice and finished 35th in the 36-truck field. Friesen was also in accident and finished 34th.
The continued positive results and the career-high season win total for Nemechek resonated deeply for the young driver, who moved to the truck series this season after racing full-time in the NASCAR Cup Series last year. His work in two-time NASCAR Cup Series champion Kyle Busch‘s Toyotas — a series-best four wins and seven top-five finishes through 11 races — has given him a firm grip on the championship. His 28 Playoff points are more than twice that of any other driver in the field.
The results haven‘t just been good for his title run, but a well-timed confidence boost as well.
“There‘s going to be haters, people that doubt your ability, question your ability and as a person, you have to know what you are capable of,‘‘ Nemechek said. “I took that as a challenge. A lot of media, probably a lot of drivers, too, questioned my moving from the NASCAR Cup Series to the Camping World Truck Series — but I do feel like the Camping World Truck Series is one of the best series in NASCAR, it‘s super competitive every single week and you have to push yourself over the limit and push for more.
“I‘m not a guy that just wants to ride around and say I‘m a Cup Series driver, I strive for more than that. I want to win races. I want to win championships.‘‘
Nemechek now holds a 79-point advantage over Rhodes heading to the series’ next race at Nashville Superspeedway, the Rackley Roofing 200 (Friday, 8 p.m. ET, FS1, MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio).
The NASCAR All-Star Open/Race is in Fort Worth, Texas this weekend — the first time in the 36-year history of the race it has visited the Lonestar State. With only two exceptions — 2020 in Bristol and 1986 at Atlanta) — Charlotte, North Carolina had hosted the race since its beginning.
Some of the drivers have strong records at Texas, and some are just red hot on all tracks — and that all fits with the potential winners discussed below.
There is good reason Kyle Larson is perched atop the NASCAR betting odds so regularly. He’s multi-dimensional. Translation?: He wins anywhere and everywhere when good equipment is underneath him. Combine that talent with Hendrick Motorsports power, and success will follow. He will start on the pole Sunday..
Put him on a road-course track (Sonoma): Win.
Put him in the longest race in NASCAR (Charlotte): Win.
How about intermediate tracks (Las Vegas, Dover, Atlanta): Top-two finishes galore.
The track Too Tough to Tame at Darlington: Second-place finish.
Oh, that’s just this year.
No wonder the guy is in second in the overall NASCAR Cup Series standings. While superspeedway tracks may not be his forte so far in his young career, every other genre appears to be a strength when he races for Hendrick. He has nine top-five finishes in 16 starts and three wins.
After an abbreviated 2020 that saw him lose his seat with Chip Ganassi Racing because of off-the-track issues, he has put together a strong statistical start to the 2021 season.
OTHERS: Every week we talk about the next couple of guys atop the odds, and Martin Truex, Jr. (+700) and Chase Elliott (+700) make that list. Neither driver has won here before, but both have done relatively well with Elliott nabbing five top 10s in 10 starts and Truex, Jr. getting 17 out of 31 starts.
THE DARK HORSE THREAT
Kyle Busch (+800)
Calling Kyle Busch a dark-horse threat seems just, well … weird. The younger Busch brother hasn’t just won more Cup Series races at this venue than any of the current drivers (four), he also has nine Xfinity Series wins and five Truck Series wins. In all, he has won 18 races there across NASCAR’s top three levels, along with 40 career top-five finishes in the top three series.
In the Cup Series, Busch has 17 career top 10s here in just 30 starts. This guy is good at Texas and we may see a display of that this weekend.
OTHERS: I know people get tired of the same old names, but when all three of NASCAR’s top series are considered, Kevin Harvick (+1400) has nine career wins across all series at Texas. The veteran can’t be counted out. Joey Logano (+1400) has 14 top-10 finishes in 25 career Cup starts at Texas, and he’s one of seven drivers in this weekend’s All-Star Race who have at least one career Cup Series win here (2014).
THE INTRIGUING LONG SHOT
Christopher Bell (+3000)
Bell is an intriguing pick because he took third at Texas last year behind Kyle Busch and Martin Truex, Jr. That’s not too shabby for a young driver who wasn’t even with Joe Gibbs Racing yet in the Cup Series (he joined prior to this season).
He also has won races here in both the Xfinity Series and Camping World Truck Series, and is 15th in the Cup Series standings with one win this season (Daytona Road Course). He is slated to start No. 3 in the All-Star Race on Sunday.
The heaviest early action on Sunday’s All-Star Race (8 p.m. ET on FS1, MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio) has come in on exactly the driver one would have expected, as Kyle Larson leads the handle booked at BetMGM.
Larson heads into All-Star Weekend on a two-race win streak and finished second in the three races prior to that run. By luck of the draw, the No. 5 Chevrolet will start on the pole Sunday.
Larson is priced as the clear betting favorite, offered at 3/1 odds at BetMGM as of Friday morning. He’s followed on the odds board by Martin Truex Jr. and Chase Elliott (both 7/1), then Kyle Busch (8/1) and Denny Hamlin (10/1).
Elliott, Larson’s Hendrick Motorsports teammate, is second in early handle at BetMGM, also predictable based on the garage’s recent dominance. Busch is third, followed by Ryan Blaney (12/1) in fourth, with Hamlin rounding out the top five, per an email from BetMGM traders to NASCAR.com.
Larson hasn’t been particularly impressive at Texas Motor Speedway, but none of his 13 starts at the track (19.8 average finish) have been in Hendrick equipment. He’s been extraordinary in his new ride, and bettors are willing to take a short price on his continued success.
Over the six races at Texas since 2018, Kevin Harvick leads the way with a 5.5 average finish, a 116.0 rating and 22.47% laps led. Struggling with speed in his Stewart-Haas Ford this season, though, Harvick is priced at 14/1 odds and doesn’t feel like a compelling bet Sunday.
While Busch’s Texas record is also excellent over the last six races there (6.67 average finish, 114.5 rating, 15.0% laps led), the All-Star Race’s funky format and unfamiliar competition package throw wrenches into the handicapping process.
In terms of format, there will be six segments over the 100 laps, with all or part of the field inverted after certain segments. Equipment-wise, teams bring a 510-horsepower engine to Texas this weekend, not the 550-hp package typically used on 1.5-mile tracks. The 510-hp package was last used for the 2018 All-Star Race in Charlotte.
Do sharp bettors play the All-Star Race?
Some professional NASCAR bettors stay away from this event, believing it’s difficult to find an edge due to the unique format. The lack of data on the 510-hp package makes quantitative analysis all the more difficult.
A respected pro who goes by the handle “Abnormally Dist” on Twitter, doesn’t seem interested in playing Sunday and issues what can be interpreted as a note of caution to recreational bettors and DFS players about the advice they may be heeding this week.
Sharp bettor Blake Phillips, though, says he’s “always involved in the All-Star Race. I love the All-Star Race, it’s a lot of fun.
As for his handicapping approach for Sunday, Phillips said, “I treat it like I would any other race, but it’s always been important to look into what changes they’re making to the All-Star Race. What kind of gimmicks are they going to introduce? Are teams going to use it as an opportunity to try out some new stuff or go out on a limb a little bit.”
With $1 million going to the winner of the All-Star Race, we’re likely to see these drivers go all out, unlike, say, the NBA All-Star Game, where the lack of defensive effort is obvious.
“It’s a little wilder than normal, and it’s always a fun spectacle, added Phillips. “And it always makes it more interesting with some action on it.”
Marcus DiNitto is a writer and editor living in Charlotte, North Carolina. He has been covering sports for nearly two-and-a-half decades and sports betting for more than 10 years. His first NASCAR betting experience was in 1995 at North Wilkesboro Speedway, where he went 0-for-3 on his matchup picks. Read his articles and follow him on Twitter; do not bet his picks.
