The NASCAR Cup Series heads to Martinsville Speedway for the Xfinity 500, the final race before the Championship 4. With playoff spots on the line, expect tight racing, short tempers and plenty of bump-and-run drama at “The Paperclip.” Let’s break down the best bets on DraftKings Sportsbook for Sunday’s race in Virginia.
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Chase Elliott +650
Last week was the opportunity to take a long shot. This week, only the favorites are in play. The penultimate race of the season favors the favorites. Not only do the best teams have the most on the line, but they’re the best teams because of their dominance at legendary tracks like Martinsville. The Paperclip is a staple. Martinsville has been on the schedule longer than any other track in NASCAR history. Every spring and every Halloween, the Cup Series teams make the short trip from their homes in Charlotte to a small town and a short track in Southside Virginia. It’s a special place. The big teams pour big amounts of resources into a tiny track.
No one holds Martinsville more near and dear to the heart than Hendrick Motorsports. The team has experienced it all in Martinsville. From triumph to tragedy, the short, flat track defines Hendrick. Drivers have come and gone, but they’ve all won and continue to win at Martinsville. Elliott, Kyle Larson and William Byron all have a lot on the line. They have speed and success at this short track.
Who will have the car? Practice won’t determine this. A lot changes in a 500-lap race in the fall at Martinsville. Who will have the car and make the right moves 300 or 400 laps after the green flag waves? Who needs it more? Larson seems most likely to lay up. Elliott and Byron need the checkered flag in their hand. Byron is looking for his first Cup Series championship. Elliott wants to prove he’s still elite and deserving of his role as the face of NASCAR. Throw out the stats. Elliott gets it done on Sunday afternoon.
Group D Winner: Alex Bowman +240
Picking the best Hendrick Motorsports driver is challenging. Larson, Elliott and Byron have nearly identical odds to win. The easy option is taking the HMS driver in a softer matchup. Alex Bowman is a past winner. In fact, he won a Martinsville fall race as a non-playoff driver. He won with a cutthroat move. He showed no deference to the playoff royalty. There’s no chill with Bowman the Showman.
He doesn’t need to win this weekend. Bowman only needs to beat Tyler Reddick, Brad Keselowski and Austin Cindric. These three non-playoff drivers have not been consistently competitive at Martinsville. Bowman won’t receive much attention in the HMS garage, but the No. 48 Chevy won’t be completely cut off because of his playoff status. Even if he draws the short end of the stick, an HMS Chevy not in the playoffs is better than the majority of the field.
