The NASCAR Cup Series finally returns to action after a forced two-month hiatus. NASCAR has a jam packed schedule ahead, making up for the weekly races that we abandoned in late March, April, and early May. First up is the Darlington 400. We have already looked at the favorites to win what seems like the first race of the season, and now we take a look at our sleeper picks for this highly anticipated event.
Erik Jones is currently ranked 21st in NASCAR Cup Series standings, but he has a legitimate shot at defying his +1400 odds with a win at Darlington Raceway. He boasts and average finish of 4.5 which gives him the fourth best record on the track and a rating of 114.7. Jones actually won the Darlington event last year when it was held in September, a feat which sealed his spot in the NASCAR playoffs. He started in the 15th position and led for 79 laps en route to the checkered flag. The sportsbook seems to have undervalued this driver given his track record and recent success at Darlington, which means there’s some good money to potentially be made on Jones.
Kyle Busch may be the Vegas favorite (+500) to win this Sunday but do not discount his older brother Kurt. Priced at +1600, the “other” Busch may sit in the 16th spot in NASCAR Cup Series standings, but he has the sixth best average at the South Carolina racetrack. Kurt’s average finish at Darlington is 6.5 and he has an average rating of 109.5. In 2019 he came in 7th place after starting in the 4th position, and led for an impressive 94 laps. A late slip up cost him, so expect him to bring renewed focus into this Sunday’s race.
You can’t blame us for picking Blaney over much of the other potential sleepers. He is ranked 18th from a field of 50 at Darlington Raceway. Sure, his best finish out of five races at Darlington is 13th but the Team Penske driver is having a banner year thus far, ranked 6th in NASCAR Cup Series standings after coming in 2nd at the 2020 Daytona 500. He has sniffed out the checkered flag and is hungry to claim one for his own this season. Darlington may be the place to make that happen, so you might want to wager accordingly.
