Denny Hamlin won the 2020 Dixie Vodka 400, and he’ll be back to defend his crown this weekend at the Homestead-Miami Speedway down in Florida. But it’s not just Hamlin or any other favorites that you should be keeping a close eye on. There’s value in studying the chances of the other drivers with longer odds, just like the three we have listed below.
Almirola is looking to get his first big break this season after two unsuccessful tries to start the season. Almirola went 34th at the 2021 Daytona 500 after getting involved in a crash early. He then bounced back with a stronger performance at the O’Reilly Auto Parts 253 At Daytona last week, where he finished 17th. What’s going to keep your hopes up that he can pull off a victory somehow this coming Sunday in Florida? Well, for one, Almirola has made 11 starts at the Homestead-Miami Speedway, and in those races, he’s managed to collect two top 5s and four top 10s. his career average finish there is currently at 19.1.
Austin Dillon (+5000)
Dillon had a podium finish at the 2021 Daytona 500, as he went third overall. He could not sustain his momentum, though, in the follow-up race, as he was only 34th at the NASCAR Cup Series at Daytona RC last Sunday. But it’s too early to just give up on Dillon. In fact, you should be excited over his chances to take the checkered flag this weekend, considering his relatively long odds to win the Dixie Vodka 400. A quick look at his recent performances at the Homestead-Miami Speedway would reveal that he’s gone back-to-back top 8s in his last two starts there. He was seventh at the 2020 Dixie 400 and eighth at the 2019 Ford EcoBoost 400. Dillion finished 14th in his first NASCAR Cup Series start at the Homestead-Miami Speedway in 2014, but since then, he’s never finished outside of the top 14 in all of his next six starts there.
Ryan Newman (+10000)
Newman finished just 38th at the 2021 Daytona 500 then placed 20th at the O’Reilly Auto Parts 253 At Daytona. He’s still finding his groove, but could that come this weekend at the Homestead-Miami Speedway? Newman hasn’t won there in 19 career starts, but he’s had his fair share of respectable finishes there. He went seventh at the 2019 Ford EcoBoost 400 and had a runner-up at the same race in 2014. Newman has a career average finish of 16.26 at Homestead-Miami Speedway.
