First of all, here’s hoping that Ryan Newman will be able to completely recover from the injuries he’s suffered during last week’s 2020 Daytona 500. The 2020 NASCAR Cup Series, meanwhile, must continue. This coming Sunday the best NASCAR drivers in the world will converge upon Las Vegas for the 2020 Pennzoil 400. Does Kyle Busch deserve to be a favorite after his Daytona 500 performance? Will Denny Hamlin collect yet another win after taking the Great American Race? Or will another driver get an early-season victory?
Hamlin is the first big winner of the 2020 NASCAR Cup Series, as he topped all drivers at the 2020 Daytona 500. With that, he joined the exclusive club of back-to-back winners of the Great American Race. Now, Hamlin is looking to sustain his form, when he rolls to Las Vegas for the 2020 Pennzoil 400. Hamlin has not won at the LAs Vegas Motor Speedway, but he’s got seven top 10s and two top 5s in 16 races there since 2006.
Joey Logano (7/1 Vegas Odds)
Logano did not have a fantastic start to the 2020 season, as he finished just 26th at the 2020 Daytona 500 despite starting at the No. 3 slot. The Las Vegas Motor Speedway, however, should offer a great opportunity for Logano, who’s been a historically solid performer there, especially over the past few years. Since 2016, Logano has finished all six races at the said track, including a win at the 2019 edition of the Pennzoil.
SLEEPERS
Jimmie Johnson (40/1 Vegas Odds)
If we’re in the 2000s, Johnson’s a shoo-in favorite in any race, let alone in Las Vegas, where he once won three-straight appearances there from 2005 to 2007. Those were the days. But every champion always has a great fight left in him — or in this case, race — right? Johnson, who’s going to retire from the NASCAR Cup Series after this season, finished third at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway in 2016 (The Kobalt 400), which was the last time he finished inside the top 10 there. Since then, he has finished no better than 11th and no worse than 22nd at the track.
Ryan Blaney (20/1 Vegas Odds)
Blaney almost had the 2020 Daytona 500 in the bag last week, finishing behind eventual-winner Denny Hamlin for a second-place finish. Don’t count out Blaney to have another solid showing for the second week in a row, as the Las Vegas Motor Speedway seems to be one of his favorites. In seven races there since 2015, Blaney has picked up five top 7s.
LONG SHOT
Aric Almirola (80/1 Vegas Odds)
Almirola’s experience at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway is littered with forgettable performances, but it appears that he appears to be trending in the right direction of late. In three races at the track since 2018, Almirola has finished inside the top seven twice.
