Pennzoil 400 (Cup Series) Predictions, Picks, Betting Odds

Odds from DraftKings Sportsbook.

For the second leg of its West Coast Swing, the NASCAR Cup Series visits 1.5-mile Las Vegas Motor Speedway between trips to Auto Club Speedway in Fontana, California and Phoenix Raceway next weekend.

Sunday’s Pennzoil 400 will be contested over 267 laps (400.5 miles), with stage breaks scheduled after 80 and 165 laps. Reigning NASCAR Cup Series champion Kyle Larson is the defending winner of this race.

Five drivers will start from the rear on Sunday after their cars failed pre-qualifying inspection twice: Kevin Harvick, Chase Elliott, Harrison Burton, Todd Gilliland, and Josh Bilicki. All five cars passed inspection on the third try.

Pennzoil 400 (Cup Series) Predictions

It’s Hard to Find a Reason Not to Bet on Vegas Favorite Kyle Larson

Last week, Kyle Larson started from the rear, but that didn’t prevent him from winning the second NASCAR Cup Series race of the season at Auto Club Speedway.

In Sunday’s Pennzoil 400 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, Larson won’t have to overcome a similar handicap. He qualified second to Christopher Bell in Saturday’s time trials and will start the event on the outside of the front row.

When Larson wins, he tends to win in bunches. On the way to the 2021 championship, he became only the fourth driver in series history to put together multiple streaks of three or more victories in the same season, joining NASCAR Hall of Famers Richard Petty (1967, 1971), David Pearson (1968) and Dale Earnhardt (1987).

Larson won this race last year, and there’s no reason to think he can’t find Victory Lane again on Sunday.

He’s our pick to win the Pennzoil 400, even though you won’t get rich with a bet on the reigning champ at +400 (DraftKings Sportsbook).

Chase Elliott Will Start from the Rear after Two Inspection Failures

If there’s one driver who would love to beat Larson on Sunday, it’s his Hendrick Motorsports teammate, Chase Elliott.

After Elliott made a remarkable run from two laps down last Sunday at Fontana, Larson shot into the top lane and knocked Elliott’s Chevy into the outside wall as the drivers were battling Joey Logano for the lead late in the race.

Elliott did not take the mishap well, and doubtless, there are still hard feelings a week later. NASCAR’s most popular driver has a fast car, but starting at the back of the field will make his life more difficult.

It didn’t prevent Larson from winning last week, and if Elliott can work his way to the front, he’ll be a contender.

We like the driver of the No. 9 Chevy to finish in the top three, after all, is said and done (+170 via DraftKings Sportsbook). If you’re feeling adventurous, you can back him to win at +800.

Based on His Vegas Stats, Brad Keselowski Is an Undervalued Commodity

Drivers often develop a knack for a particular track. That’s certainly true of Brad Keselowski and Las Vegas Motor Speedway.

In his last 13 starts at LVMS, dating to 2013, Keselowski has finished worse than seventh only once (13th in the 2020 fall race). His record during that span includes three wins, a pair of runner-up finishes and two third-place runs.

In other words, Keselowski has finished in a podium position seven times in his last 13 starts in Sin City.

Accordingly, we think it’s a no-brainer to place a top-three bet (+750 at DraftKings) on the new co-owner of Roush Fenway Keselowski Racing.

We don’t think Brad has the speed necessary to win the race, but it’s almost certain he’ll find a way to finish near the front, despite his move from Team Penske to his new role with RFK—even though Roush cars haven’t won a race since 2017.

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