Our NASCAR expert Sam Sayre previews Thursday’s Super Start Batteries 400 in Kansas and shares her predictions and picks.
More Cookie Cutter Racing…Ugh!
Location: Kansas Speedway in Kansas City, Kansas
Date and Time: Thursday, July 23rd at 7:30 pm ET
TV Channel: NBC-Sports Network
Race Sponsor: Super Start Batteries
Lap Total: 267 laps
Well, everything was bigger in Texas like the fact if you bet on 100-1 longshot Austin Dillon who won the race. I never would have dreamed. I know that Austin is a good driver, but never expected that from him. Of course, all the favorites and my picks seemed just to find a way to wreck or be involved in a wreck. It was a nail biter for me.
I was hoping against hope at the start for Jimmie Johnson and left at the end just wanting a moment for a younger racer which we got. I like Richard Childress’ grandson, but just wish that Austin was a little more consistent. However, the last race was rarity, so let’s get on discussing Kansas.
NASCAR Kansas 400 Preview
More Cookie Cutters
I hate cookie cutter tracks. Yes, I know a lot of people in those areas need a race. The great people of Kansas love their Nascar. I just wish they could have built a track that was different or had some character. Put in a bump or something. It seems like a lot of the same 1.5-mile tracks have been built recently and gave races on the schedule. It becomes boring to watch and has to be boring to drive. Give me old Darlington, Bristol and Martinsville any day.
Kansas Speedway is using the 14th race this season to use the 550-horsepower engine and it is the eighth race on a 1.5-mile track. The teams should be getting used to it by now. Plus, it looks like Goodyear is sending a hard-right side compound tire to a smooth track.
Everyone is saying that the pit strategy is going to be to pass on new tires and just take fuel on the last pit stop in order to gain position. Who usually isn’t afraid to do something like that? Maybe Joey Logano, Denny Hamlin or a young driver like Tyler Reddick. We have already had five straight different winners at Kansas, so maybe this one gets a little wild at the end?
The news (good or bad depending on who you are) this week was no practices or qualifying for the rest of the 2020 season. This has hurt some teams not being able to practice to get the right setup on the car. I’m sure Kyle Busch was throwing things wherever he was when he heard the news. Kyle loves to mess with his car during practice to get it perfect to drive. He hasn’t been able to do that this season and doesn’t have a win to show it. It has to be frustrating for Kyle to see Denny Hamlin, his teammate, getting four wins.
It is so hard not to bet on Kevin Harvick. He is on a run just like Kyle Busch was last season. Kevin is good at Kansas Speedway too. He has an average finish at Kansas of ninth and in his last three races are 9th, 13th, and 12th though. Before that he was in the top 8 in the last 10 races and had two wins. But if I’m picking a winner this week then I’m picking Aric Almirola +2100 at FanDuel or for a Top 3 +450 at DraftKings. However, let’s do something different this week and try to make some of our money back. Let’s look at some matchups and some race props.
Last Season Winner: Brad Keselowski
NASCAR Kansas 400 Picks
Pick Martin Truex Jr. -115 at DraftKings in Matchup Against Chase Elliott
Martin Truex Jr. Swept both races in 2017 at Kansas. He was second and fifth in 2018 and was sixth in 2019. To say that Truex, Jr. likes this track is an understatement. Now, I know that Chase was second in October last year and loves the Kansas track, but I think that Martin in the Toyota this season just has the advantage with the engines over Chase’s Chevy.
Pick Stewart-Haas +300 at DraftKings in Team Winner Race Prop
I think this team is just way too strong with Kevin Harvick not only being the season leader in the Cup Series, but also the favorite for this race. Like I said above, I think Aric Almirola gets his victory this race. And…and…and you definitely can’t count out Clint Bowyer who is quietly putting together consist finish after consist finish.
Pick Kurt Busch +650 at DraftKings in Top Chevy Race Prop
Again, I know many of you will say, what about Chase Elliott? Like I said above, I just don’t know about Chase at Kansas. I think Kurt is the better value at +650. Kurt has placed in the top 8 in four of the last five races at Kansas and seven of his last ten races. He finished eighth last race at Texas. He has been consistent this season finishing in the Top 10 eleven times in eighteen races whereas I feel like Chase has been up and down.
Pick Tyler Reddick +180 at DraftKings in Best Finish Group of Reddick, Clint Bowyer, Christopher Bell and Matt DiBenedetto
I think we see Tyler capitalize on his second-place finish from Texas. I know many think that Matt makes a run, but I’m liking Tyler for the best finish in this group.
These are some bets that I think we can win on without taking a chance on betting the favorites to win like we did last week and then watch them get taken out by a wreck. I’ve picked some steady drivers that usually finish well without wrecks. They may not win the race, but may win the bet for us and that’s all we care about. Good luck to you all and bet responsibly. See you on August 2nd. Remember, Nascar is taking a week off after this race.
Remember to follow me at @Sam4413 on Twitter, Samantha L. Sayre on Facebook, and listen to my podcasts WV Overtime, Paranormal Review, and Wrestling Overtime. Good luck and talk to you again soon.
