Are you ready for some NASCAR?
It’s a whole new ballgame out there, even down to the way these races are named. When the live schedule for 2020 resumes on Sunday, it’s at Darlington. And they’ll be running The Real Heroes 400. Even though there won’t be fans in attendance, it will be televised by FOX at 3:30 PM ET.
BetAnySports customers have been wagering on the races in “virtual” form. Now they will have the opportunity to bet on the real thing. The theme is to honor the healthcare workers who have been of assistance during the COVID-19 crisis, which of course is ongoing.
NASCAR knows that it has some ground to make up. So there are seven races slated in the next two weeks, at Darlington, one of its most “traditional” venues. These races will not only cover the Cup Series, but also the Xfinity and Gander RV & Outdoors Truck Series.
So away we go!
While they were gone, they weren’t really gone
One of the smart things NASCAR did was to fill the gap with simulated races. And they did so with the actual drivers themselves. The NASCAR iRacing Pro Invitational Series was lively and competitive. And it got heated at times. There were disputes between drivers, and one of them (Kyle Larson) got fired from his job with Chip Ganassi Racing and suspended from the circuit because of a racial slur he happened to make during one race that was heard over his radio channel.
And William Byron really got the hang of it, winning three iRacing events. We’re not sure that helps him much as we resume. He’ll be starting 18th in the field as we get underway again in Darlington.
Ryan Newman is Ready to Go
If you recall, Ryan Newman may have been on the verge of winning the Daytona 500 when he had a horrific accident. That not only took him out of the race, as it lifted his car fro the surface, it inflicted head injury. Everyone was genuinely concerned about him. But though he was hospitalized for a while, his injuries were not as serious as had been originally thought. And the hiatus has given him the opportunity to heal up without having to lose so much in terms of actual racing time.
Newman says that Darlington is his favorite racetrack, so he is naturally excited to be out there. And he still has his ride – the #6 with Roush Fenway Racing, which is +2640 to have the winning car.
Another Return – Matt Kenseth
And oh by the way, the former driver of that #6 car is also on the comeback trail. Matt Kenseth was out of action for the whole 2019 season, but the exit of Larson from Ganassi’s team has afforded him an opportunity. So he will take Larson’s place.
Kenseth is confident about this particular car – the #42 Chevy – although he admits that he will need a while to get into a rhythm. But you know what? Everybody is going to have to get into a rhythm after this much time off. At least Kenseth has some favorable history here; he won at Darlington in 2013.
Top Eight Drivers in the Field Odds
These are the top eight drivers in the field, according to the NASCAR racing odds that have been posted at BetAnySports:
| Driver | Odds |
|---|---|
| Kyle Busch | +525 |
| Denny Hamlin | +625 |
| Kevin Harvick | +675 |
| Chase Elliott | +725 |
| Martin Truex Jr. | +825 |
| Joey Logano | +900 |
| Brad Keselowski | +925 |
| Alex Bowman | +975 |
* You can also bet on any of these drivers NOT to win, and there are head-to-head matchups as well.
Is Harvick Over-priced or Under-priced?
There is no question that Kevin Harvick (+675) brought some momentum into the break. He had finished in the top five in five of the last six races. Right now he leads Joey Logano by one point in the standings.
You might say that Harvick has not been a dominant force at Darlington, with just one win in his career. But he IS Kevin Harvick, one of the premier people in NASCAR, and is thus judged by a higher standard.
How do they Qualify?
NASCAR is obviously imposing a lot of protocols to ensure the safety of everybody involved. Social distancing rules are in effect. And the number of people allowed in the venue is limited. This includes a considerably reduced crew for each team. As such, the customary qualifying procedure did not take place.
So what they have done is to conduct a draw to assign starting positions, based on owner’s points. They divided the field up into three top groups – the first, second and third dozen – and drew within those groups. On that basis, Brad Keselowski got the pole position. Erik Jones is the defending champion in this event, and will be in the #20 starting spot.
Odds to Win NASCAR The Real Heroes 400
| Driver | Odds |
|---|---|
| Kyle Busch | +525 |
| Denny Hamlin | +625 |
| Kevin Harvick | +675 |
| Chase Elliott | +725 |
| Martin Truex Jr. | +825 |
| Joey Logano | +900 |
| Brad Keselowski | +925 |
| Alex Bowman | +975 |
| Jimmie Johnson | +2500 |
| Ryan Blaney | +2500 |
| William Byron | +2800 |
| Matt DiBenedetto | +3300 |
| Matt Kenseth | +3300 |
| Aric Almirola | +5000 |
| Clint Bowyer | +6000 |
You’ve got a lot of NASCAR betting options at BetAnySports, so placing a wager at the Real Heroes 400 is a pleasure……….But first you have to open an account. And you can do so using a debit or credit card, person-to-person transfer, or the virtual currency of Bitcoin, which incurs NO transaction fee…….. Don’t forget to check the sportsbook interface to find out which sporting events are available, because they’re adding more all the time!
