The Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series speeds in to the New Hampshire Motor Speedway for the Overton’s 301 this weekend. It will make the first of two trips to the flat, 1.0-mile oval. The track at New Hampshire is very unique and hard to compare. Speed is always an important factor but it won’t matter nearly as much if the driver doesn’t have a sound strategy locked in to their approach. This race often comes down to fuel strategy and the fastest car or the driver with the most laps led doesn’t always come out on top at New Hampshire.
Details
Event: Overton’s 301
Category: Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series
Date: Sunday July 16, 2017 – 3:00 PM ET
Location: New Hampshire Motor Speedway, Loudon, New Hampshire
It will be very interesting to see how this race plays out after last week’s wild ride at Kentucky. Martin Truex Jr. managed to clinch the victory in the Quaker State 400, but not before being forced to compete in overtime after Kurt Busch’s Ford engine blew and forced a caution on the final lap after dumping oil all over the track. Truex extended his series-leading playoff point total to 28 with the win. He will look to build off that victory at the Overton’s 301 this weekend.
Past Five Winners
2016: Matt Kenseth
2015: Kyle Busch
2014: Brad Keselowski
2013: Brian Vickers
2012: Kasey Kahne
What To Know About The Track
Nicknamed “The Magic Mile”, the layout at New Hampshire poses several difficult challenges for the drivers. The flat sweeping corners are similar to the track at Martinsville, but the straightaways leading in to them are much longer and that means higher speeds. That should translate to the brakes being punished and passing being a lot more difficult this week. Track position is extremely important at the New Hampshire Motor Speedway. Tire and fuel strategy are often major factors in deciding the outcome of races at this track.
The Field
Truex will be listed at +500 odds to win the Overton’s 301 this weekend. However, he will not be the sports betting favorite as that title belongs to Kyle Busch. Truex is currently in second place in the standings with 709 points. Both him and points leader Kyle Larson have been going back and forth, but Larson is currently in the lead with 710 points. Busch is significantly further behind in third place with 609 points.
Busch, who has won this race twice before, is listed at +400 odds to win at New Hampshire. Meanwhile, Kevin Harvick is listed at +600 odds followed by Denny Hamlin and Brad Keselowski at +700 odds. Jimmie Johnson is expected to be in the mix as well at +800 odds to win outright. Matt Kenseth, Kyle Larson and Chase Elliott round out the list of the top sports betting favorites for this week’s Overton’s 301. Elliott is currently in fifth place in the Monster Energy Cup standings with 560 points.
A Good Matchup To Bet: Martin Truex Jr. over Jimmie Johnson
It is starting to feel like it makes sense to bet Truex every single week and that certainly applies at New Hampshire. Truex led 123 laps in the July race here last year and led 141 more in the September race so he has definitely figured out this track. Meanwhile, Johnson has been fairly consistent here in terms of top-10 finishes but he has been dominant by any means. Considering Truex’s dominance and the fact that he has figured out how to contend here, it only makes sense to take him in the head-to-head sports betting matchup over Johnson for the Overton’s 301.
Top-Five Pick: Brad Keselowski
Keselowski owned a series-best average finishing position and a series-best driver rating at New Hampshire before a miserable outing here last year when he placed 15th after blowing a tire. Keselowski’s luck has been just as bad in recent weeks but he should be overdue for better fortune heading in to this week’s race. His 6.7 average finish over his last 10 races here is still the best in the series. There is good value betting Keselowski to finish in the top-five in the Overton’s 301 this weekend.
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