2012 Virginia 529 College Savings 250 Odds, Free Picks and Predictions – Favorites and Sleepers to Win at Richmond International Raceway: Storylines abound in this weekend’s Nationwide race at Richmond. Native Virginian Denny Hamlin will make a rare start in the series and attempt to deliver a win in front of his home-state fans. Big names Kevin Harvick and Kurt Busch will be in the field, as well. Friday night’s race also marks the return of Steve Wallace, along with the debut of BMX star Travis Pastrana. Short track racing tends to provide plenty of drama anyway, and this race is sure to provide some headlines.
Last May, Carl Edwards and Hamlin battled for the lead during the early stages of the race, but problems for Edwards left Hamlin to dominate the event. He led 199 of the 251 laps, running out front unchallenged for most of the second half of the race. Even during a green-white-checkered finish, Hamlin made it look easy.
In the fall event, Hamlin’s teammate Kyle Busch gave Joe Gibbs Racing a season sweep at Richmond. Edwards again had a car capable of winning, leading a race-high 160 laps. However, Busch led 74 laps himself and was out front when it counted, leaving Edwards winless despite leading more than 200 laps combined in the two races.
The Favorites – 2012 Virginia 529 College Savings 250 Odds, Predictions and Free Picks
He doesn’t make many Nationwide starts anymore, but Kevin Harvick could make the most of his time in the series this weekend. Since the start of the 2002 season, he has a 5.9 average finish in 17 starts, finishing in the top five 11 times. More importantly, he has won five times during the stretch.
Defending race winner Denny Hamlin is a two-time winner at Richmond in the Nationwide Series. He hasn’t always been the most consistent performer at his home-state track, but since he isn’t running for the series title, Hamlin can afford to adopt a Victory Lane or bust attitude. He wants to give the crowd something to cheer about, and Hamlin has done just that twice in his last five starts.
In his last six starts at Richmond in the Nationwide Series, Brad Keselowski has finished in the top five on five occasions. He has picked up one win at the track during the stretch, and his been on contention on a regular basis. It is a matter of when and not if he will make a second trip to Victory Lane at RIR.
The Dark Horses – 2012 Virginia 529 College Savings 250 Odds, Predictions and Free Picks
He has made just three starts at Richmond in the Nationwide Series, but Joey Logano has been a contender in all three of them. He has finished seventh or better in all three starts, including a career-best sixth-place effort in his most recent start. Logano finished fourth in his first short track start if the year in the Nationwide Series, and another strong run should be on tap this weekend.
Although he has yet to win at his home-state track, Elliott Sadler has had several close calls at Richmond, including a second-place effort in 2005. He finished fourth and sixth at RIR last year, and with two wins under his belt already in 2012, this could be the year he finally gets to Victory Lane in Virginia.
Sleeper Specials – 2012 Virginia 529 College Savings 250 Odds, Predictions and Free Picks
His four starts at Richmond have been up and down, but Ricky Stenhouse Jr. has established himself as the premier Nationwide regular in the series. Not to mention the fact that he has finished in the top five in two of his last three starts at the track. Stenhouse finished a career-best third at RIR last fall, and with two wins and counting in 2012, he is a safe bet to be a contender Friday night.
Since moving to the Nationwide Series, Kyle Busch Motorsports has had its share of struggles. That being said, Kurt Busch is one of the better short track racers in NASCAR, and he will get a turn behind the wheel of the KBM No. 54 machine Friday night at Richmond. Throw in the fact that the team had its best runs of the year the last two times out, and Busch might be a surprise contender Friday.
Drivers to Avoid – 2012 Virginia 529 College Savings 250 Odds, Predictions and Free Picks
In typical Kasey Kahne fashion, he has been mediocre at Richmond in the Nationwide Series. He has a 16.1 average finish in his last 10 starts at the track and just a single top-five finish during the stretch. Kahne has been enjoying one of his best seasons at the Nationwide level, but until he actually proves he can win, his unimpressive history is tough to overlook.
Rookie Austin Dillon has been nothing short of remarkable in his first full Nationwide season, but he might be in for a rough night Friday. He has finished outside the top 10 just once this year, and it came at Bristol. Richmond is another short track, and Dillon looked a little uncomfortable in the close racing conditions at Bristol. It is the only time he has looked like a rookie.
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2012 Virginia 529 College Savings 250 Odds – Friday, April 27th @ Richmond International Raceway.
Driver Odds to Win the Nationwide 2012 Virginia 529 College Savings 250
Denny Hamlin 5/2
Brad Keselowski 7/2
Kevin Harvick 5/1
Ricky Stenhouse 5/1
Kurt Busch 8/1
Kasey Kahne 8/1
Elliott Sadler 8/1
Joey Logano 8/1
Travis Pastrana 8/1
Sam Hornish Jr 20/1
Austin Dillon 20/1
Field (Any Other Driver) 8/1
Check the latest NASCAR Odds and Betting Lines from BOVADA Sportsbook below: