2019 Gander RV Duel Race 1 Odds & Predictions: Favorites & Sleepers: The Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series opens the 2019 season this Sunday with the 61st running of the Daytona 500. Hendrick Motorsports teammates William Byron and Alex Bowman already secured their starting spots for “The Great American Race” by qualifying first and second, respectively, during qualifying last weekend. Everyone else will have to race for their starting spots during the Gander RV Duels this Thursday.
Each race will be a short, 60-lap shootout with the first qualifying race setting the inside row for the Daytona 500 and the second race setting the outside row. There are also four drivers who are not currently guaranteed a spot in the field who will be battling for two remaining openings.
Betting on the duels can actually be a little easier than betting on the Daytona 500 itself. The smaller field cuts down on the chaos a bit, and in general, drivers tend to take a calmer approach to these duels. Nobody wants to needlessly tear up their primary car for the Daytona 500.
I’ll be providing my favorites and sleeper for both of the qualifying races, but for now, let’s dive deeper in the top betting options for Race No. 1.
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2019 Gander RV Duel Race 1 Odds & Predictions
The Favorites
He’s the current king of restrictor-plate racing, and Brad Keselowski leads all active drivers with six plate wins. He has also led a series-best 331 laps over the last 10 plate events, 122 more than any other driver, and he has led more than 20 laps six times in that span. No driver has had a more consistent presence at the front of the field in these types of races, and no one has been better at sealing the deal.
His aggressive style has made him some enemies, but there is no doubt that Ricky Stenhouse Jr. has become one of the premier drivers at the plate tracks. Over the last 10 races, he ranks second in driver points earned, and his two wins and six top-five finishes in that same stretch are both tied for the most in the series. Stenhouse won’t be shy about going for the win Thursday.
While he’s actually been a little boom or bust at the restrictor-plate tracks overall, Kyle Busch has enjoyed plenty of success in these qualifying races. His three victories in the duels are tied for the most among active drivers, and the 60-lap, shootout-style race plays to his strengths.
2019 Gander RV Duel Race 1 Odds & Predictions
The Contenders
With three restrictor-plate wins in the regular season and three more in the preseason Clash at Daytona, Kevin Harvick is one of the most accomplished plate racers in the series today. Yes, he’s crashed out of some of the recent races, but he also led laps in three of the four plate races last year. Harvick will have car capable of getting to the front Thursday, and he certainly has the experience to secure the win.
The former Daytona 500 winner has been steady at the plate tracks the last couple of years, and Ryan Newman leads all drivers with five top-10s in the last six races. He also switched teams this offseason, joining Roush Fenway Racing. Ford teams like Roush have been dominant at the restrictor-plate tracks, so Newman’s ceiling should be even higher at the plate tracks in 2019.
He’s quietly been one of the more reliable drivers at the restrictor-plate tracks, and Paul Menard has piled up five top-10s and seven top-15s over the last 10 plate races, earning the sixth-most driver points in that span. Perhaps more importantly, he was dominating the Advance Auto Parts Clash at Daytona last Sunday until Jimmie Johnson dumped him from the lead. Menard appeared to have one of the best cars on the track in that race, so don’t be surprised if he is fast again Thursday.
2019 Gander RV Duel Race 1 Odds & Predictions
Sleeper Special
It has been a rough transition to the Cup Series for Darrell Wallace Jr., but he’s actually been competitive at the restrictor-plate tracks. He’s never finished outside the top 20 in five starts, posting a 13.2 average finish and finishing second in last year’s Daytona 500. In fact, Wallace has cracked the top 15 in all three of his Cup starts at Daytona. Wallace should have a chance to make a little noise at his best track.
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