NASCAR Dover Gander RV 400 Odds, Tips and 6 Drivers to Bet

Pete Pistone

May 2nd, 2019

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It’s a bit of a return to normalcy this week for NASCAR with the first of two trips to Dover International Speedway for Sunday’s Gander RV 400. The superspeedway madness of Talladega is in the rearview mirror and unlike last week, drafting and teamwork will not play nearly as important of a role on Sunday.

Dover is a one-mile, high-banked concrete track that has a reputation for high speeds and sometimes wicked wrecks. As has been the case at nearly every race so far on the schedule, the change in this year’s rules package is expected to impact the competition.

The school of thought is that speeds will be higher despite lower horsepower because of the downforce created, a change that might throw drivers who have been good in the past at Dover a bit of a curveball.

For those who enjoy NASCAR betting, here are six drivers to consider backing in Sunday’s Gander RV 400.

1. Kyle Busch (+300)

   Busch has 12 total NASCAR national series victories at the track, including three in the Monster Energy Series, five in the Xfinity Series and four in the Gander Outdoors Truck Series.

   He’s the first driver since 1990 to finish in the top-10 in the first 10 races of a season and is still at the top of his game this season rolling into Dover. Bet him to win at +300 and -134 to finish 1st-3rd with SugarHouse in New Jersey.

2. Kevin Harvick (+450)

   He is the defending race winner and finished sixth in last year’s second Dover race. Harvick is still winless in 2019 and is growing frustrated with being shut out of Victory Lane this year. He has won twice at Dover in the last 10 races at the track. Bet Harvick to win at +450 and +115 to finish 1st-3rd with 888Sport in New Jersey.

3. Martin Truex Jr. (+650)

   Dover is the closest track to Truex Jr.’s native New Jersey and the site of his first career NASCAR Cup win. He also won there in 2016 and has only finished outside the top-10 twice in the last 10 Dover races. Bet him to win at +650 and +165 to finish 1st-3rd with SugarHouse.

4. Chase Elliott (+650)

   Last week’s Talladega winner comes into Dover with a lot of confidence and momentum. Elliott won last October’s Dover race and has the best average finish in the last 10 races at the track at 4.3 with only one career finish outside the top 10 there. Bet Elliott to win at +650 and +165 to finish 1st-3rd with 888Sport.

5. Joey Logano (+900)

   Consistency has been Logano’s challenge in recent Dover outings, though his average finish is just outside of 11th over the last 10 races at the one-mile track. Logano was third at Dover last fall and has been one of the series’ strongest drivers in the opening 10 races of 2019. Bet him to win at +900 and +225 to finish 1st-3rd with SugarHouse.

6. Jimmie Johnson (+1300)

   Johnson owns a record 11 career Dover wins, his last coming in 2017. Johnson has not won a Cup race since but has been trending in the right direction in recent weeks. He has finished in the top 10 at Dover in four of the last five races. Bet Johnson to win at +1300 and +300 to finish 1st-3rd with 888Sport.

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2019 Geico 500 Betting Tip

Starting up front has historically played a huge role in determining the outcome of Dover races. In 98 prior Cup events at “The Monster Mile,” 51 winners have come from the first four starting positions. That is more than 50 percent and includes 13 victories from the pole position.

Friday’s qualifying session will be extremely important in handicapping the field. Teams expect passing for position to be more difficult because of the new rules impacting car handling, so every spot on track will be precious.

Dover’s pit road is also one of the tightest on the circuit and can force teams into mistakes. Penalties for loose wheels or speeding are nearly impossible to bounce back from so once again impeccable pit stops – which the Penske and Stewart-Haas Racing organizations in particular have been stellar at this season – will also be vital.