#nascarpreview

Gone are the random draws from previous NASCAR races for starting positions. For this weekend’s doubleheader at Dover, Del., NASCAR’s new competition-based formula is in play. It’s 50% finishing position in the previous race, 35% overall team points, and 15% the fastest lap for the previous race. With a win last weekend at Daytona, fourth place in team points, and the fastest lap last weekend, Chase Elliott gets the pole. Denny Hamlin, the second-place finisher at Daytona, will start in the second position. The rest of the top 10 starters for the Drydene 311 are Martin Truex Jr., Clint Bowyer, Joey Logano, Jimmie Johnson, Brad Keselowski, William Byron, Kurt Busch, and Kevin Harvick. Favorites for Drydene 311 Where you line up isn’t necessarily an indicator of where you are expected to finish. The odds board for winning the race, finishing top three, and finishing top 10 looks like this: Kevin Harvick (+350/+105/-560) Martin Truex Jr. (+400/+115/-500) Chase Elliott (+550/+150/-375) Denny Hamlin (+550/+150/-375) Kyle Busch (+1200/+300/-186) Brad Keselowski (+1200/+300/-186) Ryan Blaney (+1400/+350/-167) Joey Logano (+1500/+400/-157) Aric Almirola (+2000/+500/-139) Jimmie Johnson (+2000/+500/-139) A few names jump off this list and deserve extra consideration. Jimmie Johnson has struggled in this, his final season as a full-time driver. But he finished fourth at Daytona last weekend and has the most-ever Cup wins at Dover with 11. Read the full article

With the most NASCAR of names - Cole Custer - and the most NASCAR of finishes - a four-wide battle of cars on the races final lap - the racing last weekend in Kentucky turned in our first rookie winner of the season and provided one of the best finishes we’ve ever seen. It’s also a reminder of how anything can happen in these races, and nothing is set in stone. Custer entered the race ranked 25th in points, and now he is in the playoffs. NASCAR moves on to Texas for another week of “anything can happen” racing. One thing we do know will happen is that fans will be in the stands. The infield is off-limits, and masks are required for everyone over 10 years old if social distancing isn’t possible. Souvenir stands will not be open, and concessions must be purchased with a credit card. But despite those requirements, the racing in Texas will have a much more normal feel now that it comes with a cheering crowd. Odds for the Field For the first time since NASCAR instituted the rule that 40 cars could race without qualifying, we had 41 entries for Texas. By draw, the No. 90 car will not compete. As for the rest of the field and the favorites to take the race, here are their odds to win. Kevin Harvick +300 Kyle Busch +600 Martin Truex, Jr. Read the full article