GoBowling.com 400 Picks, Odds and Predictions
by Josh Schonwald - 8/2/2014
NASCAR is at Pocono Raceway in Long Pond, PA this weekend to race at the "Tricky Triangle."
Pocono is a difficult race track for drivers to figure out because of its odd shape. The track should be easier for teams to figure out this weekend, though, because the Sprint Cup Series competed at the track less than two months ago and the race last week at Indianapolis required the same type of setup.
Brad Keselowski had the car to beat at Pocono in June. Keselowski was leading the race when he got debris on the grill of his car causing him to slow down. Dale Earnhardt Jr. raced past him for the win.
The great thing about handicapping this race is that there are two really good pieces of data to use that will help determine who has the best chances of winning. You can begin by referring back to the June 6 race at Pocono, then layer those results with Sunday's Brickyard 400 at Indianapolis. Both tracks are very similar because they feature the longest straigtaways in the series.
Last week we picked Jeff Gordon to win at the Brickyard. Gordon won the race and we cashed a nice 8 to 1 bet. Our premium selections took a hit because we had 2 large bets against Denny Hamlin. Hamlin finished 3rd at the Brickyard but his car failed inspection. NASCAR sent a huge fine to the team and the crew chief received a 6 race suspension. A 4-0 day turned into a 2-2 day because we got "cheated"! The sportsbooks should've canceled the wager! Ok enough venting, here are my picks for this week at Pocono.
The Winner: Brad Keselowski (11 to 2)
If it weren't for a small piece of paper stuck on the nose of his race car, Keselowski would have left Pocono Raceway in June with the winner's trophy. Keselowski has a 12.3 average finish in nine career starts at Pocono, winning in 2011 and finishing runner-up to Earnhardt Jr. in June when he led a race-high 95 laps. He'll be using his 10th-place Charlotte chassis from May. He has been the hottest driver over the last month.
Don't Overlook: Kyle Larson (20 to 1)
Like most rookies, Larson suffers from inconsistent performances. But when he's good, he is sensational and this week he looks good. Larson won his first career pole at Pocono for the GoBowling.com 400. He finished fifth at Pocono in June and seventh last week at the Brickyard. The 20 to 1 odds offer great value for someone that is going to be in the top 10.
Stay Away: Denny Hamlin (10 to 1)
Pocono is a difficult race track for drivers to figure out and without his crew chief I just don't see it happening this week.
Doc's has been on an amazing run with its NASCAR selections, going 51-23 with their last 74 picks for $8,680 in profit. Get all of the action this week for just $49. Monster 14-6 run the last 5 weeks, +32 units ($100 bettors made +1,980)! More action coming this Sunday from Pocano. Jump on board with a weekly package for just $49!
Read more articles by Josh Schonwald
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