It really is the weekends without racing that make you appreciate NASCAR Sundays all the more! This weekend, however, we swap the “Sun” with “Satur”. The Blue-Emu Maximum Pain Relief 500 is set to be the first NASCAR Cup Series race run under the lights this season. The iconic half-mile short track that is Martinsville Speedway will host the race for the 71st time. Is there any better way to enjoy the first night race of the year than with some winning NASCAR betting picks? I think not!
The following article has everything you need to know to place some winning NASCAR picks this weekend. Read on for a breakdown of the race odds and best NASCAR betting plays for Saturday’s race at “The Half-Mile of Mayhem”.
Blue-Emu Maximum Pain Relief 500 Race Info
71st Blue-Emu Maximum Pain Relief 500
Location: Martinsville Speedway — Ridgeway, VA
Date: Saturday, April 10, 2021
Start Time: 7:30 p.m. EST
Coverage: FS1
Distance: 263 miles
Stages: Three (Laps 1-130; Laps 131-260; Laps 261-500)
Pole Sitter: Joey Logano
Defending Champion: Martin Truex Jr.
Here is the complete Blue-Emu Maximum Pain Relief 500 startling lineup!
Blue-Emu Maximum Pain Relief 500 NASCAR Betting Odds
In a way, Saturday’s race is the first true short track event of the season. Before you clap back and remind me that NASCAR just raced at Bristol Motor Speedway two weeks ago, let me state that dirt racing is vastly different than short track racing on a hard surface. There are a number of drivers who have proven particularly strong at Martinsville over the years. Oddly enough, the current NASCAR betting odds to win offer up tremendous value on several of them.
The betting favorite to win the Blue-Emu Maximum Pain Relief 500 is Denny Hamlin (+400). Despite not winning a race yet in 2021, Hamlin has come close several times. He also leads all Cup Series drivers in both the points standings and a number of statistical categories. It appears to be only a matter of time before the Joe Gibbs No. 11 team finds victory lane. While Hamlin does lead all active drivers with three wins at Martinsville Speedway, none have come in the past few seasons.
Tons of Line Movement
Over the past 24 hours, the NASCAR betting odds to win Saturday’s race have moved like crazy. In fact, Denny Hamlin wasn’t even the betting favorite 24 hours ago. That honor belonged to Martin Truex Jr. (+700). Hamlin’s JGR teammate won this very race last season as well as the fall race at Martinsville in 2019. His recent success makes it very interesting to see his odds jump from 5-1 up to 7-1.
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Another driver who has seen significant line movement is Kyle Busch. The younger Busch brother is seemingly always in contention when NASCAR races at Martinsville. And that’s not a slight to Kurt Busch by any means, who also has a strong track record at “The Paperclip”. It was very surprising to see Kyle listed at 10-1 odds yesterday. Apparently, that sentiment was echoed in other parts of the NASCAR betting market as his odds have been adjusted down to 8-1. If there’s any track where Busch could possibly overcome his recent struggles, it’s this one.
Value on Team Penske?
The NASCAR betting odds to win the Blue-Emu Maximum Pain Relief 500 are also very interesting when it comes to the Team Penske drivers. All three of Joey Logano, Brad Keselowski and Ryan Blaney have a history of strong runs at Martinsville. The 10-1 odds on Keselowski are especially interesting given that he has an average finish of 3.2 over the last five races. Like the lines for Truex Jr. and Busch, Keselowski’s line has also shifted substantially in the past 24 hours.
Check out our NASCAR betting trends and stats for the Blue-Emu Maximum Pain Relief 500!
Blue-Emu Maximum Pain Relief 500 NASCAR Betting Picks
Blue-Emu Maximum Pain Relief 500 Race Winner: Brad Keselowski (+1000 at MyBookie Sportsbook)
Full transparency here: I don’t understand this line whatsoever. If you’re going to offer me 10-1 odds on a driver who nearly has averaged a top-3 finish over the last five races at this track, count me in! Keselowski is yet to win this season, but it’s foolish to price the No. 2 Mustang so high for a Martinsville race. The fact that these odds were much shorter just 24 hours before writing this column makes it all the more perplexing. Keselowski has won here twice before and is also the only driver to successfully complete every lap of the last ten Martinsville races. For those doing the math, that’s 5,000 total laps. It’s rare that a bet to win the race outright is one of my “best bets”, but the value here is just too good to be true.
Other Blue-Emu Maximum Pain Relief 500 NASCAR Betting Picks
The following odds are taken from DraftKings Sportsbook
Top 10 Finish: Alex Bowman (-106)
To be honest, I like both Alex Bowman and his Hendrick Motorsports teammate William Byron for a top-10 showing at this price. Bowman has seemingly been the lagging Hendrick driver this season but finished top-10 in both Martinsville races last season. If driver rating at the track is a telling stat for Saturday, he has a great shot to do so once again.
Top 10 Finish: Ryan Newman (+275)
Same NASCAR betting pick as above, just with a much larger potential payout. Ryan Newman is the toughest driver to pass in the Cup Series. Many drivers are on the record as saying such. Combine a tough driver to pass with a tough track to pass at in Martinsville Speedway and it’s no wonder Newman has a history of running well here.
Best Finishing Position Matchup: Chris Buescher (-134) vs Ricky Stenhouse Jr.
Yup, we’re backing the RFR truck up to the NASCAR betting window this weekend! Kurt Busch (-143) over Christopher Bell is another terrific matchup play, but the -134 odds on Buescher offer better value. Bell and Ricky Stenhouse Jr. were among the popular picks on the Bristol dirt but neither have strong track records at Martinsville. Buescher has surprised thus far and should be able to win this head-to-head.
Best Finish in Group D: Bubba Wallace (+260) vs Matt DiBenedetto, Tyler Reddick and Aric Almirola
Of the three drivers that Bubba Wallace is up against in this group matchup, only Almirola has a history of running well at Martinsville. With the way the No. 10 team’s season has gone to date, I’m not rushing to say they’ll have a great showing this week. Wallace and 23XI Racing were on their way to a top-10 finish or better at Bristol before an unfortunate flat tire. This team is starting to find their groove and should come out on top in this four-man battle.
Top Chevrolet Finish: Kurt Busch (+900)
There are more Chevrolets in the NASCAR Cup Series than any other car manufacturer. While Kurt Busch doesn’t drive for the Chevy powerhouse team in Hendrick Motorsports, he is among the best Camaro drivers at Martinsville. He will have some ground to make up given that he starts 21st, but I believe this play to be fully worth it at 9-1 odds.
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