Eric and CJ both picked up with victory Saturday night from Kyle Larson as Eric notched his 17th win of the season and 14th for CJ. They each won $240 in the process. None of us had Kevin Harvick, so we all owe Chase Elliott a thank you card for slowing Harvick up enough to allow Larson to catch back up and make the last race pass for the victory.

Now, it’s to Las Vegas to where Larson should once again be the favorite. He’s finished either first or second in four of the six stages in the first round to go along with five top three finishes in his last six on the season as well. He also won the spring Vegas race too.

Denny Hamlin won the other four stages, was second and fourth in the other two. He picked up the Southern 500 win and was runner-up in Richmond. He was battling for the Bristol win before late race contact with Kyle Larson. In Vegas, he has a pair of top fours in his last two starts but none in the previous seven though too.

Martin Truex Jr. has seven top eight’s in his last nine in Vegas. The other favorites are in the Team Penske camp, but how do you rate them?

Ryan Blaney is arguably their best option with three top fours in his last five starts on the season as well as three top sevens in his last four in Vegas. Joey Logano has 10 top 10’s in his last 11 starts at Vegas with Brad Keselowski having 11 top 7’s in his last 12. He was second in the spring race. But, Logano and Keselowski are reeling on the year. Logano has just one top five in his last 13 and four in the last 20. Keselowski has only one top five in his last 10 and just two in the last 18. Do you trust them?

What about Alex Bowman? He has two top fives in his last 12 but was sixth and fifth respectively in his last two playoff races in Vegas.

Kyle Busch beat himself in the first round and was lucky to escape, but he does have five top sevens in his last seven in Vegas.

RACE FUTURES: SOUTH POINT 400

 

Race Odds

3-1…K Larson

6-1…Kyle B

7-1…D Hamlin

8-1…J Logano

9-1…C Elliott, K Harvick, B Keselowski and M Truex Jr.

15-1…R Blaney

16-1…W Byron

20-1…A Bowman

25-1…C Bell and Kurt B

50-1…M DiBenedetto, A Dillon and T Reddick

66-1…A Almirola

100-1…R Chastain and R Stenhouse Jr.

150-1…C Briscoe, C Buescher, E Jones, Newman and D Suarez

200-1…C Custer and D Wallace Jr.

300-1…M McDowell

SOUTH POINT 400: RACE 30 PICKS

 

Eric Smith

K Larson…3-1…$150 ($450)

Kyle B…6-1…$50 ($300)

D Hamlin…7-1…$50 ($350)

R Blaney…15-1…$26 ($390)

A Bowman…20-1…$20 ($400)

R Chastain…100-1…$4 ($400)

RECORD: 17 for 29

TOTAL: -310

 

SOUTH POINT 400: RACE 30 PICKS

 

Greg DePalma

K Larson…3-1…$100 ($300)

K Harvick…9-1…$50 ($450)

R Blaney…15-1…$50 ($750)

W Byron…16-1…$40 ($640)

A Bowman…20-1…$40 ($800)

M DiBenedetto…50-1…$20 ($1000)

RECORD: 8 for 29

TOTAL: -479

 

SOUTH POINT 400: RACE 30 PICKS

 

CJ Radune

K Larson…3-1…$120 ($360)

Kyle B…6-1…$60 ($360)

D Hamlin…7-1…$55 ($385)

C Elliott…9-1…$40 ($360)

R Blaney…15-1…$25 ($375)

 

RECORD: 14 for 29

TOTAL: -749

Weekly Race Points Standings

 

Week 28 Bristol

1 Eric +100/-310

2 Greg -200/-479

3 CJ +100/-749

WEEKLY PICKS ARCHIVES

 

RACE FUTURES: BASS PRO SHOPS: RACE 29 PICKS

BASS PRO SHOPS NIGHT RACE WINNER: KYLE LARSON

BASS PRO SHOPS NIGHT RACE: RACE 29 PICKS

 

Greg DePalma

Kyle B…4-1…$100 ($400) …21^st

D Hamlin…6-1…$25 ($150) …9^th

R Blaney…12-1…$30 ($360) …4^th

Kurt B…18-1…$20 ($360) …19^th

C Bell…22-1…$10 ($220) …29^th

R Chastain…30-1…$8 ($240) …14^th

M DiBenedetto…50-1…$7 ($350) …10^th

RECORD: 0 for 1

TOTAL: -200

BASS PRO SHOPS NIGHT RACE: RACE 29 PICKS

 

Eric Smith

Kyle B…4-1…$80 ($320) …21^st

K Larson…4-1…$60 ($240) …1^st  

J Logano…10-1…$35 ($350) …11^th

Kurt B…18-1…$15 ($270) …19^th

C Bell…22-1…$10 ($220) …29^th

 

RECORD: 1 for 1

TOTAL: +100

 

BASS PRO SHOPS NIGHT RACE: RACE 29 PICKS

 

CJ Radune

Kyle B…4-1…$65 ($260) …21^st

K Larson…4-1…$60 ($240) …1^st  

D Hamlin…6-1…$40 ($240) …9^th

C Elliott…8-1…$35 ($280) …25^th

RECORD: 1 for 1

TOTAL: +100