With the 2020 NASCAR Cup Series rolling right along in its ‘restart’ campaign and heading into Kentucky for this weekend’s Quaker State 400, it’s time to take a look at the top five drivers that you should bet on. This year’s race marks the 10th race hosted by Kentucky Speedway in Cup Series history, though the track has held other NASCAR events on the 1.5-mile track since opening in 2000.
Located in Sparta, Kentucky, the NASCAR Cup series held its inaugural race at the Speedway in 2011. Kentucky Speedway is a tri-oval track featuring 17 degrees of banking in turns 1 and 2 and 14 degrees in turns 3 and 4. There are also 8-10 degrees of progressive banking on the tri-oval. The 2020 Quaker State 40 gets underway on Sunday, July 12, at 2:30 PM ET. Now, let’s take a look at the NASCAR odds to win this year’s race, followed by my top five picks to win and cash in, but first…a fun-filled fact!
NASCAR Quaker State 400 Odds and Predictions – The Top Drivers You Should Bet On!
DYK No. 1
- Did You Know that Joe Gibbs and Roger Penske are tied for the most wins at Kentucky Speedway, with three each?
2020 MyBookie Quaker State 400 Odds
- Kevin Harvick +350
- Denny Hamlin +500
- Chase Elliott +500
- Kyle Busch +600
- Martin Truex Jr. +800
- Joey Logano +800
- Brad Keselowski +800
- Ryan Blaney +1000
- Alex Bowman +1600
- Kurt Busch +2500
- Jimmie Johnson +2500
- William Byron +2800
- Aric Almirola +2800
- Erik Jones +3300
- Clint Bowyer +4000
- Matt Kenseth +5000
DYK No. 2
- Did You Know… Brad Keselowski holds the record for most driver victories, with three (2012, 2014, 2016).
Denny Hamlin
Currently fifth in the NASCAR Cup Series standings, the almost 40-year-old veteran has recorded an impressive 10, Top-10 finishes in 16 races this season while tying Kevin Harvick for a NASCAR-best nine Top-5 finishes. Hamlin is also tied with Harvick for a series-high four wins. While Hamlin has never won at Kentucky in eight career starts, he does have four Top-10 finishes and four Top-5 finishes at the track, including a fifth place finish in last year’s race. The winner of two of the last five NASCAR races coming into this one, Hamlin will definitely have a good shot to take the checkered flag.
Kevin Harvick
At almost 45 years of age, Harvick has apparently gotten better with age as he sits atop the NASCAR standings with a mind-boggling 13 Top-10 finishes, nine Top-5 finishes and four victories in 16 starts. Harvick has taken the checkered flag at two of the last three races, including last weekend’s coveted Brickyard 400. In nine career starts at Kentucky, Harvick has recorded six Top-10 finishes, but just one Top-5 finish and no victories. Harvick is my No. 4 pick, but he’ll clearly have a chance for the outright win!
Kyle Busch
The 35-year-old Busch might be in 10th place in the standings, but the reigning NASCAR champ has managed to record nine Top-10 finishes this year and seven Top-5 finishes. Busch will start out front in this race and finished a solid sixth last weekend at Indianapolis. In nine career starts at Kentucky, Busch has recorded a stellar eight Top-10 finishes, a whopping seven Top-5 finishes and two wins in the inaugural race held in 2011 and also in 2015. He’s desperately looking for a win at it could very well come in this race!
Martin Truex Jr.
The 40-year-old Truex Jr. is sitting in seventh place in the standings with eight Top-10 finishes, two Top-5 finishes and one win at Martinsville on June 10. Truex jr. comes into this race off a disappointing 38th place finish in the Brickyard 400 after recording a pair of Top-10 finishes I each of his two previous races, but there’s some good news heading into Kentucky. In nine career starts at the track, Truex Jr. has recorded five Top-10 finishes, two Top-5 finishes and a pair of consecutive wins in 2017 and 2018. The 2017 NASCAR champion is desperate and he knows this track very well, making him my No. 2 pick to get it done.
Brad Keselowski
Currently third in the standings, the 36-year-old Keselowski has recorded 11 Top-10 finishes, six Top-5 finishes and two wins this season. Keselowski finished an impressive fourth last weekend in Indianapolis, but more importantly, he’s racked up six Top-10 finishes, four Top-5 finishes and three wins at Kentucky Speedway, making him my top pick to win the 2020 Quaker State 400.
