SFP 250 Race Picks
NASCAR Camping World Truck Series
Date and Time: Friday May 9th, 2014 8:49PM Eastern
Where: Kansas Speedway
TV: FS1
By: NASCAR Wagers, NASCAR Handicapping Service
After more than a month off, the Camping World Truck Series returns tonight with the running of the SFP 250 at Kansas Speedway. Only 31 trucks are officially entered into tonight’s event which is well under the 36 car limit to make a full field. However Sprint Cup regulars Austin Dillon, Joey Logano, and Kyle Busch will all suit up tonight which should spice things up for the SFP 250. Drivers already completed two practice sessions that were scheduled on Thursday and will qualify at 4:40pm eastern today. Afterwards, the green flag is scheduled to drop at 8:49pm eastern for the tonight’s truck series event. Take a look at our preview and SFP 250 race picks.
Outside of the Cup drivers that will be heavy favorites, we do have a few previous Kansas Speedway Camping World Truck Series past winners in tonight’s field. Ron Hornaday Jr, Johnny Sauter, and Matt Crafton have all tasted victory lane at Kansas Speedway. Crafton won the most recent truck series race at Kansas in last year’s SFP 250 after starting 6th and leading 34 of the 167 scheduled laps. Starting positions in general have been important in recent truck series races at Kansas. We documented in our 5-Hour Energy 400 fantasy preview how important track position has been at Kansas and that applies to the truck series as well.
In the 13 Camping World Truck Series races held at Kansas, not once has a winner started outside of the top 10. Obviously track position is important and that puts some extra focus on today’s qualifying. Additionally if teams do not qualify well, it would not be surprising to see some gamble with strategy early in the race to gain track position especially if there are some early cautions.
As far as our race predictions are concerned, Kyle Busch is an overwhelming favorite at 1.5 to 1 at most betting shops. While that is fairly typical for Busch in both the Truck and Nationwide series, that price seems exaggerated considering Busch’s past performance at Kansas in all racing series. Not only has Busch never won at Kansas in any of NASCAR’s top 3 series, but he has only led 11 laps in two CWTS starts at Kansas resulting in 6th and 27th (crash) place finishes. Obviously Busch is likely the best driver in the field but we cannot back him at such low odds considering his previous Kansas performances.
Both Busch and Joey Logano were solid in practices finishing in the Top 7 in both sessions. Logano has not had much luck in the Truck Series in general during his career and suffered engine issues in his only Kansas start last season. Logano has also had a history of struggling at Kansas most notably in the Sprint Cup Series. Obviously the Camping World Truck Series does not have that type of talent level but it does cause some concern. The only other Sprint Cup guy in tonight’s field is Austin Dillon. Dillon has two starts at Kansas in the CWTS and has posted 6th and 12th place finishes.
Considering the Sprint Cup guys struggles at Kansas and by the way some of trucks appeared in practice, we really think there is some value in the young guys in tonight’s race. Guys like Jeb Burton, Ryan Blaney, Matt Crafton, and even Darrell Wallace Jr were strong in both practices. Burton was actually leading this race with less than 40 laps to go last year before late race pit strategies shuffled up track position. Blaney is another guy we really like tonight who finished 3rd in last year’s race. Blaney has been solid on the 1.5 mile tracks and Kansas suits his driving style. Considering both drivers have excellent odds, we think they will be worth the gamble tonight. Take a look at our full roster for tonight’s event.
NASCAR WAGERS SFP 250 Picks to Win:
Logano +375 (1.5 units): We are going to use Logano as a cover bet. We think he should run well, but can he overcome his CWTS winless streak?
Ryan Blaney +1000 (2 units): 1st and 2nd in both practices, 3rd place finish last year, driving style fits nicely for Kansas.
Jeb Burton +2200 (1.5 units): Fast in both practices, leading race late last year, and has great odds
Matt Crafton +1000 (1 unit): Last year’s winner, fast in both practices.