The Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series will make its second and final trip to Bristol for the 2017 Bass Pro Shops NRA Night Race this Saturday. The NASCAR night race is a favorite among fans and competitors but there is another reason to win this week that is much more important than either of those first two. There are only three races left in the MENCS regular season and that means the urgency will be ramped up once again this week with the Chase right around the corner now. This race has produced 14 different multiple winners over the years and it will be interesting to see if a familiar face can recapture the throne in the Bass Pro Shops NRA Night Race this weekend.
Details
Event: Bass Pro Shops NRA Night Race
Category: Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series
Date: Saturday August 19th – 7:30 PM ET
Venue: Bristol Motor Speedway, Bristol, Tennessee
The MENCS standings are extremely tight following Kyle Larson’s win at Michigan last week. It was Larson’s third win of the season. With even more emphasis on victories as a qualifier for the Chase there will be a number of drivers feeling the pressure this week. Chase Elliott, Jamie McMurray, Matt Kenseth and Clint Bowyer are among the notable drivers that rank in the top-10 in points but are still looking for their first win of the season heading in to this weekend’s race at Bristol.
Past Five Winners
2016: Kevin Harvick
2015: Joey Logano
2014: Joey Logano
2013: Matt Kenseth
2012: Denny Hamlin
What To Know About The Track
The Bristol Motor Speedway underwent some minor changes before last year’s race with the majority of tweaks taking place in the bottom groove of the racing surface. In addition to some polishing, a material was added to the track to make the rubber from the tires stick better. Bristol will feature plenty of contact once again with plenty of opportunities for passing throughout the course of the race. The night race at Bristol has produced some of the most exciting racing we have seen over the years and that should be the case again this weekend.
The Field
Kevin Harvick is the defending champion at the Bass Pro Shops NRA Night Race so it is no surprise that he is among the sports betting favorites to win again this year. Meanwhile, Joey Logano won this race in both 2014 and 2015 so he can’t be overlooked as a true contender again this week. Martin Truex Jr. has been so good over the past couple of months that it seems like he deserves to be among the favorites to win every single race. Kyle Larson went through a rough patch but after last week’s win at Michigan it seems like he is primed to be a perennial contender once again.
A Good Matchup To Bet: Matt Kenseth over Kyle Busch
Kenseth is running out of time to pick up that elusive victory but it won’t surprise anybody if he finally picks up a win at Bristol this weekend. Kenseth has recorded top-10 finishes in four of his last five races overall and he has an excellent resume at Bristol where he is one of five drivers to win this event three different times. With the urgency ramped up again this weekend, Kenseth has a pretty good shot at beating out Busch in the head-to-head sports betting matchup.
Top-Five Pick: Joey Logano
Logano has placed outside of the top-20 in each of his last three races so he isn’t exactly in excellent form heading in to this event. However, Logano is another driver with an outstanding track record at Bristol so this could be the week that he finally gets back on track. Logano has won this event twice and he’s finished in the top-10 in seven of his last eight appearances at Bristol Motor Speedway. The fact that he has struggled of late only makes his sports betting odds look better heading in to this race. Logano should contend for the outright win this week. If he falls short of the victory, he will likely still record another top-five finish in the Bass Pro Shops NRA Night Race this Saturday.
Odds To Win 2017 Bass Pro Shops NRA Night Race
Kyle Busch +500
Martin Truex Jr +500
Kyle Larson +550
Brad Keselowski +900
Kevin Harvick +1200
Joey Logano +1200
Denny Hamlin +1200
Matt Kenseth +1200
Chase Elliott +1500
Jimmie Johnson +1500
Clint Bowyer +2000
Erik Jones +2000
Ryan Blaney +2000
Jamie McMurray +3000
Kurt Busch +3000
Dale Earnhardt Jr +4000
Daniel Suarez +6000
Ricky Stenhouse Jr +6000
Kasey Kahne +7500
Ryan Newman +7500
Austin Dillon +7500
Field +2500
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