The NASCAR Xfinity Series heads to the New Hampshire Motor Speedway for this week’s Overton’s 200 on Saturday afternoon. Over the past three decades this race has been scaled back from 300 laps, and then again from 250 laps to its current length at 200 laps. The No. 18 Toyota of Kyle Busch will be in the spotlight once again this year. Busch will return to defend his title at a track where he has absolutely dominated over the years.
Details
Event: Overton’s 200
Category: NASCAR Xfinity Series
Date: Saturday July 15, 2017 – 4:00 PM ET
Location: New Hampshire Motor Speedway, Loudon, New Hampshire
Busch and Brad Keselowski are the only drivers with multiple Xfinity Series wins at the New Hampshire Motor Speedway. Busch has won this event five times including most recently in 2016. He is also the only driver to ever win back-to-back races here, which he did in 2009 and 2010. Meanwhile, Keselowski has won twice here including most recently in 2014. Busch and Keselowski will be among the five Cup drivers that will also compete in this week’s Overton’s 200.
Past Five Winners
2016: Kyle Busch
2015: Denny Hamlin
2014: Brad Keselowski
2013: Kyle Busch
2012: Brad Keselowski
What To Know About The Track
The New Hampshire Motor Speedway is unique and unlike any other track on the NASCAR circuit. One of the most interesting aspects of the track is the fact that speed isn’t nearly as important as establishing a sound strategy for the race. The long straightaways make brake management extremely important and fuel strategy is also key. Drivers need to be able to manage their brake use heading in to the corners while crew chiefs will be key to conserving fuel and making sure the car is ready for the final stretch. Experience will definitely matter this week on a trough track at New Hampshire.
The Field
Taking a look at the Xfinity standings so far, Elliott Sadler is our leader heading into the week. He has compiled 578 points so far in 16 starts. He has 13 top 10’s along with seven top 5’s, although he has yet to register a win. In second place is William Byron, who is 45 points back of the leader. Him and Justin Allgaier, who has 520 points, are the only driver’s within striking distance. No other driver has more than 396 points so far this season, so there is a big gap between the top three and everyone else on the Xfinity series right now.
Busch and Keselowski will lead the group of five Cup drivers that will headline this week’s field. Ty Dillon, Reed Sorenson and Kyle Larson will round out that group of drivers. There are 39 cars on the preliminary entry list, meaning that the field will not be at full capacity. Other notables in this week’s field include Ryan Preece making his Xfinity Series debut at NHMS while Ben Kennedy will make his fourth start in the No. 2 Chevrolet for Richard Childress Racing.
A Good Matchup To Bet: Brad Keselowski over Ty Dillon
We are definitely putting some money on Busch this week but in terms of decent value in a sports betting matchup it makes sense to go with Keselowski over Dillon. Keselowski’s luck has been terrible of late in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series but a return to NHMS shoud help him get back on track at the Xfinity Series level as he contends for his third win here on the lower circuit.
Top-Five Pick: Kyle Busch
Considering the numbers that he has registered throughout his career at New Hampshire it’s impossible to overlook Busch as a top-five pick for the Overton’s 200. Busch has five wins here at the Xfinity Series level. He has also recorded seven top-10 finishes in eight starts in the July Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series race. Busch should be a lock to finish in the top-five in this week’s Overton’s 200 as he compete for the outright win again this weekend.
2017 Odds To Win The Overton’s 200
Kyle Busch +175
Brad Keselowski +250
Kyle Larson +300
William Byron +800
Elliott Sadler +1200
Justin Allgaier +1500
Ty Dillon +2500
Cole Custer +3000
Matt Tifft +3000
Daniel Hemric +4000
Ben Kennedy +4000
Brennan Poole +4000
Brendan Gaughan +5000
Brandon Jones +6000
Field +1500
Click here to get all of the latest NASCAR betting lines at BetDSI including head-to-head matchups, props and odds to win each NASCAR and NASCAR Xfinity tournament!
