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Time to keep the warm states swing of the NASCAR 2021 Cup Series schedule going after a trip to Vegas. This week Phoenix Raceway in Avondale, Arizona hosts the Instacart 500 which is one of the shorter races of the year. The 500 refers to kilometers as the race is only 312 laps around the 1-mile race track.
Last week it was Kyle Larson returning to victory lane at Las Vegas as he dominated the 1.5-mile speedway. That win helps him solidify his place among the list of stronger drivers in the any-given field but it is not enough to help him break into the top-five favorites for Phoenix.
Kevin Harvick rolls in as the favorite along with two other drivers at +550. Each has had great runs at Phoenix in the past including Chase Elliott who won the Championship last year with his season-ending win at the track.
Kyle Busch, also at +550 with Harvick and Elliott, won back-to-back races at Phoenix during the fall 2018 race and then again in the Spring of 2019. Harvick’s last win came in the Spring of 2018 giving him the all-time Phoenix win record with 9 checkered flags at the track.
Here are the top-five favorites at +650 and under according to Intertops.
Kevin Harvick +550
Chase Elliott +550
Kyle Busch +550
Denny Hamlin +600
Brad Keselowski +650
Brad Keselowski is the only driver listed above that has yet to win at Phoenix in the Cup Series.
2021 Instacart 500 Preview
Track: Phoenix Raceway / Avondale, Arizona
Type: 1.022-mile paved banked dogleg Oval
Race Distance: 312 laps / 312 miles (502.115 km)
Defending Track Winner: Chase Elliott
TV/Radio: Fox / MRN
2021 Instacart 500 Predictions
Chase Elliott +550
Chase Elliott won his first Cup Series Championship last season with his win at Phoenix. He became the first Hendrick car to win at the track in five years. Hendrick is strong this season with his teammate, Kyle Larson, winning last week. Elliott was prolific at avoiding wrecks and mistakes at this track last time around and could return to victory lane again if he can manage that feat this weekend.
Kyle Larson +700
I’m not big on taking drivers for back-to-back wins but Kyle Larson proved to me last week that it was time to stop fading on him. His return to the Cup Series has been rock solid. He’s raced at Phoenix 13 times as a Cup Series driver and he’s finished inside the top-ten seven times. And that was before he was in Hendrick equipment.
Joey Logano +800
Joey Logano won the Spring race here last year and was the first winning Ford to do in the last five Phoenix races. In his last four starts at the tracks, he’s finished 10, 9, 1, 3 respectively. Ford’s seem to run well at Phoenix but also seem to fade in the end. Logano passed that hurdle with his 2020 Spring win.
Others to Consider: I like Kevin Harvick (+550) at any time he runs at Phoenix as he has some incredible stats at the track, however, he’s given up the lead here too many times of late after dominating the field for most of the race. Ryan Blaney (+1400) has made finishing in the top-three a thing at Phoenix and he finished 7th during the Championship race last season.
Most Important NASCAR Stats for Handicappers
2021 Instacart 500 Odds
BetOnline has lots of great betting markets for today’s NASCAR race.
Kevin Harvick +550
Chase Elliott +550
Kyle Busch +550
Denny Hamlin +600
Brad Keselowski +650
Kyle Larson +700
Joey Logano +800
Martin Truex Jr +1000
Ryan Blaney +1400
William Byron +1600
Kurt Busch +2000
Alex Bowman +2200
Christopher Bell +3300
Matt Dibenedetto +3300
Aric Almirola +5000
Tyler Reddick +6600
Cole Custer +8000
Austin Dillon +8000
Darrell Wallace Jr. +10000
Erik Jones +10000
Ryan Newman +12500
Michael McDowell +15000
Chase Briscoe +15000
Ricky Stenhouse Jr +15000
Chris Buescher +15000
Ross Chastain +20000
Daniel Suarez +25000
Ryan Preece +50000
Anthony Alfredo +50000
Justin Haley +50000
Corey Lajoie +100000
Josh Bilicki +100000
Quinn Houff +100000
BJ McLeod +100000
Cody Ware +100000
Timmy Hill +100000
J.J. Yeley +100000
James Davison +100000
