Time for the second dirt race at Bristol Motor Speedway. Last year the experiment of laying a surface of dirt on the high-banked speedway faced some problems due to weather and dust. But it still offered some exciting racing! This time around the weather looks better and drivers will have some experience under their belts from last season. That experience may be translating into favorable odds!

Kyle Larson is a driver known for jumping into a dirt-track car whenever he can. He’s even sponsoring a race of his own in Bullsgap, TN at Volunteer Speedway before the Bristol race weekend. Oddsmakers seem to like this as Larson is the lone favorite at +425. But before you jump on the Larson bandwagon you may want to consider the fact that he finished this race 29th last year and was several laps down. Plus, he started that race on the pole.

NASCAR Betting Bonuses

Last year’s Bristol Food City Dirt Race winner was Joey Logano who led 61 laps during the event. Logano comes in at +1000 this week along with Chase Elliott who finished in the 10th spot during last season’s dirt race. Last year one of the favorites to win the race was Kyle Busch but he’s slid down the favorites list slightly to +1400. Busch finished 17th last year and only led seven laps during the race.

This is an entirely different style of race than normally associated with Bristol and there is only one in the books to pull stats from. I’m thinking that oddsmakers are looking at a few factors. First, as mentioned, dirt track experience – as in recently. Secondly, performance overall this season. And lastly, which may be part of a larger debate – a changing of the guard.

A noticeable change is happening with the favorites this season. While Larson and Elliott tend to be staples every week some other names have dropped down. We are not seeing drivers such as Harvick, Keselowski, and Busch as being the constant favorites race after race. The trend this season seems to be that younger drivers are grabbing the checkered flags.

Logano won last year at this race and he’s 31 years old. Kevin Harvick is now 46 while Kyle Busch is 36. All of the other favorites heading into Sunday’s race are still in their 20s. Even a seasoned veteran such as Larson who just turned 29! Just something to ponder.

Here are the favorite drivers to win the 2022 Bristol Food City Dirt Race outright.

Kyle Larson +425

Christopher Bell +800

Joey Logano +1000

Chase Elliott +1000

William Byron +1200

Tyler Reddick +1200

Types of NASCAR Bets

2022 Bristol Food City Dirt Race Preview

Date: Sunday, April 17, 2022, 7:00 pm EST

Track: Bristol Motor Speedway / Bristol, Tennessee

Type: High-banked oval, dirt, .533 miles, 4 turns

Race Distance: 133.25 miles, 250 laps

Defending Dirt Track Winner: Joey Logano

TV/Radio: FOX / Sirius/XM Radio / MRN local affiliates

Fantasy NASCAR Beginners Guide

2022 Bristol Food City Dirt Race Predictions

Kyle Larson +425

Kyle Larson is probably the driver with the most recent dirt track experience. It seems like he’s always jumping into a dirt car for an event – and winning them! Larson had a horrible showing last year at this race but much of that was due to being involved in other drivers’ mistakes. And, he’s racing in the Bristol Dirt Invitationals for added seat time on Friday and Saturday before the Sunday Cup race.

Martin Truex Jr +1400

Martin Truex Jr won the Camping World Truck Series Bristol Dirt Race last season. He also was the leader of the Cup Series dirt race for a staggering 126 laps. Then, like Larson, other people took him out of contention. Truex seems to have a natural nack for getting around Bristol when it’s covered with dirt so maybe the third outing will be the one that pays off.

Daniel Suarez +2000

Daniel Suarez has been a driver with great equipment this season and he’s off to the best start of his entire Cup Series career. Also, Suarez was one of the best drivers at this event last season. Only four drivers led laps at this race last year and he logged only a few less than the winner. Logano won and led 61 laps, Suarez was out front for 58, and Truex was the king at 126. Who was the fourth driver to lead laps? Denny Hamlin led 1 lap.2

Others: Chase Elliott (+1000) finished 10th here last season and he also has shown that he can run well on just about any surface. Ricky Stenhouse, Jr. (+2000) turned a rough run last year at this race into a 2nd place finish.

Top 7 NASCAR Statistics

2022 Bristol Food City Dirt Race Betting Lines

Kyle Larson +425

Christopher Bell +800

Joey Logano +1000

Chase Elliott +1000

William Byron +1200

Tyler Reddick +1200

Martin Truex Jr +1400

Chase Briscoe +1400

Alex Bowman +1400

Kyle Busch +1400

Ryan Blaney +1600

Denny Hamlin +1600

Daniel Suarez +2000

Ricky Stenhouse Jr +2200

Ross Chastain +3000

Kevin Harvick +3300

Darrell Wallace Jr. +3500

Brad Keselowski +4000

Austin Dillon +4500

Kurt Busch +4500

Erik Jones +5000

Austin Cindric +5000

Aric Almirola +6000

Chris Buescher +6600

Michael McDowell +7000

Ty Dillon +10000

Cole Custer +10000

Justin Haley +15000

Todd Gilliland +25000

Harrison Burton +25000

Justin Allgaier +30000

Noah Gragson +40000

Corey Lajoie +50000

Josh Williams +50000

J.J. Yeley +50000

Cody Ware +50000