The fourth race of the 2020 NASCAR Cup Series season is set for Sunday, March 8, at Phoenix Raceway. The course is a flat one-mile layout and is the first race in which a new race package will be in use on the 14 races that are on smaller tracks and road courses. Engines will feature 750 horsepower. Joe Gibbs Racing won nine of those 14 events in 2019, with Martin Truex Jr picking up five of those victories. The new package is similar to the one that drivers used in 2018, reducing the height of the front splitter and the spoiler, which removes downforce and makes the ability of the driver more important. This does mean that the NASCAR odds are a little dicey this week, as it remains to be seen how the drivers will respond to the package. We have the latest sports betting odds as well as suggestions for your wager cards.
NASCAR: 2020 FanShield 500 Preview & Odds
Fanshield 500 Driver OddsLet’s rock n’ roll, @phoenixraceway. Raise your hand if you’re ready for cars to hit the track. 🙋♂️ pic.twitter.com/41fZl9UOIc
— NASCAR (@NASCAR) March 6, 2020
- Kyle Busch 7/2
- Martin Truex Jr 9/2
- Denny Hamlin, Kevin Harvick 6/1
- Joey Logano, Brad Keselowski, Chase Elliott, Ryan Blaney 12/1
- Kyle Larson, Alex Bowman 18/1
- William Byron, Jimmie Johnson 25/1
- Erik Jones, Kurt Busch 30/1
- Clint Bowyer, Matt DiBenedetto, Aric Almirola 40/1
- Chris Buescher, Ross Chastain, Ricky Stenhouse Jr 200/1
- Austin Dillon, Christopher Bell, Cole Custer 300/1
- Tyler Reddick 500/1
- Ty Dillon, Ryan Preece 1000/1
- Michael McDowell, Darrell Wallace Jr, John Hunter Nemechek, Daniel Suarez, Corey LaJoie 2000/1
- Brennan Poole, Joey Gade, Quin Houff, JJ Yeley, Timmy Hill, Reed Sorenson, BJ McLeod 5000/1
Denny Hamlin is one of the top short-track drivers in NASCAr right now. He won the 2020 Daytona 500 to start the season, and in his last four races at Phoenix Raceway, he has a win in three finishes in the top five, and he has led 183 laps. He won the fall race at Phoenix in 2019 to make sure that he had a spot in the championship round. Going back further, he has two wins among 13 top five finishes in 29 career starts, with an average finish of 10.97. While he is not the outright favorite, he has the track record for you to put him on your card — and he brings a little extra value.
Jimmie Johnson has won the NASCAR Cup Series seven times, and this year he has looked a little more lively than usual. At Phoenix Raceway, Johnson has made 33 starts. He has 15 top five finishes and four wins, with an average finish of 10.33. There was a time when Johnson was seen as tough to beat at this track. He is in his swan song season, and he gave all he had to win his final race in California a week ago, falling short. He could drop off a bit, or he could give it all he has once again. At those odds, it’s worth the gamble.
Kevin Harvick has the most wins for any driver at Phoenix Raceway with nine, and the most top-five finishes (17) as well as the most top-tens (23). However, since the track had its resurfacing, he has not won here. His last Phoenix victory came in the spring of 2018, which was the last event with the old track. He has come in fifth, twice and ninth, respectively, in his three races here since then. Note that the second-place finish came in this very race a year ago. However, the new package could shake things up enough to help him. He is pushing for a tenth career win at one track.
Kyle Busch won at Phoenix in the fall race in 2018, the first after the resurface, and he won this race a year ago. In his last eight Phoenix events, he has seven top-four finishes. He also has gone three races without a win to start 2020, so he has even more motivation. He’s the favorite for several reasons.
