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VirginiaCavs

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Top Betting Pick For Maximum Pain Relief 500




NASCAR Cup Series Maximum Pain Relief 500
Wednesday, June 10, 2020 at 7 p.m. ET (FS1) at Martinsville Speedway



Double Pleasure

We are being rewarded now for suffering earlier.

Because the COVID-19-inspired panic is allowing for less time to complete the season, we are in catch-up mode.

So we get the benefit of a two-race week.

Race Info

Wednesday evening’s race takes us to the Martinsville Speedway in Virginia.

This race is called the Maximum Pain Relief 500 because it consists in 500 laps.

By completing 500 laps, drivers will have accumulated 263 miles on the track.

Track Info

While 500 laps may sound like a lot, the race is shorter than somebody new to the sport would expect.

One unique aspect about Martinsville Speedway is that it is the shortest track that the NASCAR Cup Series offers. It is .526 miles long.

Overall, the track is considered to be very small. Especially the tight turns encourage closely packed racing.

So, yes, 500 is a high number of laps. But a number of obstacles discourage easy passing.

The track’s small size means that less space is available for passing.

Also, a .526 mile long track means that more cars will be lapped. So, in order to pass drivers, one will have to to re-pass more drivers.

Speed is discouraged by these factors for the same reasons. Plus, the banks are only 12 degrees, making this track much flatter than previous tracks.

Additionally, this track is unique because it consists in two different materials.

Martinsville’s straightaways have an asphalt surface while the turns are concrete.

Starting Position

Random draw determined starting position.

With a bevy of obstacles interfering with easier passing and the race being shorter than it may seem, it’s good to bet on somebody with a reasonably favorable starting position.

I like Kyle Busch. He will start seventh.

Also, pit selection is determined by the previous race’s results. Busch, who finished second on Sunday, will have the second-best pit selection at Martinsville.

Top Three

Given that Busch will start in seventh, it helps to know who starts in front of him.

Since I will bet on Busch to finish top-three, we need Busch to pass at least four of those drivers (and not get passed by anybody behind him).

Three of the drivers who will start ahead of Busch are absolute long-shots.

Those three are Ryan Blaney, Aric Almirola, and Clint Bowyer, all of whom are priced at +1000 or higher.

Form

Besides those three, Joey Logano, Martin Truex Jr., and Brad Keselowski will start ahead of Busch.

In terms of form, Logano and Truex Jr., pale in comparison to Busch’s.

Logano has finished 10th or worst in both of his past two races. Truex Jr. has one top-five finish this season.

In contrast, since returning from the COVID-inspired break, Busch has finished top-four in four of five races.

History

Busch’s recent history has been superb at Martinsville. Although, statistically speaking, it is marred by last year’s unfortunate multi-car pileup.

He is a great bounce-back candidate since before last year’s rendition, he had finished top-three at this track in four of five tries. In the one exception, he finished fourth.

This track involves a significant amount of strategy given the difficulties involved in passing other drivers. Busch’s history shows that he is familiar with a winning strategy.

The Verdict

Given his form, his history, and his favorable pit selection, I like Kyle Busch to achieve a top-three finish on Wednesday at Martinsville.

You can bet on Busch at plus money to finish top-three at sportsbooks like BetOnline. Although, Bookmaker is offering sweeter NASCAR odds for a Busch victory.

Best Bet: Kyle Busch Top 3 Finish (+110) at BetOnline
 
These things often get published with block texts. Makes me tempted to go back to my usual writing style where I freely mix longer, hypotactic sentences with shorter, paratactic ones. But i'm supposed to write one-line sentences because it's more smart phone-friendly. Convenience over style...
 
BOL just posted theirs. Still nothing on DK yet. I’ve noticed DK has been the first to release them since starting back so maybe they’ve been getting hit hard and didn’t want to be the ones to post first for this race? Just spitballing
 
Not sure on the chances of the race happening tonight, but saw matchups finally get posted last night in most places.

Liking Byron over Jones and Jimmie over Kurt Busch. Would’ve liked to play Hamlin over some guys but only matchup offered is against Truex and I like them both tonight. Probably will pull trigger on Kyle over Keslowski as well
 
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