Chris Buescher’s (+1800) momentum continued at Michigan, where he scored his second consecutive, leading Joe Gibbs Racing’s Martin Truex Jr. and Denny Hamlin (+1800) in second and third. However, over the next two races, the Cup Series regulars and oval specialists will fall back in the field, with the road course specialists and one-shot ringers with Championship pedigree emerging as the betting favorites, starting at Indy.
BangtheBook has divided our Verizon 200 at the Brickyard betting preview into two sections: one focusing on the NASCAR Cup Series regulars who excel on road circuits and the second focusing on the road course specialists and Champions joining the grid at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway’s Road Course.
Check out the full Verizon 200 at the Brickyard odds over on Bookmaker
The NASCAR Cup Series Road Course Specialists
Tyler Reddick (+550)
Despite some of his finishing positions, Tyler Reddick shines on road circuits, having won on Indy’s Road Course in 2022 and Circuit of the Americas (CoTA) earlier this season.
Reddick has four stage wins, six top-five, and nine top-ten finishes this season, his last being a second-place finish at Pocono.
A.J. Allmendinger (+1800)
AJ Allmendinger’s success in open-wheel racing translated over to both the Xfinity and Cup Series, having won on both Series at Indy’s Road Course, including the Cup Series inaugural race in 2021.
While Allmendinger usually shines on road circuits, the 2023 Cup Series has been an exception, with his best road course finish being sixth at Sonoma.
Martin Truex Jr. (+425)
Joe Gibbs Racing’s Martin Truex Jr. is the current NASCAR Cup Series Drivers Championship, adding to his lead, scoring two stage wins alongside his second place at Michigan.
Truex Jr. has eight top-ten finishes in the last ten races – including two wins and six top-three finishes – and three wins and 13 top-ten finishes on the season.
Of those three wins, it’s Truex’s win at Sonoma that should have him among the contenders to win on any road circuit.
William Byron
Hendrick Motorsports’ William Byron’s odds were not available as of publication. However, Byron has looked strong at different points on NASCAR’s three road circuit visits this season, finishing in the top-15 in all three and fifth place at CoTA as his best finish.
Byron is currently third in the Drivers standings and has four race wins, eight top-five, and 11 top-ten finishes this season. However, Byron hasn’t finished in the top ten since his win in Atlanta.
Kyle Busch (+1200)
It doesn’t matter the track because Kyle Busch usually finds a way. Busch has three race wins, eight top-five, and 13 top-ten finishes this season. Busch has finished in the top five in all three road circuit races in 2023, including two second-place finishes at CoTA and Sonoma.
The Road Course Ringers
Shane van Gisbergen (+800)
Shane van Gisbergen is among the betting favorites heading into Indy this weekend, having stolen the spotlight in Chicago and winning the Grant Park 220 on his NASCAR Cup Series debut.
Three-time Supercars Champion van Giasbergen has 80 career wins, 174 podiums, and 48 pole positions in Supercars, but has to be among your picks to win at Indy, having shown the Cup Series regulars there are levels to road course racing in Chicago.
Brodie Kostecki (+2500)
Brodie Kostecki comes from the Supercars Series that gave NASCAR van Gisbergen but without the championship success. Kostecki has two race wins, 15 podiums, and four pole positions in 82 Supercar races – road course experience that should have him challenging for the top five and potentially a shock race win.
Jenson Button (+10000)
2009 Formula 1 World Champion and one of NASCAR’s Project 56 24 Hours of Le Mans drivers, Jenson Button, hasn’t had great success in his two Cup Series runs, with his best finish being 18th at CoTA. While unlikely to win, Button could break into the top ten.
Kamui Kobayashi (+3300)
With experience in Formula 1, Formula E, and Japanese Super Formula, two-time World Endurance Championship Drivers’ Champion and 2021 24 Hours of Le Mans winner, Kamui Kobayashi has a road circuit resume that strongly competes with Button and van Gisbergen.
Kobayashi could be a long shot whose road-circuit success could translate into a race win or top-ten finish on NASCAR debut.
Verizon 200 at the Brickyard Betting Pick
BangtheBook is taking Shane van Gisbergen to win, with Busch, Byron, Truex Jr., and Reddick to round out our top five.
