NASCAR Folds of Honor QuikTrip 500 preview

Kurt Busch drives through turn four during practice for the NASCAR Cup Series Pennzoil 400. (Photo by Michael Allio/Icon Sportswire)

One week after a thrilling finish at Bristol that saw Brad Keselowski inherit the lead late from the dueling Chase Elliott and Joey Logano, who wrecked on Lap 498, the NASCAR drivers head to Atlanta Motor Speedway for Sunday’s Folds of Honor QuikTrip 500 (3:00 p.m., FOX).

Kevin Harvick was installed as a tepid +500 favorite, and there’s a strong case to be made for him. His average finishing position through nine races this year is sixth, and he has a win at Darlington. Harvick has also led more laps at Atlanta than any active driver (1,197). However, we’ll provide three higher-priced alternatives for Sunday’s event.

Folds of Honor QuikTrip 500 - Winner

Sun, June 7 2020, 7:20 PM

Kevin Harvick

+500

Chase Elliott

+650

Kyle Busch

+650

Alex Bowman

+800

Brad Keselowski

+850

Joey Logano

+900

Martin Truex Jr

+950

Denny Hamlin

+1200

Ryan Blaney

+1500

Jimmie Johnson

+1800

Kurt Busch

+2000

Erik Jones

+2500

William Byron

+3300

Clint Bowyer

+3500

Tyler Reddick

+5000

Matt DiBenedetto

+6000

Matt Kenseth

+6000

Aric Almirola

+6500

Austin Dillon

+8000

Ricky Stenhouse Jr.

+8000

Ryan Newman

+10000

Christopher Bell

+15000

Cole Custer

+15000

Chris Buescher

+20000

John Hunter Nemechek

+20000

Bubba Wallace

+25000

Ryan Preece

+50000

Michael McDowell

+50000

Ty Dillon

+50000

Daniel Suarez

+50000

Corey Lajoie

+75000

Brennan Poole

+100000

Joey Gase

+100000

J.J. Yeley

+100000

Timmy Hill

+100000

Quin Houff

+100000

Garrett Smithley

+100000

Reed Sorenson

+100000

BJ McLeod

+100000

Josh Bilicki

+100000

Chase Elliott

Elliott has been a victim of Murphy’s Law since the season restarted despite his win at Charlotte on May 28. He was spun out by Kyle Busch at Darlington on May 20, made a bad call on pit road in the Coca-Cola 600 four days later, and just crashed at Bristol on Sunday. But he’s been in contention for the win each time.

"I'll certainly take the blame."- Chase Elliott on his late-race incident with Joey Logano pic.twitter.com/9O0SfYEB7b
— FOX: NASCAR (@NASCARONFOX) May 31, 2020

Elliott, despite an average starting position of 21st in four career NASCAR races at Atlanta, has an average finishing position of 10.5, the best mark of any active driver. A win in his home state of Georgia would be sweet. He’ll start on the pole by virtue of winning a random draw.

Brad Keselowski

Can lightning strike again for Keselowski? The No. 2 Ford driver is now co-favored to win the year-end championship following two wins over his last three races. But he seems to be somewhat undervalued to win the Folds of Honor QuikTrip 500.

Keselowski has been tough to tame at Atlanta with two victories and a runner-up result in his last three visits to this course with 82 laps led. He’ll roll off the grid sixth.

Kurt Busch

Kurt Busch has quietly put together a solid second half of the season, hitting the Top 10 in four of the first five races. His prowess at Atlanta could help him break through for a score at boxcar odds.

Kurt Busch is one of the best restarters in the cup series over the last few years.

Here, he not only defends his position from the non-preferred groove, but also takes the lead from his teammate Clint Bowyer (who ranked 6th in restarts from the preferred groove). pic.twitter.com/8gqhDWGkQm
— Avery Hage (@AveryHage) May 31, 2020

Busch has led 802 career laps over this course, second only to Harvick among active drivers, and has hit the Top 10 four straight times at Atlanta. He has three career victories on this oval. Busch begins his day in 12th.

Get your motor running with the latest NASCAR odds at BetAmerica!

NASCAR