NASCAR Bass Pro Shops NRA Night Race betting odds and value picks

The Bass Pro Shops NRA Night Race – serving as the first NASCAR playoff elimination race – will take place at Bristol Motor Speedway this Saturday night (7:30 p.m. ET, NBCSN).

Kyle Busch and Kyle Larson are co-favored at +450 as they each seek an automatic bid to the Round of 12. Both boast solid résumés at Bristol, but we believe that they can be beaten. Let’s go looking for value as we make our selections for the Bass Pro Shops NRA Night Race.

Denny Hamlin (+650)

Denny Hamlin has already advanced to the next round of the playoffs by virtue of his Southern 500 victory at Darlington, but he could make it two wins in three weeks at Bristol on Saturday night.

Hamlin has two career victories over this course, the last coming in August of 2019. He’s also led 829 laps here, putting him fifth among active drivers.

Fewer drivers are in better form than Hamlin at present, as he has three Top 5 finishes over his last four races. He’ll roll off the grid in second place, alongside polesitting Joe Gibbs Racing teammate Martin Truex Jr. 

Chase Elliott (+800)

Chase Elliott could score a long-overdue first career victory at Bristol on Saturday night.

Elliott has the best average finish of any active driver over this course at 12.1. He owns three Top 10 results in his last five races at Bristol, leading no fewer than 23 laps in each of those events. He’s also posted three stage victories in that span.

The No. 9 Chevrolet driver is in good form at present, having finished eighth or better in five of his last six races. He’ll begin his evening in fourth place.

Kurt Busch (+2000)

Kyle Busch’s older brother Kurt could use a win to assure himself of a spot in the Round of 12. He looks like a live longshot in the Bass Pro Shops NRA Night Race.

Busch won here as recently as August of 2018, and is second only to Kyle Busch in wins at Bristol among active drivers with six (Kyle has eight). He’s also third in laps led with 1,095. That victory began a string of four straight Top 10s at Bristol for the No. 1 Chevrolet driver.

Prior to wrecking at Richmond last week, Busch had finished sixth or better in three of his last four races. He’ll start in 15th on Saturday night.