2015 Pocono Mountains 150 Race Picks
NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Betting Preview
Saturday August 1st, 1:21PM (EST) at Pocono Raceway
by Jay Horne of NASCARWagers.com, NASCAR Handicapping Service
Today the Camping World Truck Series kicks off a Saturday double header in NASCAR. The Truck Series will get the racing action started today with the running of the Pocono Mountains 150 at Pocono Raceway and then later tonight the Xfinity Series will tangle at Iowa Speedway for a classic Saturday night short track style event. As we prepare for a full day of racing, we take this time to preview today’s Truck Series race at Pocono and provide our 2015 Pocono Mountains 150 race picks!
Today’s field for the Pocono Mountains 150 may be the most talented lineup of the season decorated with several Sprint Cup veterans including last year’s winner Austin Dillon, Kevin Harvick, Brad Keselowski, and Kyle Busch. Along with the Cup guys will be the normal Truck Series regulars like Matt Crafton who has dominated this year with 4 victories and also Erik Jones who will be doing double duty today with the Truck Series race followed by tonight’s Xfinity Series race in Iowa. So needless to say, there is plenty of talent in today’s field that should provide some great racing action.
On Friday, Austin Dillon bested the field in practice with a fast lap of 166.482mph over Erik Jones and Kyle Busch who were 2nd and 3rd. Those 3 drivers in particular looked to be the class of the field for today’s race. The Kyle Busch Motorsports duo of Jones and Busch swept the front row in qualifying earlier today. Jones posted a lap of 166.202mph with Busch earning the outside pole position. Matt Crafton will look to keep his impressive season alive today with a strong 3rd place qualifying effort. Brad Keselowski who also had a decent truck in practice qualified in the 4th position while Kevin Harvick was 7th.
In regards to today’s outlook for the Pocono Mountains 150, as stated before the trucks of Jones, Busch, and Dillon appear to be the cream of the crop. The Toyota’s of KBM have looked really stout but depending on how you bet this race, you will likely only be able to take 1 or 2 drivers depending on your betting strategy. I think you have to label Kyle Busch as the guy to beat today. The Truck was not perfect to his liking yesterday but it was still really fast. I am sure the team has made some adjustments that will set him up for a strong run today and there is nobody hotter in the sport right now than Rowdy. Jones may have an equal car but his inability to close the deal in several instances this season gives his chances a bit of a high risk/low reward scenario which we like to stay away from.
If you can get Dillon at a decent number, he would be the next solid option. Crafton starting 3rd may be a bit over priced especially considering his best finish is 3rd in 5 starts at Pocono. Remember the #88 has been very dominate on the 1.5 mile tracks this season, but Pocono is much different than a 1.5 mile layout. If you are looking for a guy that could be beneficial in a H2H matchup, consider John Wes Townley if he is listed in any lower tier matchups. The #05 truck has looked really solid thus far this weekend and he ran pretty good at Pocono back in 2012 in his first trip to the track in the Truck Series.
Pocono Mountains 150 Race Picks
Austin Dillon +400: (1 unit): defending winner, fastest in practice, best of the favorites from an odds perspective
H2H Plays
Erik Jones -165 over Brad Keselowski (2 units)
