Zippo 200 Race Picks
NASCAR Nationwide Series Betting Preview
Date and Time: Saturday, August 9th 2014 2:33PM Eastern
Where: Watkins Glen International
TV: ABC Sports
By:NASCARWagers.com, NASCAR Handicapping Service
An extremely stacked field awaits tomorrow’s NASCAR Nationwide Series’ Zippo 200 at Watkins Glen International. In total, 8 full time Sprint Cup veterans will compete in tomorrow’s event making it one of the most talented Nationwide Series’ fields of the season. A number of the best drivers in the sport will suit up for a chance to claim a victory at one of the most popular road courses in the country. So what drivers have the best shot to pull out the victory? Take a look at our thoughts as we provide our Zippo 200 race picks and prepare to go road racing at Watkins Glen!
Sprint Cup drivers often shine in the Nationwide Series due to their experience and obvious talent level that has allowed them to progress to NASCAR’s highest stage. Still, Nationwide Series regulars have been able to hold their own this season. Rookie sensation Chase Elliott has 3 victories. Guys like Regan Smith and Ty Dillon have pulled out victories over Sprint Cup drivers in Nationwide Series competition. In fact this year’s Nationwide Series regulars may be the most talented young crop in series history. However, those facts will still not help those drivers tomorrow. Watkins Glen is a course that requires procession and a sharpness that is often accompanied by experience. Even some of the Nationwide Series regulars that have experience at Watkins Glen still struggle mightily on the 2.45 course and it has been fairly obvious in practices that they will be huge underdogs when the green flag drops tomorrow. Unless this race is won on fuel strategy, expect the winner to come from the group of Sprint Cup drivers in tomorrow’s field.
After all some of the best road racers in the business will be behind the wheel tomorrow afternoon. Marcos Ambrose topped the charts in the final practice on Friday for the Zippo 200. Ambrose has won his last 3 Nationwide Series starts at Watkins Glen from 2008 to 2010. Ambrose also has two Sprint Cup victories at Watkins Glen as well. The Aussie entered Friday as the race’s overall favorite and he will be one of the cars to beat on Saturday. Another guy that demands a ton of respect tomorrow is Brad Keselowski. Keselowski is the defending winner of the Zippo 200 and has finished no worse than 9th in 5 career starts at the Glen. Outside of Ambrose and Keselowski, there are several other drivers that will try to prove their road course capabilities tomorrow. Perhaps the best of the remaining Sprint Cup veterans is Kyle Busch. Busch has won twice at Watkins Glen in the Sprint Cup Series despite the fact he has never won a Nationwide Series event at the Glen. However, Rowdy does have two runner up finishes in 7 Nationwide Series starts at Watkins Glen so he has been very close.
Joey Logano, Kyle Larson, Matt Kenseth, and Paul Menard are among a group of potential contenders. Logano has posted a runner-up and 3rd place finish in 6 Nationwide Series starts at the Glen. Despite a pair of disappointing finishes in Logano’s last two Nationwide Series starts at Watkins Glen, he showed some speed in both of Friday’s practices. Matt Kenseth is not exactly known for his road racing achievements on the Sprint Cup side but he has plenty of experience that should keep him around the front tomorrow. Kenseth has made 3 appearances at Watkins Glen in Nationwide Series competition with a best finish of 3rd in 2008. Menard and Larson are two other drivers that are on the outside looking in. Menard has posted a 12.9 average finishing in 7 career starts which includes a 4th place finish in 2007. Menard finished in the 5th position in final practice. Meanwhile, Kyle Larson has not had significant experience at any of the road courses. Larson finished 30th in his only Nationwide Series appearance at Watkins Glen last year after the powertrain expired in his machine. Larson has not shown the road racing excellence that we look for in picking winners but it will be rather interesting to see how the youngster performs in just his 2nd appearance at Watkins Glen. Larson was 12th in final practice on Friday.
Zippo 200 Race Picks:
Brad Keselowski +500 (1 unit): hopefully you follow our weekly threads in the forums where we grabbed Keselowski on openers at 5 to 1 which is the best odds he has been listed at all week. If you do not, I highly suggest following the forums in the future as there is great discussion from a lot of great minds regarding early picks each week for all upcoming races. For Keselowski, he has finished 2nd and 1st in his last two Nationwide Series starts. Keselowski also posted the fastest lap in the first practice. Expect the #22 to contend for the victory again on Saturday.
H2H Matchups
Joey Logano +125 over Kyle Busch (2 units)
Matt Kenseth +130 over Regan Smith (2 units)
