NASCAR Nationwide Series: Harvick Short-Priced Favorite for Friday’s Nationwide Race

Kevin Harvick, who is 61 points behind Carl Edwards in the Nationwide Series’ standings, has won 2 out of the 5 Nationwide races so far this season. Because of that, he’s a short-priced favorite at +275 to win the Bashas’ Supermarkets 200 on Friday night at Phoenix International Raceway.

Harvick may be the favorite but is he the best bet in the NASCAR sportsbook? Taking +275 on any driver to win a NASCAR race, whether it be a Nationwide Series or the Sprint Cup Series race, usually isn’t a good idea. It’s better to look for value. So, who is the best bet to win this Friday’s Bashas’ Supermarkets 200? Read on!

NASCAR Nationwide Series: Bashas’ Supermarkets 200

When: 4/9/2010, 9:00 pm EST

Where: Phoenix International Raceway, Phoenix, Arizona

Best Bet A: Greg Biffle +750

The odds are excellent on Biff who has 13 victories on the intermediate track at PIR including winning the Bashas’ Supermarkets 200 in 2009. Biff is currently in 9th place in the Nationwide Series’ standings but there’s no doubt that he’s too good of a driver not to climb up the standings. I expect him to start doing that soon, as soon as Friday night, actually, where he could win his second straight Bashas’ Supermarkets 200 at very nice odds.

Best Bet B: Carl Edwards +300

Edwards won the other Nationwide Series’ race at PIR last year, the Able Body Labor 200. Edwards is also in first place in the Nationwide Series’ standings. Carl has 14 victories and 51 Top 5 finishes at the intermediate track at Phoenix International Raceway. He’s a more solid bet than Harvick at low odds in my opinion because of what he did last year at PIR. Edwards is obviously driving very well in the Nationwide Series. He’s a good bet to win again at PIR.

Is the Field Worth a Bet?

Yes. At the odds of +750 the field is worth a wager. At this point, the sportsbook is only offering NASCAR odds on Kevin Harvick, Carl Edwards, Kyle Busch, Joey Logano, Brad Keselowski, Reed Sorenson, Greg Biffle, Justin Allgaier, Casey Mears and Jason Leffler. Of course, Harvick, Busch, Allgaier and Tony Stewart, who probably won’t drive in the Bashas’ Supermarkets 200, are the only drivers to have won a Nationwide race this year. Still, +750 presents great value considering that you’re likely to get up to at least 20 drivers on your side in the race.

Best Underdog Wager: Justin Allgaier +1000

Double-digit odds qualify as an underdog in a Naitionwide Series’ race that means that Allgaier, who won at the Bristol two races ago, is the pick. Allgaier was the 2009 Nationwide Series’ Rookie of the Year. Out of 5 starts in 2010, he already has a victory and 3 Top 5 finishes. He finished in the Top 10 in the other 2 races for an average finish of 5.0. Allgaier could win another one this Friday night.

NASCAR is back in action this weekend. Why wait for Saturday to bet the Sprint Cup Series? Log onto the NASCAR sportsbook and get your wagers down on the Bashas’ Supermarket 200!