Pocono Betting Preview: 2018 Pocono 400

Kurt Busch (20/1) has three wins at Pocono, the last coming in 2016.

We've had 13 races pass by already and Kevin Harvick has five of the wins and Kyle Busch has four of them. There hasn't been much mystery to the 2018 Cup Series, but we should see somebody new in the winner's circle Sunday at Pocono Raceway.

The tricky 2.5-mile triangle is perhaps the most unique track on the circuit in that it only has three turns with each getting progressively flatter. No driver can be set up perfectly for all three turns.

“With the three different style turns at Pocono, you really have to have your car handling right in all three to be successful there," said three-time Pocono winner Jimmie Johnson. "It’s a wild track and we can hit speeds of 200 mph down the front stretch. Turn 3 is very important and can help with lap time significantly for qualifying. In the last few outings at Pocono we have had some really hard crashes so I’m hoping that is behind us.”

Because of the long drag strip on the front stretch, teams that have shown the most horsepower this season will have an edge. Yes, Kevin Harvick will be favored again. but this track may bring something different to the table that will allow for one of his teammates or a Joe Gibbs or Penske driver to win. The last seven races at Pocono have seen seven different winners and Harvick isn't one of them.

In fact, Pocono is on Harvick's bucket list of things to do. In 34 starts he's never won a race there. However, he's been runner-up four times including both races last season. All four of those runner-ups came within the last seven races there while driving for Stewart Haas Racing. He'll certainly be good enough to win.

Harvick's teammate, Las Vegan Kurt Busch, has been runner-up five times at Pocono but the difference between the two drivers is that Busch has won there three times driving for three different manufacturers. His last win there came in this 2016 race, his third season driving for Stewart Haas.

“It’s weird, I’ve had winning cars there a few different times and turn two always feels the best when my car has a chance to go to victory lane,' Busch said. "But, I think turn three, if you are able to pass cars and maneuver around them, you’ve got to get a good run off turn three to be ready to pass them in turn one. All of them are important. You can’t exclude one from another.”

The Westgate Las Vegas SuperBook posted Busch at 20/1 odds and he's easily the best value on the board.

Kurt's younger brother Kyle Busch checked Charlotte off his bucket list last week and in the last Pocono race in July he checked off Pocono from the list. He's won at every Cup Series track. It's pretty amazing stuff, and after winning his fourth race of the season and showing he's got some serious horsepower he's going to be tough to beat. Even Harvick may have some trouble catching him, especially if Busch starts from the pole like he did in both races last season. Busch has led laps in the last five races at Pocono.
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