After racing at top speeds for the first three weeks of the season on super speedways and one-and-a-half to two mile tracks, NASCAR heads to its first short course of the season at the one mile Phoenix Raceway, for the United Rentals Work United 500.
Phoenix is a demanding track, one that offers a number of racing lines and strategies, and is difficult to drive and master because of its unique layout, and large differences in the turns at each end of the track.
This is another track where the drivers who are in the running for the championship usually do well, and should find themselves in contention. NASCAR also made a change to the racing package for this weekend, which could shake things up even more.
Here’s a look at our NASCAR betting picks for the United Rentals Work United 500.
United Rentals Work United 500 Betting Pick
| ℹ️ The Pick: | Kyle Larson (+350) |
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Why Bet On Kyle Larson:
✅ Larson has a strong history at this track, including winning the race for the 2021 championship. His combination of experience, and the speed that Hendrick Motorsports usually brings to the track make him the pick this week.
✅ He was FLYING in practice and qualifying, putting down the fast lap in both sessions, including the fastest lap in qualifying by more than a quarter of a second. On a track where the majority of the field will be bunched up within a few tenths of each other, to be that much faster than everyone else is impressive.
✅ He’s out for revenge after last week. Larson probably had the best car a week ago in Las Vegas, but a late caution sent the cars to pit road, where his teammate William Byron barely beat him off pit road, and put him in position to win. Larson seems like he’s due to get a win with the form he’s shown in 2023.
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United Rentals Work United 500 Track: It’s a Dog Eat Dogleg World
Phoenix Raceway is one of the more unique layouts on the NASCAR circuit, and that goes for the entire track. From the start-finish line you will see cars go as much as nine wide with many cutting down low to try and shave distance off through the track’s famed dogleg in the main straightaway.
From there, Turn 1 and Turn 2 are two of the flattest turns in NASCAR, but it’s a wide turn that requires a combination of speed and balance to get through. Another unique quirk of the track comes as you leave Turn 2, as the entry to pit road is shortly after you exit, and is a pit road that goes along the inside of Turn 3 and Turn 4, making pit stall selection crucial in this race.
From there, Turn 3 and 4 are steep turns where guys can run multiple lines, build up speed as they launch, coming out towards the start-finish line.
There’s a lot happening in this one mile track, which will serve as the host of the championship race in November.
Other Drivers Who Can Win the United Rentals Work United 500: A Championship Preview
Denny Hamlin (+800): While Toyotas didn’t have a ton of speed through practice, Hamlin found another gear in qualifying and sits on the front row next to Larson. A very skilled driver, Hamlin with a fast car should be a threat to the rest of the field.
Joey Logano (+1200): Of all the title contenders, Logano may be the best of the bunch at this track, with three wins here, including last fall’s championship race, where he dominated from start to finish. If his team can put together another solid car, he should be in contention.
Ross Chastain (+1200): Probably the best driver so far in 2023, he has run up near the front in every race so far, but has been snake bitten when it comes to getting a win. He seems like he is due, and wasn’t too far off the pace of Logano last fall in the title race.
