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The second event in this season’s 10-race playoff for NASCAR’s 2018 Monster Energy Cup Series racing title is a prime-time run at Richmond Raceway this Saturday night on NBC Sports Network. The green flag for the Federated Auto Parts 400 is set to wave at 7:30 p.m.
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Sometimes it pays off big to keep riding the hot hand, and that was the case last Sunday with Brad Keselowski winning his third Cup Series race in a row with a victory at Las Vegas. I locked him in at +1000 betting odds as my top-valued pick. Kyle Larson took second in that race and reigning champ Martin Truex Jr. rounded out the top three drivers.
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The following is a look at a trio of the top favorites to win Saturday night’s race at Richmond along with my top-valued pick to win at longer odds as provided by <a class="advblue" href="javascript:GoTo(Dimes)" title="5Dimes">5Dimes Sportsbook – Click Here !</a>
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Federated Auto Parts 400 Favorites<br />
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<b>Kyle Busch +250 </b>
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Busch did not fare as well as he hoped at his hometown track last Sunday with a seventh-place finish in his first playoff race. He has now finished seventh or eighth in his previous three races after placing fourth or better in five of his last six point-race events. He knows that his first six victories this season could add up to nothing if he can not add to that total this time of the year. This motivation adds value to his already favorable odds to win on Saturday night despite some shaky performances lately. The No. 18 Toyota won the first race at Richmond early in the season as part of Busch’s four career victories at this track. His average finishing position here is an impressive 7.2.
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<b>Kevin Harvick +450 </b>
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Harvick leads the Cup Series in victories this season with seven, but the driver of the No. 4 Ford also understands that he is in the same boat as Busch if he cannot continue to dominate this series over the remaining nine events. Last Sunday's wreck at Las Vegas puts him in an early hole in this first elimination round, but with a Top 5 finish in three of his previous four events, he should be right back in the mix at Richmond this Saturday night. Harvick's average finishing position at this track is 10.3, and he has placed fifth or better in five of his last seven runs around this oval.
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<b>Martin Truex Jr. +500 </b>
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The third-place finish last week has the defending champ in second place in the current Cup Series standings with a total of 2087 points. He tore things up last season in the playoff driving the No. 78 Toyota with four checkered flags in 10 races and he has four more wins and 12 additional Top 5 runs on this season’s resume. Working against his odds to win this race is a less than stellar track record at Richmond. Truex has yet to win a Cup Series event here, and his average finishing position dips to 19.8.
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