Fans of racing should enjoy a competitive first race of the NASCAR betting season for the Truck Series’ NextEnergy 250. The odds indicate it will be a competitive race without no one sitting as a clear-cut favorite.
John Nemechek is the favorite at +800, and Grant Enfinger is +900; they are the only two racers with odds under 10 to 1 to win the race.
Finding value in this first race of the year won’t be too difficult. Since this is the first race of the year, everyone is still trying to evaluate who will have a strong season.
NextEra Energy 250 Betting Analysis
Nemechek vs. Enfinger
Nemechek is the favorite to win the race despite never winning the race before. In four starts in this race at Dayton, Nemechek’s best finish was fourth place in 2017.
However, Nemechek had one of his best seasons as a professional last season, taking home the regular-season championship thanks to winning five races and 11 stages.
Enfinger is being repaired with GMS Racing for the first time since 2016, which he parted ways with following his first victory in 2016. Enfinger has won the NextEra Energy 250 in 2020 and is hoping to be reinvigorated by a change in scenery.
Top sportsbooks have Enfinger -110 in a head-to-head with Nemechek, which may be worth a look due to Nemechek’s previous results in this race.
Don’t forget about Ben
Ben Rhodes captured the NASCAR Camping World championship in 2021 and has five career victories and 76 top 10 finishes during his seven-year career. Rhodes had a strong start to last season, winning the first two races, including a victory in the NextEra Energy 250. There is some value to his odds for this year’s race.
Rhodes is +1300 to win and +400 to finish in the top 3.
Matt DiBenedetto enters the fray
Matt DiBenedetto was known as a scrappy racer in the Cup Series that people thought may have the potential to keep climbing. However, DiBenedetto had an opportunity to compete in the Truck Series and decided to take over a car full-time for the Nashville Rackley WAR racing team.
In the Cup Series, DiBenedetto had 31 Top 10 finishes in seven years. DiBenedetto is +350 to finish in the top three.
He’s also -120 in a head-to-head matchup against Chandler Smith. How DiBenedetto adjusts to a new racing style will make for an interesting watch in 2022.
Zane Smith vs. Ben Rhodes
Zane Smith has had a strong career, picking up three truck series wins and 28 top 10 finishes. However, he struggled at the NextEra Energy 250 last season, placing 16th after qualifying eighth. Smith is paired up with Rhodes in a betting matchup where both racers are -115. Take this in consideration as you make your NextEra Energy 250 betting pick.
This number provides some value on Rhodes, who won the event last year and had a better overall season than Smith.
NextEra Energy 250 Betting Pick
DiBenedetto entering the truck series provides an interesting look at this season. Will he lean on his Cup series experience and be able to fit right in, or will he have an adjustment period?
It’s reasonable to think he will be competitive right away and him to finish in the top three at +400 is a strong bet with value.
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