For the second straight week the NASCAR Cup Series will be racing at a 1.5-mile track, though Homestead-Miami Speedway is a very unique intermediate circuit.
Because tire wear is significant at Homestead, the fastest way around the track is right at the wall, especially longer into green-flag runs.
This skillset favors drivers like Kyle Larson and Tyler Reddick, so it’s no surprise to see them atop the NASCAR odds board for Homestead as well.
I’m digging a little deeper for my favorite bet for the Straight Talk Wireless 400 and have landed on a driver matchup between two Stewart-Haas Racing teammates.
*NASCAR odds as of Sunday morning
Homestead is arguably Noah Gragson’s best track and he backed that up in practice on Saturday.
Gragson piloted the No. 10 Ford to the fifth-best five lap average before improving to the fastest 10-, 15-, 20- and 25-lap averages.
As mentioned above, having speed on long runs is key at Homestead, and Gragson appears to have plenty of it.
Gragson’s teammate Chase Briscoe, on the other hand, didn’t show the same pace on Saturday, which, admittedly, is tough to do when comparing anyone to the fastest driver in practice.
Briscoe did outqualify Gragson by three positions, but that’s not a big deal at a track where it’s easier for the best cars to make passes.
This isn’t a huge bet for me, but I like it enough to take a nibble that Gragson will finish ahead of Briscoe in Sunday’s Straight Talk Wireless 400 at Homestead.
NASCAR Pick: Noah Gragson (-125) over Chase Briscoe — bet365
More must-reads:
Get the latest news and rumors, customized to your favorite sports and teams. Emailed daily. Always free!