2021 GEICO 500: NASCAR CUP Preview, Odds, Picks, Longshots

Denny Hamlin +650- Hamli will begin Sunday’s journey around the Talladega Super Speedway from the pole position after another strong run at Richmond last Sunday. Spoiler alert, Hamlin has the 2nd best average finish at Talladega Super Speedway over the last 6 races of 10.33. 1 win along with 4 top 5 finishes accompany the overall performance for Hamlin at Talladega. Denny finished 5th in the Daytona 500 back in February after leading 98 of the 200 laps. Hamlin’s the favorite for great reason here and will be a top contender for the win on Sunday afternoon.

Joey Logano +900- Logano will roll off outside row 1 from the 2nd position for Sunday’s GEICO 500 at Talladega. Logano finished 12th in the Daytona 500 in February 2021, leading 26 laps. Logano has the best average driver rating of 109.9 over the last 6 Cup Series races at Talladega Super Speedway. With great Penske teammates, look for Logano to be a key driver here at Talladega for the GEICO 500 on Sunday afternoon.

Ryan Blaney +1100- Blaney fires off from the 7th position for Sunday’s GEICO 500 at the Talladega Super Speedway. Blaney will be happy to head to Talladega after finishing 11th at his toughest track Richmond Raceway one week ago. Blaney did not have a good Daytona 500, caught up in the big wreck of Christopher Bell’s doing on lap 14. Ryan has won 2 of the last 6 races at Talladega and carries a respectable average driver rating of 95.6 in the last 6 Cup Series races at Talladega. Look for Ryan to be in contention here at Talladega on Sunday.

Aric Almirola +1600- Aric will begin Sunday’s GEICO 500 at Talladega from the 14th starting spot. 2021 has been all but forgettable for Almirola and team. Finally, at Richmond Raceway last Sunday, Aric and team came away with a 6th place finish. Now heading to Talladega, Aric has the best average finish of 10.17 over the last 6 Cup Series races at big bad Talladega. With 5 top 10 finishes, including 3 top 5 finishes and 1 victory, Almirola is looking to rebound from the disappointment at the Daytona 500 where he had a great car. Expect the #10 to be out front on Sunday afternoon for the GEICO 500.

Ryan Newman +3300- Newman rolls off on row 14 from the 28th starting spot on Sunday afternoon at Talladega for the GEICO 500. Newman will most likely fall to the back and stay out of harms way, then with about 40 laps to go be ready to make the moves to the front. The strategy from Newman has worked to the tune of 4 top 10 finishes and 1 top finish at Talladega over the last 6 races. Ryan doesn’t have a DNF at Talladega in the last 6 races which is very well done. Great longshot for the win here at Talladega on Sunday, sprinkle some action here on Newman.