NASCAR Predictions and Odds: Riding Zane Smith and Fading Cole Cuter at Pocono Raceway
NASCAR Predictions and Odds: Riding Zane Smith and Fading Cole Cuter at Pocono Raceway
All three series of NASCAR will be heading to the snowy ski slopes of the Pocono Mountains. Let's keep in mind that it is mid-July and will be 90 degrees this weekend, so skiing would not be recommended. But gambling on racing is, so let's do that! Pocono Raceway has been dubbed the "Tricky Triangle" because...well...it's shaped like a triangle. What's the point, amiright? It features three very different and distinct turns with varying degrees of banking, although all are relatively flat. It's 2.5 miles in length so we routinely see drivers short-pitting the stages in favor of gaining track position, like at road courses. There will undoubtedly be quite a few differing strategies, and this thing sometimes turns into a fuel race. If you're into being confused, this is the race for you. We've got a Saturday double-header! I only had one triangle joke up my sleeve, so we're combining the Truck and Xfinity articles into one mega article.
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CRC Brakleen 150 - Truck Series
CRC Brakleen 150 - Truck Series Start Time, Where to Watch, and Odds
- Date: July 23, 2022
- Game Time: 12:00 pm ET
- Where to Watch: FS1
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CRC Brakleen 150 - Tuck Series Predictions
- Zane Smith to finish ahead of John Hunter Nemechek (-110) (Bet $110 to win $100)
- Zane Smith to finish inside the Top-Three (+135) (Bet $100 to win $135)
The sportsbooks keep feeding us this matchup, and we're going to keep taking it. Zane Smith's recent form has been fantastic, finishing second, second, third, and second in the last four races and bagging three wins earlier in the year. Smith is the points leader by a million (probably) and legitimately looks the more Cup Series ready driver of these two.
Nemechek was the pre-season title favorite but has struggled as of late finishing 28, 9, 2, 8, and 35 in the last five races. That's not to say he's bringing a slow truck, but he just hasn't flashed the same brilliance of 2021. Kyle Busch Motorsports equipment has elite straight-line speed and should be strong this weekend. He also has fond memories of Pocono, having won here last year, while Smith finished eighth.
Unfortunately, the only metric that separates these two in 2021 was the finishing position. Nemechek led 12 and turned six fastest laps, while Smith paced 18 and turned 5 fast ones.
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Explore the Pocono Mountains 225 - Xfinity Series
Explore the Pocono Mountains 225 Start Time, Where to Watch, and Odds
- Date: July 23, 2022
- Game Time: 5:00 pm ET
- Where to Watch: USA
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Explore the Pocono Mountains 225 Predictions
- Josh Berry to finish better than Cole Custer (+120) (Bet $100 to win $120)
- Ty Gibbs to finish better than Cole Custer (-114) (Bet $114 to win $100)
You're going to need two different sportsbooks to complete this double Custer fade. Custer owes us money after his last jaunt in the Xfinity Series. He was prime to cash some big plus-money tickets for us but crashed out. The truth is, this Xfinity Series is full of knuckleheads who don't use the brake pedal, leading to accidents and greater unpredictability. I'm a big advocate for calling cars that get into accidents this weekend on the Pocono triangle "Wreck-Tangles." I slow-played you guys. I had two triangle jokes. Cole Custer may be one of the most talented guys in the field this weekend, but unfortunately, his pit crew is one of the worst. Since track position is so important and short-pitting stages will be on the menu, that weakness will be amplified. Gibbs and Berry have two of the best pit teams on the circuit. We look for Custer to perform well early but get mired in traffic at some point. From there, a "wreck-tangle" can happen at any time.