First Data 500 Martinsville Speedway - Predictions and Odds

Martinsville hosts the opening race of the 2019 NASCAR Monster Energy Cup Series Round of 8.

A win here means an automatic spot in the Homestead championship finale.

The elimination race at Kansas dropped four more drivers out of the title fight.

While Martinsville isn’t known for fireworks, there is always room for surprises.

As an interesting fact, two of the past three winners have gone on to clinch the title at Homestead.

How to Watch First Data 500

Where: Martinsville Speedway in Ridgeway, VA

When: Sunday, October 27th at 3:00 PM EST

How: NBCSN (TV) | Motor Racing Network (Web radio) | NBC Sports App

Brad Keselowski

Brad Keselowski scored a dominant win at Martinsville in March.

The Team Penske driver started from the pole, won both stages and led 446 of the 500 laps.

After going 14 starts with only two top 5 finishes and without a single win at the Paper Clip, Keselowski has now won two of the last five.

He also won the April 2017 race and scored two stage victories in the 2017 playoff race.

The 2012 champion also has six top 5 finishes in the last seven races at Martinsville.

His 712 laps led in the last five races are the most among active drivers.

Keselowski will try to close his season on a high following a crushing elimination at Kansas.

Kyle Busch

Kyle Busch has finally found his way around Martinsville.

After struggling with the half-mile oval for most of his career, the Joe Gibbs driver has eight consecutive top 5 finishes.

He scored two wins during that same span, leading an impressive total of 937 laps.

Busch started last year’s First Data 500 from the pole, leading 100 laps on his way to a solid fourth-place finish.

The 2015 champion finished third at Martinsville in March.

Denny Hamlin

Denny Hamlin will try to recapture his Martinsville magic.

The Joe Gibbs driver is a five-time winner at the track, the second-best mark among active drivers.

Hamlin, however, has not visited victory lane at his home state track since 2015.

In eight starts since then, he has managed four top 5 finishes, including three inside the top 3.

He has two solid showings in 2018, leading 142 laps and capturing two-stage 1 wins.

Hamlin finished second in last year’s First Data 500 and scored a fifth place in the 2019 March race.

Martin Truex Jr.

Martin Truex Jr. is still winless at Martinsville.

The 2017 champion finally scored his first career win at a short track in March at Richmond.

He followed it up with a sweep at the track, capturing the playoff race as well.

Truex now turns his sights to the Paper Clip.

The Joe Gibbs driver four of the last eight races at the short oval from the front row, scoring two poles.

He has four consecutive top 10 finishes in the playoff race, including a second in 2017 and a third last year.

Truex has one stage win and three top 5 finishes in the last five Martinsville races.

Joey Logano

Joey Logano finally scored his first career win at Martinsville last year, after 20 tries.

He had a dominant showing, leading 309 laps and scoring a second and a first in the stages.

This result qualified him for the Homestead finale, which he eventually won to secure the championship.

Logano has shown plenty of pace at Martinsville and has never started lower than 10th since joining Penske in 2013.

The reigning Cup Series champion started seven of the last ten Martinsville races from the front row, scoring five poles.

Chase Elliott

Chase Elliott is also looking for his first career win at Martinsville.

The Hendrick Motorsports driver has a solid record at the track, however.

Elliott has one stage win and led a total of 192 laps in the last five starts.

He finished a solid third in March this year, leading 49 laps.

Elliott has four top 10 finishes in the last five races at the track.

First Data 500 – Odds

The odds for the First Data 500 are provided by DraftKings, bet365 NJ, and Unibet NJ.

Good luck!