There are a lot of firsts for Wednesday night’s NASCAR All-Star Race, one of the sport’s more unusual contests of the year. The biggest change is the venue, with the race moving from Charlotte Motor Speedway to Bristol Motor Speedway for the first time.
The move marks the first time this race won’t be held at Charlotte since 1986. Instead of a 1.5-mile layout, the drivers will be battling on a half-mile oval. This should provide for some bumping during the race.
Another wrinkle on Wednesday will be the 750-horsepower package they will be utilizing. The All-Star race marks only the third time this season that package will be used.
One factor that is staying the same is the format and the $1 million prize to the winner. The field will be made up of 20 drivers, 13 race winners from the past two years, the past three NASCAR All-Star Race winners, three stage winners from the Open race that precedes the main event, and one driver voted in by the fans.
Odds to Win NASCAR All-Star Race
| Driver | Draft Kings | Fox Bet | Ladbrokes |
| Kevin Harvick | 9/2 | 9/2 | 9/2 |
| Chase Elliott | 6/1 | 5/1 | 11/2 |
| Denny Hamlin | 6/1 | 11/2 | 5/1 |
| Kyle Busch | 7/1 | 7/1 | 13/2 |
| Joey Logano | 8/1 | 7/1 | 17/2 |
| Brad Keselowski | 8/1 | 8/1 | 8/1 |
| Martin Truex Jr. | 8/1 | 13/2 | 8/1 |
| Ryan Blaney | 9/1 | 10/1 | 17/2 |
| Kurt Busch | 12/1 | 12/1 | 12/1 |
| Alex Bowman | 20/1 | 20/1 | 20/1 |
| Jimmie Johnson | 20/1 | 20/1 | 20/1 |
| Erik Jones | 22/1 | 20/1 | 25/1 |
| Matt Kenseth | 28/1 | 28/1 | 33/1 |
| Ryan Newman | 40/1 | 40/1 | 45/1 |
| Cole Custer | 40/1 | 66/1 | 33/1 |
| Justin Haley | 80/1 | 80/1 | 90/1 |
Clint Bowyer couldn’t contain his excitement when talking to reporters about Wednesday night’s race.
“It is the All-Star race. One million dollars! Say it with me. It is one of those things where you have been dreaming of the opportunity for a long time.
So who will lead the dash for the cash at the All-Star Race? We take a look at some drivers to consider, and others you should probably avoid.
Drivers to Consider
Brad Keselowski (8/1)
Keselowski hasn’t won the NASCAR All-Star Race, but moving it to Bristol might benefit him most of all. He’s won at the Tennessee racetrack three times. He also finished third at Martinsville and 11th at Phoenix, the other two venues where Wednesday’s race package was used.
Kyle Busch (7/1)
We keep waiting for Busch to win this season, and like most NASCAR fans, we’re stunned that he hasn’t. That might change Wednesday. He told reporters how much he likes Bristol.
“It’s been a good place for us over the years,†Busch said. “We had a good run there in the first race, and I think we can take some notes from that first race and apply them for this week.â€
Martin Truex Jr. (8/1)
Truex’s lone victory so far this season came at Martinsville, so he’s obviously comfortable with this race package. Can he translate that over to the short track at Bristol? With these odds, he might be worth a flyer.
Drivers to Avoid
Denny Hamlin (6/1)
Hamlin’s won four times this season, but has struggled at the racetracks using the 750 horsepower package. He finished 20th at Phoenix, 17th at Bristol, and 24th at Martinsville. He’ll probably struggle at the All-Star Race.
Kevin Harvick (9/2)
Harvick’s been the hot driver in NASCAR of late, but he’s struggled at Bristol throughout his career. He’s finished 10th or worse in his last four races at this short track, and hasn’t finished inside the top five since 2017. As the favorite, he’s not worth the risk.