NASCAR Big Machine Hand Sanitizer 400 Odds and Picks

• The Big Machine Hand Sanitizer 400 will take place on Sunday, July 5th, at Indianapolis Motor Speedway in Speedway
• Kevin Harvick and Denny Hamlin are fresh off strong weekend, each finishing first or second in both races at Pocono.
• See the odds for top contenders and best bets for the race, below

After a weekend at Pocono Raceway, the NASCAR series now shifts to Speedway, Indiana, for the Big Machine Hand Sanitizer 400. The drivers will take to the legendary Indianapolis Motor Speedway on Sunday, July 5th, at 4:00 PM ET for the 160-lap race.

Kevin Harvick is the defending champ here and enters the weekend as the +450 co-favorite along side Denny Hamlin, but is he a good bet to win again?

2020 Big Machine Hand Sanitizer 400 Odds

Odds taken July 1st.

Harvick Is Red-Hot

Kevin Harvick had been somewhat sluggish entering last weekend. He had placed 10th or worse in five of his previous six. However, he kicked it up a notch at Pocono, winning on Saturday and then placing second on Sunday. The Sunday showing was particularly impressive as he started 20th but finished second.

I’m going to stick with him this week as he does well at Indianapolis, historically. He won the 2019 race and has now placed in the top-eight spots in six straight there. He’s placed in the top 10 in 13 of his last 18 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. From the favorites group, he’s the driver I’d be looking at.

Hamlin Should Fare Well

I wouldn’t be betting on Hamlin to win this race outright as he’s never won at Indy. However, he is generally consistent there and that’s a good sign. Taking a look all the way back to 2012, Hamlin has six finishes in the top six spots in eight starts.

Hamlin is on a roll these days as he’s placed in the top-four spots in four straight races. That includes a win last Sunday at the Pocono 350 as well as a win in Miami on June 14^th. I’m looking for another strong showing from him here.

Bowyer for a Top 10

Admittedly, this is a bit of a dart throw. It’s hard to find drivers who do consistently well at Indy from the longshot category. Bowyer’s finished fifth in back-to-back starts here and in the top-six spots in three of his last five. Overall, he’s on a bit of roll with an eighth and a seventh in last week’s races at Pocono.

Past 5 Winners at Big Machine Hand Sanitizer 400

Pass on Busch

There is going to be a lot of love for Kyle Busch this weekend and I can understand it. He has won this race twice and placed second two more times. However, that four-race stretch happened across five starts several years ago; he’s placed 10th or worse in seven of his other 10 outings here.

Taking a look at his recent track record, he finished 37th in 2019, eighth in 2018, and 34th in 2017. I’m just not sure he’s worth it given that he’s up there with the favorites this week.