Nascar Picks and Predictions: Ambetter Health 400 Best Bets

Nascar is back in the South for another run at the new Atlanta. We go green from Atlanta Motor Speedway on Sunday at 3:00 PM Est for a scheduled 260 laps. Mini-Daytona as it was deemed, raced like a superspeedway last year so that’s how we’ll treat it. With that in mind, here are my Ambetter health 400 Best Bets. 

See the Opening Odds for Atlanta Here

Like the two other supers, there was no practice, just qualifying laps run here, and GIDDY UP! The blue mustangs put on a speed show in qualifying and claimed the top 8 spots. However, since we didn’t get qualifying last season, we really can’t deduce anything about starting position at the new Atlanta yet. I usually like to shotgun the board but his week I’m going lighter than normal.

Ambetter Health 400 Picks and Best Bets

Picking winners at these types of races is almost impossible, and qualifying results have no real effect on value. There are however some decent numbers for these events with certain ones worth taking a look at.

Ross Chastain +1200 (BetMGM) Bet 1u to win 12u

In honor of March Madness and Dick Vitale, Ross was “awesome with a capital A” in Atlanta last year. Not only did he lead over 30 laps in both races; but he finished runner-up in both as well.

The watermelon man was good at Daytona to begin this season finishing 9th. And he’s cracked the top 10 in three of the last four traditional superspeedway races. He’s been in contention in all of those events including here so 12-1 is a number I’m comfortable taking a shot on.

Michael McDowell +105 over Erik Jones (Caesars) Bet 1u to win 1.05u

Plus money on any matchup at a superspeedway is great but this one is even better. Yes, Jones topped McD in both Atlanta races last season but they’ve basically been equal at supers the last two years. And you’ll remember, it’s McDowell with a win at the Daytona 500 in 2021, not Jones.

Fords looked really fast during qualifying and both McDowell and Jones are very skilled SS drivers. Plus money on a matchup I consider fairly even is a must-bet to me.  

Check out my pre-qualifying bets here

Ambetter Health 400 Best Bet

William Byron -105 over Kyle Larson (DraftKings) Bet 3u to win 2.85u

Neither of these two has impressive resumes at Daytona or Talladega but at Atlanta last year; Byron was the much better driver. Byron led 152 laps to Larson’s 1. He won this race, which was 100 miles longer. And prior to wrecking, was running well ahead of Larson during the fall.

They’re both at a disadvantage being down their crew chiefs this week but I believe this hurts Larson more than Willy B. At close to even, and not needing any particular finishing spot, I’m all-in on this matchup.

Always remember that in addition to always trying to win, betting should be fun and done within your means. Good luck with all your wagers for this week’s race and Let’s cash some more tickets!

Featured Image credit: Sean Gardner/Getty Images