NASCAR 2019 Pennzoil 400 Odds & Picks: Harvick Listed as Favorite

• The 2019 NASCAR 2019 Pennzoil 400 is scheduled for March 3rd at 3:30 pm EST
• This will be the first of two races at Las Vegas Motor Speedway in Nevada
• Harvick is the defending champion while Martin Truex Jr. won this race in 2017

The 2019 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series will make its first of two scheduled stops in Las Vegas this season with the Pennzoil 400 set to take place this Sunday afternoon. The race will get under way at 3:30 p.m. ET. After watching Brad Keselowski earn a hard-fought victory last week, can he double-up and earn a second straight win?

2019 Pennzoil 400 Odds

*Odds taken on 02/27/19

Harvick Has a Good Shot

Harvick has had a good start to the season, so it’s no surprise that he’s among the favorites to win this week’s race. He’s coming off a fourth-place result at last week’s Folds of Honor QuikTrip 500 and also won The Duel #1. Yes, the Daytona 500 result (26th) was not what he wanted but the race was messed up by the big crash.

Take another look at @KevinHarvick‘s pass for the lead!

The end of Stage 2 is up next on FOX. pic.twitter.com/r4960DPDKM

— NASCAR (@NASCAR) February 24, 2019

You have to like Harvick’s history on this track as he’s won two of the last five races that took place at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. He also led for a total of 214 laps over that span.

Can Keselowski Go Back-to-Back?

Keselowski had a slow start to the season with an 18th, a 20th and 12th-place result in his first three starts. However, everything changed last Sunday with a win at the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series race at Atlanta.

Retweet to congratulate @keselowski on his win at @amsupdates!#FOHQT500 | @Team_Penske pic.twitter.com/SIs2f37usy

— NASCAR (@NASCAR) February 24, 2019

Keselowski started 19th last week but maneuvered his way to the front of the pack, leading for 33 laps. He has a great track record here as he’s won three of the last six races at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, including this very race in 2014 and 2016. It’s hard for any driver to go back-to-back, so maybe a Top 5 or Top 10 prop is a smarter bet.

Truex Jr. Could Cash In

Similar to Keselowski, Truex Jr. didn’t fare well at the Daytona 500, but he showed up in a big way in Atlanta, placing second. He fell just short last week, leading for just four laps.

“It’s not his job to let anybody go.”

Martin Truex Jr. was upset with the way Ricky Stenhouse Jr. raced him late Sunday in Atlanta. @KyleLarsonRacin responded on #NASCARAmerica Splash & Go. pic.twitter.com/LxIaaB6qSM

— NASCAR on NBC (@NASCARonNBC) February 26, 2019

Taking a look at the bigger picture, Truex has trended in the right direction of late as he has finished fifth place or better in four of his last seven races overall. He’s also finished fourth or better in four of his last five appearances at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.

Pass on Kyle Busch

Busch was the runner-up in last year’s Pennzoil 400 and he has produced top-seven finishes in four of his last six starts. However, he is coming off an extremely rough weekend in Atlanta in which he was forced to use his backup car after crashing in the final practice. Then he crashed again during the actual race.

Kyle Busch takes P2 from Truex, Jr. #NASCAR #FOHQT500 pic.twitter.com/7CXvlvpHY2

— JJ (@TomcatNASCAR) February 24, 2019

Now Busch and his team will have a lot of work to do just to have him ready and focused on winning this week. While he will always be considered among the sports betting favorites to win on a weekly basis, there are better weeks to back him. He hasn’t won in Las Vegas in nine straight starts and has just one win in his last 15 appearances.