NASCAR Food City Dirt Race Odds and Picks

• The Food City Dirt Race is set for Sunday, March 28th, 2021 with the race starting at 3:30 PM EST
• This is NASCAR’s first dirt race in more than 50 years
• Kyle Larson is the favorite to win at +250 odds. See the odds for all drivers to win below

The NASCAR drivers are heading to Bristol Motor Speedway for a very special race. The Food City Dirt Race will be NASCAR’s first of the sort since 1970. The race will take place on Sunday, March 28th, 2021 at 3:30 PM EST. Kyle Larson and Christopher Bell are favored to win in the Food City Dirt Race odds.

With a small sample size to work with, which drivers are the best bets to do well in this unique race?

Food City Dirt Race Odds

Odds as of Mar. 25

About the Food City Dirt Race

Before we dive into the picks, it’s important to recognize that this is not a normal race. The drivers are competing on dirt this week, which is not something NASCAR has done since the 1970s. A number of smaller series have competed on dirt so some drivers will have experience, but most will be new to this.

Speaking of experience, while some have raced on this surface before, nobody has really gone 250 laps in this type of vehicle. Some drivers have done midget car racing and truck racing, but this is going to be a whole different animal completely. Getting to the front and staying there is going to be a challenge.

Kyle Larson to Deliver?

Kyle Larson and Christopher Bell have the most experience of anyone on dirt, so that’s why we’re seeing them as favorites here. They’ll also be among our picks.

Starting with Larson, he’s won the last two Chili Bowl Nationals and also claimed a win at the Eldora Truck race back in 2016. To add some context, the Chili Bowl National is basically the Daytona 500 of dirt racing, but it’s raced in midget cars.

Overall, Larson is on fire these days as he currently leads in the NASCAR standings with 234 points, but is listed at +800 in the NASCAR Cup Series odds. Over his last four weeks, he’s finished second, seventh, first, and fourth. He’s driving well, and his car has looked great, leading at least one lap in all but one race this year. Given his recent performance and his experience on dirt, he’s the pick to win.

Pick: Kyle Larson to Win (+250)

Christopher Bell on the Rise

Christopher Bell isn’t exactly a household name just yet but, he’s a driver on the rise. This is just his second season and, he’s making great progress. Last season, he finished 20th and had just two top fives and no wins in 36 starts. This season, he’s already picked up a win and a top five in just six outings.

Bell is a good option to bet this week because he also has plenty of experience on dirt. That includes 26 dirt races back in 2014 alone as well as three straight Chili Bowls from 2017 to 2019 (he won three in a row before Larson’s back-to-back wins).

Overall, he’s been in the Top 10 this year in three of his last five races and this week looks like it should be another. Given his track record on dirt, he’s a good bet to win or place in the Top 10.

Prediction: Christopher Bell Top 10 (-215)