NASCAR All-Star Race odds, picks and predictions as Cup Series heads to North Wilkesboro

For the first time in 27 years the NASCAR Cup Series will race at the historic North Wilkesboro Speedway in North Carolina, which goes by the moniker of the “Field of Dreams of Racing.”

As part of its 75th anniversary celebration, NASCAR will run at the 0.625-mile oval for the first time since 1996 for its annual All-Star Race. The green flag will drop at 8 p.m. Sunday for the main event, while the All-Star Open will run before at 5 p.m.

The North Wilkesboro Speedway was one of the foundational tracks in NASCAR’s early years, hosting its first race in 1948. From 1951-1996, the speedway, which is about 90 minutes north of Charlotte, N.C., hosted two Cup races per year. Its close racing and unique layout with the frontstretch running downhill and the backstretch going uphill, was a fan and driver favorite, according to NASCAR.

After hosting 93 Cup races during its history, it been rarely used.

After a multi-million dollar renovation, NASCAR will bring its All-Star race to the short track. It’s the 39th All-Star race in NASCAR’s history and the first at the North Wilkesboro Speedway.

Charlotte Motor Speedway has hosted 34 All-Star races -- the most of any track -- with the first one coming in 1985, then 33 straight from 1987-2019. The race moved to Bristol in 2020 during the pandemic; and Texas Motor Speedway has hosted the last two events.

In total, 24 drivers will run in Sunday’s NASCAR All-Star race: The 21 drivers who have already qualified for the event and three additional positions that go to the All-Star Open winner and runner-up as well as a fan vote winner.

Automatic qualifiers include drivers who have won a points event in either 2022 or 2023, drivers who won a previous NASCAR All-Star race and compete full-time in the Cup Series, as well as drivers who won a NASCAR Cup Series championship and compete full-time.

While no current driver has competed in a Cup race at North Wilkesboro, Kyle Larson and Kevin Harvick are tied for the most All-Star wins by an active driver with two apiece. Larson won his races in 2019 and 2021, while Harvick took the checkered flag in 2007 and 2018.

FrontPageBets takes a look at drivers to watch during this Sunday’s All-Star race at North Wilkesboro Speedway.

Pick to win: Kyle Busch (+1000)

Kyle Busch is just outside of the top 10 in driver points this season, but has two victories. He won at Fontana and Talladega, while finishing runner up at the Circuit of the Americas road course.

The driver of the No. 8 Richard Childress Racing Chevy has dominated on short tracks during his career.

In 104 short-track Cup Series starts, Busch has 16 wins, 49 top-5s and 67 top-10s. His average finish on tracks less than a mile is 11.1.

Top-3 pick: Kevin Harvick (+200)

This season, Harvick, driver of the No. 29 Stewart-Haas Racing Ford, is currently ranked third in driver points.

While he hasn’t won this year, he does have four top-5 finishes. His best was runner-up last weekend at Darlington.

Harvick has eight career short-track wins, with an average finish of 12.5. He’s recorded 37 top-5 finishes in 130 career short-track Cup starts.

Top-10 pick: Martin Truex Jr.

Sixth in Cup points this season, Martin Truex Jr. has one win and five top-10 finishes.

The driver of the No. 19 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota won at Dover Motor Speedway three weeks ago.

Truex has six short-track wins in his career and 36 top-10 finishes in 101 starts on tracks less than a mile.

Odds-on favorites to win NASCAR All-Star race

Odd-son favorites to win All-Star Open

(Top two qualify for main All-Star race)

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