NASCAR: 3 longshot picks to win the Crayon 301 at Loudon

New Hampshire Motor Speedway has produced some unexpected winners in recent NASCAR Cup Series seasons. Who will be the next to win at Loudon?

While New Hampshire Motor Speedway is not generally seen as a “wild card” race track like superspeedways and certain road course are, Sunday’s Crayon 301 has a chance to shake up the NASCAR Cup Series playoff picture.

The two most recent races at the four-turn, 1.058-mile (1.703-kilometer) Loudon, New Hampshire oval have seen surprise winners.

In 2021, Stewart-Haas Racing’s Aric Almirola won from well outside of the playoff picture to secure a fourth straight playoff spot, ending a win drought of nearly three years, and in 2022, Joe Gibbs Racing’s Christopher Bell ended a win drought of a season and a half to secure a victory that he would end up needing to secure his second straight playoff spot.

FanDuel Sportsbook is currently offering fans an instant $200 for betting $20. Who can pull off an upset this weekend? Here are three longshot possibilities.

NASCAR at Loudon: Crayon 301 longshot picks – Daniel Suarez

Daniel Suarez was one position away from keeping Trackhouse Racing Team’s winning streak alive at Atlanta Motor Speedway. Nevertheless, a season-best second place finish was a much-needed good result for him amid recent struggles, and now he is set to head to a track where he has had past success.

As a rookie in 2017, Suarez finished in sixth place at New Hampshire Motor Speedway, matching his best career finish at the time, and this track played host to one of the races during his stretch of four straight top nine finishes last year. Can he make 2023 the third straight year in which a driver ends a long losing streak in Loudon?

NASCAR at Loudon: Crayon 301 longshot picks – Bubba Wallace

New Hampshire Motor Speedway was the track at which things finally started to come together for Bubba Wallace last season. Many argued that it was the best overall race weekend he had ever had in a Cup Series car en route to a much-needed third place finish.

This time around, Wallace finds himself needing a strong run, not just because he once again enters Loudon on a cold streak, but because he is in an unfamiliar position: fighting for a first career playoff spot. Can his third career win be his first ever regular season win?

NASCAR at Loudon: Crayon 301 longshot picks – Ty Gibbs

Combining arguably Bubba Wallace’s best complete race and Christopher Bell’s drought-ending victory, it’s no secret that Toyota have fared well at New Hampshire Motor Speedway as of late.

Let’s not forget that they probably would have been the manufacturer to beat in 2021 if not for the race being started in the rain and the Camry drivers at the front of the field going for a round of synchronized spinning.

With that in mind, could this be the breakthrough weekend rookie Ty Gibbs has been looking for? He still hasn’t finished higher than ninth place in a Cup Series race, but he has upped his consistency as of late and finds himself fighting for a playoff spot. While it may seem cliche, it’s relatively obvious that his speed has been better than his results.

NASCAR at Loudon: Crayon 301 value pick – Brad Keselowski

While +2300 odds may not make him a true longshot, Brad Keselowski has the opportunity to provide bettors with great value this weekend. He owns the second best average finish among active drivers at New Hampshire Motor Speedway and is a two-time winner at the track.

It is no secret that RFK Racing did not have strong year in his first season as a co-owner last year, but they have been much stronger in year number two.

Given the fact that he recorded what was, at the time, a season-high seventh place finish at the track last year, it would appear as though this is a venue at which he should have a great opportunity to end a win drought which has now lasted for more than two years.

Odds and availability are subject to change, so lock in your $200 now!

The Crayon 301 is set to be broadcast live on USA Network from New Hampshire Motor Speedway beginning at 2:30 p.m. ET this Sunday, July 16. If you have not yet begun a free trial of FuboTV, do so today!