It's Talladega time.
NASCAR Cup Series racing at Talladega is wild due to drafting and pack racing and could have a major impact on which playoff drivers move on to the round of eight.
NASCAR odds for Talladega are also longer than we typically see at non-drafting tracks, especially for the favorites.
To be honest, I have little interest in getting too heavy on this race because it's simply too unpredictable for my liking.
Still, that doesn't mean there aren't spots to find value in the latest NASCAR odds for Talladega either.
With this in mind, I'm picking off one driver who has performed very well at drafting tracks in the Next Gen Era in both the outright and top manufacturer markets.
NASCAR Pick for Talladega
*NASCAR odds as of Sunday morning
Here are the top-five drivers in terms of driver rating at the drafting tracks of Daytona, Talladega and Atlanta in the Next Gen car: Ryan Blaney, Chase Elliott, Joey Logano, William Byron and Aric Almirola.
Unsurprisingly, each of these drivers is available at 18-1 odds or shorter for today's race at Talladega.
On the other hand, Erik Jones, who sits sixth in driver rating at these tracks, is currently listed at 33-1 (bet365) to win this afternoon.
In addition, Jones ranks fifth in average finish, has the eighth-best average running positions and is tied for eighth in laps led over the past two seasons as drafting tracks.
Again, this is not a race that warrants a large betting card in my book, but in Jones we're simply getting a driver who has performed like a favorite at Daytona, Talladega and Atlanta but is not being priced like one today.
As a result, I'm grabbing a piece of Jones to finish as the top Chevy at 12-1 odds while also sprinkling on him outright at 33-1.
The bets: Erik Jones (12-1) for Top Chevy & Jones (33-1) to win — both via bet365
