It's All-Star weekend in NASCAR, and business is about to pick up.
The drivers will once again hit the short track scene at North Wilkesboro Speedway to see who is the best amongst them. Unlike Bristol and Martinsville, I anticipate the Heats, the Open, and the All-Star Race to be entertaining.
When the festivities get underway tomorrow on FS1 at 5:30 p.m. ET, my NASCAR race picks expect Chase Briscoe and Ryan Blaney to be just a bit faster than some of their foes.
Get the 411 on all of my free betting picks for the All-Star Race, which starts at 8 p.m. ET. Some books might list both the Open and the All-Star Race, so be careful to select the right one.
NASCAR prop picks for All-Star Race
- Chase Briscoe (-120) over Alex Bowman
- Top 3 Finish: Ryan Blaney (+175)
- Winning Manufacturer: Ford (+180)
NASCAR All-Star Race props and best bets
Chase Briscoe (-120 at bet365) over Alex Bowman
If y'all have been reading my NASCAR prop articles, you know I'm pretty much a Hendrick Motorsports fan boy. The Hendrick cars seem to print cash for me every time I bet on them (unless I'm betting on Chase Elliott). However, I will fade NASCAR's best team when the opportunity presents itself, and my friends, that time is now.
Judging by some of the discourse I've seen on Reddit and X, a lot of folks aren't beholden to the driver ratings when betting on the Cup Series or partaking in NASCAR DFS. That said, as a bettor, I don't mind 'em.
Based on what I'm seeing, Chase Briscoe’s career driver rating on short tracks is notably higher than Alex Bowman's overall average, sitting at 77.7 compared to 67.2.
To me, that's a notable difference right off the hop.
In 2025, Briscoe has managed three Top 10 finishes and two Top 5s, with a best finish of fourth, despite running with a team that has not always shown top-tier speed. Bowman is hit or miss, and unfortunately for us, when we put coin on him in the past, it was worse than when Trent Attyah made the Toronto Maple Leafs a "whale play 🐋" in Game 5 against the Florida Panthers. #SorryNotSorry.
In terms of their head-to-head performances in 2025, Briscoe seems to have the slightest of edges. After all, the numbers don't lie:
- Briscoe’s average finish in 2025 is 15.2, slightly better than Bowman’s 16.9, and he has a stronger head-to-head record against his teammates (19-17) compared to Bowman’s 12-24, which is Bowman’s weakest intra-team performance since 2016.
- Although Bowman has more Top 10s (7) than Briscoe (5), Briscoe has more Top 5s (4 vs. 2).
- Briscoe’s average starting position is also better (14.6 vs. Bowman’s 18.4), which can be significant at a track like North Wilkesboro where track position is vital.
Let's not forget in another of what the haters will call a "B.S. short track race" at Bowman Gray, Briscoe finished second while Bowman finished fifth.
I have Briscoe priced at -150 here, so -120 at bet365 offers some real good value. I'm more than happy to roll the dice here.
Top 3 Finish: Ryan Blaney (+175 at bet365)
I don't know how many people have told me this, but after researching, I agree that Ryan Blaney is a "short track beast."
Blaney’s average finish at short tracks is 15.0, which isn't bad. It won't knock your socks off either. Nevertheless, Blaney has recorded four Top 5 finishes and five Top 10s in the first 11 races of 2025, including a third-place performance at Kansas, where he was the fastest car on track in the closing laps.
Blaney’s 2024 campaign included a clutch win at Martinsville, where he led the final 15 laps to secure a Championship 4 berth.
In other words, unlike Auston Matthews and Mitch Marner, when the bell rings and the time comes to dig in, Blaney is there fighting the good fight.
And, let's be for real, most guys usually view these All-Star Races as gimmicks, despite what they'll say publicly. Yes, there's money on the line, and yes, they do care to a certain extent, but they aren't treating it like the Daytona 500. It's a fun weekend before the Coca-Cola 600.
Our boy Blaney, though, he ain't like that. Brother drives to win each and every race. If he can get close to the front, look out.
I have Blaney priced closer to +120 to finish in the Top 3, so getting an extra 55 cents definitely makes Blaney worth a play.
Winning Manufacturer: Ford (+180 at bet365)
If Blaney makes it into the Top 3, he probably wins this race. Blaney drives a Ford, so what else is there to it? Besides 30-something other cars, not much.
And let's say Blaney shits the bed like the Leafs do in Game 7s. At tracks similar to North Wilkesboro, Fords have led a high percentage of laps and placed multiple cars in the Top 5, even when not always converting to wins.
Seasoned drivers like Brad Keselowski and Chris Buescher are all in top form and have the experience and equipment to capitalize on Ford’s current strengths in short track races, pending they get good track position.
Furthermore, since the introduction of the Mustang Dark Horse and a series of mid-2024 upgrades, Ford has closed the gap to Chevrolet and Toyota, outscoring both in manufacturer points over the last nine races of 2024, and has been doing okay in 2025.
These upgrades have also specifically addressed Ford’s previous short track struggles, with drivers and teams now reporting “spectacular” speed and handling on these circuits.
I'm not saying Ford is the best manufacturer, as anyone who has bought a new F-150 can attest, but they aren't bad either. Getting +180 does present value.
Let's give it a try.
Not intended for use in MA.
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