NASCAR is back on a concrete track after last weekend’s dirt race. The sport heads to Virginia’s famed Martinsville Speedway for the NOCO 400 on Sunday, April 16. We have a detailed breakdown of the looming race, plus our favorite driver bets on the 2023 Martinsville winner!
But first things first, let’s take a hard look at the current Martinsville betting odds. These are available at NASCAR’s most-used betting sites. Across the board, the following drivers are favored to win on Sunday the most among the field:
| Riders |  |  |  |
|---|---|---|---|
| William Byron | +600 | +600 | +600 |
| Kyle Larson | +650 | +650 | +650 |
| Christopher Bell | +650 | +650 | +650 |
| Denny Hamlin | +700 | +700 | +700 |
| Martin Truex Jr. | +850 | +850 | +850 |
| Joey Logan | +850 | +850 | +850 |
| Ryan Blaney | +1100 | +1100 | +1100 |
The one thing that jumps out to us are the clear betting favorites. There are six drivers with odds under +1000, which is a lot in this sport. Furthermore, there are four with +700 or shorter lines, which is another rarity. Bookmakers clearly see half a dozen drivers breaking away from the pack in Martinsville.
2023 NOCO 400 Preview
This event has undergone a notable change in the past year. Dating back to 1956, this was a 500-mile race. All that changed in 2022 though when it switched to 400 miles when it was known as the Blue-Emu Maximum Pain Relief 400 (the fall race remains a 500-miler). Thankfully, that mouthful-of-a-sponsor name is no more for 2023. Anyways, here’s a quick preview of what you can expect at the NOCO 400.
Perhaps the biggest effect of a 100 miles shorter race is that it means the race can be run at night. Not only are night races just more aesthetic, but they do also leave a mark on the race. Overtaking became harder on the sticky track due to the lower temperatures — it’s also still early Spring so hot sticky weather is still months away. In last year’s affair, the lead changed all of six times over the 403 miles.
An extra three miles were added because Todd Gilliland hit the wall on Lap 393, forcing overtime. Ultimately, William Byron used the late caution to his advantage. Byron won the 2022 spring race, holding off a late rally from Joey Logano. Rather than pitt, Byron ran overtime with old tires in what proved to be the right move. Perhaps that’s why Byron is such a betting favorite — really, +600 odds are increasingly rare in this sport.
But NASCAR elected to ditch the night race this go-around in favor of the usual mid-afternoon start time. And heck, early forecasts are putting the temperature at 80-or-so degrees Sunday. That means, in many ways, what went down a year ago is thrown out the window. Still, we have some solid inklings on what will determine Sunday’s victor, which we get to next.
Best Bets To Win 2023 NASCAR NOCO 400
There are plenty of bet-able drivers in the field. But our job is to hand-pick the MOST worthy bets among the crowded NOCO 400 competitor list. Two names caught our eye most and they are as follows:
William Byron
Yep, we’re backing the reigning champion on Sunday. But honestly, his performances last year (beyond his win, Byron also finished seventh in the Fall race) is not the main reason we’re putting money on him.
The actual reason is, well, Byron could use a rebound race. Sure, he’s won twice already in 2023 (most among drivers), but he’s had back-to-back bad performances. Byron has finished 24th and 13th over the last two weeks, which puts him out of the top-10 in the Cup Series standings. With desperation seeping in and back on a track he’s comfortable with, Byron could snap back with a big outing in Martinsville.
Christopher Bell
Bell is Mr. Consistency so far in 2023. Of the eight races this season, Bell has placed in the top-6 on six different occasions. It’s this consistency why he’s number-one in the Cup Series standings. And coming off a win at last weekend’s dirt race, ALL the momentum is on Bell’s side, hence this bet.
How To Watch 2023 NASCAR NOCO Race
NOCO 400 will be live-aired on FS1 (FOX’s sister network) on Sunday at 3 pm EST. The easiest way to watch the action unfold is going straight to the TV channel, if you’re in the United States that is.
What if you’ve cut the cord? Welp, FS1 is available in many “skinny” streaming packages — think fuboTV or Hulu + Live Sports. These are great options if you prefer to stream via a phone or tablet. Many of these streamers offer free trials too in case you want to test out the service before committing.
How To Bet On 2023 NASCAR NOCO Race
Ready to place your NOCO 400 bets? You should be if you’ve read everything in this article. A complete list of race bets can be found at one of the bookmakers below. That will include some props too, not just the outright winner. The featured bookmakers are there because they rated as industry leaders in our newest sportsbook reviews.
And one last thing before we let you go: pay close tabs on the different sportsbook bonuses currently available. A few of our favorites are also listed in the table. Thanks to these bonuses, you could bet on NOCO 400 for free. Yes, for free because deals are worth hundreds to thousands of dollars in free play!
