Federated Auto Parts 400 Power Rankings and Picks: NASCAR Returns to Richmond

BROOKLYN, MICHIGAN – AUGUST 07: Denny Hamlin, driver of the #11 FedEx Freight Toyota, pits during the NASCAR Cup Series FireKeepers Casino 400 at Michigan International Speedway on August 07, 2022 in Brooklyn, Michigan. Sean Gardner/Getty Images/AFP (Photo by Sean Gardner / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA / Getty Images via AFP)

Analyzing the field and key drivers to watch for the upcoming race at Richmond Raceway, here are our NASCAR power rankings and predictions for the Federated Auto Parts 400 on Sunday.

The NASCAR Cup Series will be making its second appearance of the season at Richmond Raceway for the 2022 Federated Auto Parts 400, which is the third-to-last race of the regular season. The competition for playoff spots is intensifying as the season progresses.

Kevin Harvick’s victory in Michigan last weekend has caused a shift in the playoff standings, with two of the top-five drivers now positioned on either side of the cutoff line. Ryan Blaney, currently second in points, is now the last driver in the NASCAR Playoffs field of 16 because he has not secured a win. Martin Truex Jr. is right behind Blaney in points, but his lack of a race win this season puts him at risk of missing out on a playoff spot.

Since NASCAR has already raced at Richmond once this season, bettors now have a data point to analyze the performance of the Next Gen Car. Richmond Raceway is the only 0.75-mile track on the series circuit, making it a unique challenge for drivers. Additionally, the Federated Auto Parts 400 is moving from a Saturday night race to a Sunday afternoon event, which could lead to changes in track conditions and car performance compared to past races.

Take a look at our NASCAR predictions and rankings for the 2022 Federated Auto Parts 400 at Richmond Raceway, with odds from DraftKings, BetMGM, and Caesars.

Federated Auto Parts 400 Race Odds

Federated Auto Parts 400 NASCAR Power Rankings

10. Wallace (+2000 via DraftKings)

Bubba Wallace has been on a hot streak, starting with a top-3 finish at New Hampshire last month. He has continued his success with top-10 finishes in the past three races, including a second-place finish last week after qualifying in first. With the Toyota fleet historically performing well at Richmond, the No. 23 team is expected to be a strong contender on Sunday.

9. Blaney (+1200 via DraftKings)

It could be argued that Ryan Blaney will be feeling the pressure during the Federated Auto Parts 400 more than anyone else. His main rival for the final playoff spot has a strong history at Richmond Raceway. In contrast, Blaney has never finished higher than seventh at the 3/4-mile oval. However, he did achieve a seventh-place finish in the race earlier this year, which is a positive sign.

8. Bowman (+3000 via DraftKings)

Hendrick Motorsports driver Alex Bowman has faced challenges during the summer months, but the No. 48 team has shown improvement lately. Bowman placed 11th at Pocono and finished ninth at Michigan last week. Last spring, Bowman surprised everyone by winning at Richmond. In his last four starts at this track, he has earned two more top-10 finishes.

Betting on the NASCAR Federated Auto Parts 400 at BetMGM has favorites including Martin Truex Jr at +600, Denny Hamlin at +700, and Kyle Busch at +700. The highest ticket percentages are for Truex Jr at 11.0%, Joey Logano at 8.1%, and Hamlin at 7.7%. The highest handle percentages are for Truex Jr at 24.4%, Logano at 12.5%, and Alex Bowman at 6.9%.
— John Ewing (@johnewing) August 11, 2022

7. Larson (+1000 via DraftKings)

In 2017, Kyle Larson secured a victory at Richmond while driving for Chip Ganassi Racing. Despite not returning to victory lane, Larson has achieved five top-7 finishes in seven total starts. Additionally, he placed in the top 10 in the last two oval races leading up to the weekend. With this track record, Larson is considered a strong contender to challenge the favored Toyotas and potentially win on Sunday.

6. Harvick (+1500 via DraftKings)

Momentum can be unpredictable in NASCAR, much like in any other sport. Kevin Harvick broke a 65-race winless streak last weekend, giving him a strong boost of confidence heading into Richmond. Not only does Harvick have “Uncle Mo” on his side, but his track record at Richmond is also impressive. Despite not winning recently, Harvick has shown remarkable consistency with seven top-5 finishes and 10 top-10 finishes in his last 12 starts.

5. Logano (+1600 via BetMGM)

Joey Logano is the only driver from Joe Gibbs Racing quartet at the top of the recent Richmond Raceway average finish leaderboard. His last win at this track was in the spring of 2017, but he has finished inside the top-5 in seven of the last ten races here. With recent finishes of sixth and fourth, Logano is an intriguing option at 16-1 odds.

4. Elliott (+1000 via Caesars)

Last week in Michigan, Chase Elliott and the No. 9 team struggled to find their groove. Despite this, Elliott managed to secure an 11th-place finish, which was likely the best outcome they could have hoped for. Now, as the points leader, Elliott faces a track where he has historically struggled to find consistency. While he ranks seventh among active drivers with at least 10 NASCAR Cup Series starts in average finish position (10.4), he has finished outside of the top 10 in four of his last six starts at this track.

3. Bell (+900 via DraftKings)

In his limited experience at Richmond Raceway, Christopher Bell has consistently performed well with top finishes in each of his four career Cup Series starts. His recent visits to the track have resulted in impressive fourth, third, and sixth place finishes. The No. 20 car has been consistently fast throughout the season, and with Richmond historically favoring Toyota, Sunday’s race is likely to be no exception.

2. Truex (+600 via DraftKings)

Truex went from confidently telling crew chief James Small they would make the playoffs without a win, to suddenly finding himself below the cutline. However, a victory at the Federated Auto Parts 400 would secure his spot without question. The No. 19 team has excelled at Richmond in recent years, with Truex boasting three wins, five top-3 finishes, and no result worse than fifth in his last seven races at the track.

1. Hamlin (+700 via BetMGM)

Denny Hamlin is ranked at the top of this week’s race power rankings for numerous reasons. His victory at the spring race in Richmond, despite not having the best car, stands out. He also finished as runner-up in both Richmond races last year. Hamlin has a 5.2 average finish at the D-shaped oval in his last 10 starts, leading all active drivers. Additionally, his No. 11 car was the strongest on the track last week, with a pit road penalty being the only thing that prevented him from winning.

Where to Bet on the Federated Auto Parts 400

These are our highest-rated sportsbooks:

FanDuel Underscoreg Caesars Underscoreg DraftKings Underscoreg PointsBet BetMGM

Check out UnderscoregReview.com’s community forums and betting tools for all picks, odds, and sports betting news.

The picks for the Federated Auto Parts 400 were chosen on August 12, 2022 at 5:47 p.m. ET.

Written By:
Jenkins Miriam

Henry’s passion for sports dates all the way back to childhood and has ultimately led to a full-fledged career as an analyst and content creator. After getting his start penning fantasy football articles, he forrayed into the betting side of the business in early 2019. His love for sports and statistics proved to be an ideal match with the dedicated research and strategy that handicapping requires. Henry currently specializes in betting analysis and picks for college football, college basketball, and NASCAR. He counts NFL, WNBA, and NBA player props as additional leagues/markets of interest. Henry graduated from SUNY Buffalo in 2021 with a Communication Studies degree and a Psychology minor. A native of the Finger Lakes region in Upstate New York, he and his pup, Harold, have since relocated to Laramie, Wyoming. Thanks to his professional goals within the sports betting industry, there has been a whole lot of steam on the odds for a move to Las Vegas in 2023! Most of Henry’s free time is spent on outdoor adventures, playing chess, snowboarding, or reading a good book. He is also a competitive powerlifter and aspires to qualify for the USAPL Nationals meet within the next 2-3 years.