The NASCAR Cup Series heads to Nashville Superspeedway for the Cracker Barrel 400, where Kyle Larson, Chris Buescher, and Zane Smith headline this week’s betting picks and value predictions.
Cracker Barrel 400 Picks
Date: Sunday, May 31, 2026
Track: Nashville Superspeedway
Time: 7:00 PM ET
Channel: Prime
A Legacy To Remember
It feels like there aren’t many words remaining to be said that haven’t been said already but yet still not enough words to convey what the Busch family and NASCAR community are experiencing. The loss of Kyle Busch hits hard. Rowdy was the villain we all loved to hate, but we only hated the fact that he was so good. Kyle brought every ounce of passion to the track every weekend. You never doubted that Kyle was out there to win and nothing else. Second place? He’s on his way home already and not even entertaining post-race interviews. That’s just who he was. Off the track, Busch seemed to be an infallible father and husband. The love between Samantha and Kyle was palpable. Kyle’s children were very clearly his world, with Brexton having no problem filling what we all saw as big shoes. His talent remains to be fully realized, but as a NASCAR family, we’re here for it. I’m not sure that this will ever reach anyone in the Busch family, but please know you have my prayers for strength and grace through the transition of losing your hero. I can’t speak for everyone, but as the days click by, I hope to continue to see the strength and joy that Samantha has always exuded, the beautiful smile and cheerful giggle of Lennix, and the amazing talent that Brexton continues to cultivate behind the wheel.
NASCAR and Prime did an excellent job honoring Kyle during their broadcast of the Coca-Cola 600 on Sunday, leaving not a single dry eye in the audience. The Memorial Day festivities were also sobering but necessary and appreciated. Daniel Suarez took the checkered flag after a rain shortened race, dedicating his win to his “amigo,” Kyle Busch. If you haven’t heard the story Daniel tells about Kyle’s impact in his life and his career, I implore you to go take a listen. It’s just one of many heartfelt stories that tell the truth behind the man Busch truly was.
Where Are We Headed This Weekend?
While Busch is no longer a contender on the track, his legacy lives on in the races to come including this weekend’s race at Nashville. I chuckled a bit when Corey Lajoie commented how Kyle would just want everyone to get on with it already. I don’t think he was wrong. As hard as these next few weeks and months will be, the drivers and teams will carry on, never forgetting the lessons that Kyle inevitably taught every driver out there. Nashville Superspeedway is actually a track that Dale Jr. had locked Kyle down to win this week. We’ll have to put a pin in that thought, but we can’t forget how his tenacity on these different types of tracks shown through. Nashville is a 1.330-mile concrete tri-oval. It has 2-14 degrees of progressive banking in the turns, 9 degrees on the frontstretch and 6 degrees on the backstretch. It’s a relatively flat track with some good speed. The surface and progressive banking present its own set of challenges in finding the best line for these drivers to run. Much like Dover, the track has transition joints due to being a concrete surface, so it’s not a smooth ride, adding to the challenge of just racing the track, let alone other drivers.
Odds and Value Picks
When it comes to picking a winner at Nashville, it can be a little challenging with only 5 total starts at this track. It’s a newer track on the Cup Series circuit, so everyone is still learning. As I mentioned, there are many similarities to Dover, so you can likely expect similar strengths and challenges from the teams. Current NASCAR betting odds are available at Bovada. Let’s take a look at your potential winners heading into this weekend’s race:
Winner: Kyle Larson (+700)
Larson is statistically our best driver here with an average finish of 5.2. He has 3 top 5s including a win and no finish outside of the top 10. This is a track that could get Larson back to where he’s used to being. Look for him to be working towards victory lane on Sunday.
Mid-Range Pick: Chris Buescher (+4000)
Buescher still doesn’t get the credit he deserves in my opinion. He had an amazing run going at Dover, so I suspect he’ll be able to replicate that here at Nashville. He has a top 5 and top 10 finish here in his last 3 races, and he’s only getting better.
Dark Horse: Zane Smith (+50000)
This guy is going to sneak up on us all. Smith only has 2 starts here but they also resulted in a top 5 and top 10. He’s run better than Hocevar and will likely have a strong weekend if he manages to stay out of trouble.
Points Picture Heading Into Nashville
Smith and many others are looking to capitalize on points this weekend. The 600 threw a wrench in the plans for some of these guys. Let’s take a look at your top 16 after Sunday’s race:
1. Tyler Reddick
2. Denny Hamlin
3. Ryan Blaney
4. Ty Gibbs
5. Chase Elliott
6. Kyle Larson
7. Chris Buescher
8. Christopher Bell
9. Carson Hocevar
10. Daniel Suarez
11. Brad Keselowski
12. William Byron
13. Bubba Wallace
14. Shane Van Gisbergen
15. Chase Briscoe
16. Ryan Preece
Reddick is just demolishing the field, 120 points over second place Denny Hamlin. It’s pretty wild. Although he didn’t win as predicted on Sunday, he came home a solid fourth. That consistency is literally everything. Will he do it again this weekend or will Larson be able to outpace him where he shines on these tougher tracks? Stay tuned and see who will take home the trophy this Sunday at Nashville Superspeedway!
