NASCAR iRacing North Wilkesboro 160 Odds, Picks: Best Bets for the Pro Invitational Series Finale on Saturday

NASCAR iRacing North Wilkesboro 160 Odds, Picks: Best Bets for the Pro Invitational Series Finale on Saturday article feature image
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Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images. Pictured: Denny Hamlin, driver of the #11 FedEx Delivering Strength Toyota, races during the eNASCAR iRacing Pro Invitational Series Finish Line 150 at virtual Dover International Speedway

  • Timmy Hill is the favorite to win Saturday's NASCAR iRacing Pro Invitational Series North Wilkesboro 160.
  • William Byron, the winner of the past three NASCAR iRacing races, is not racing at North Wilkesboro.
  • Learn about two best bets picks for today's race at North Wilkesboro Speedway.

In the final race before cars return to the track on May 17 at Darlington Raceway, the Pro Invitational Series will visit North Wilkesboro Speedway.

Not familiar with it? Again, you're not alone.

While attending Appalachian State University in Boone, N.C., I passed this racetrack more times than I can count, however, the NASCAR Cup Series has not hosted an event at North Wilkesboro since Sept. 26, 1996.

But thanks to iRacing, this track is coming back to life, albeit digitally, for Saturday's North Wilkesboro 160 (3 p.m. ET on FOX, FS1 and FOX Sports app).

The big news this week is that a handful of Pro Invitational Series regulars are sitting out to get ready for Darlington, including William Byron, who has won the last three races.

This opens the door for other drivers to make their way to victory lane, and here are two that I'm betting to do just that.

NASCAR iRacing North Wilkesboro 160 Odds, Picks

*Odds as Saturday at 7 a.m. ET

Denny Hamlin (+700) to Win

When Hamlin is engaged, he's one of the best at iRacing and boy has he been engaged this week.

North Wilkesboro is new to iRacing, meaning everyone came into this week with the same amount of experience at the track … none.

That provides a huge advantage for the drivers putting in practice time this week, and Hamlin has been making plenty of laps at virtual North Wilkesboro to prepare for today's race.

In Hamlin we get a very experienced sim racer, who is putting in the time to get ready, in a race without Byron. Be sure to shop the market and grab nothing short of 7-1 odds.

[Bet now at DraftKings. NJ, PA, IN and WV only.]

Ryan Preece (+700) to Win

Preece has quietly been one of the best drivers in the iRacing Pro Invitational Series, leading the second-most laps (trailing only Byron) this season.

He has also been seen practicing throughout the week at North Wilkesboro, giving us a second skilled sim racer making sure he's prepared for raceday.

In addition to Byron not racing, the Pro Invitational Series' second-best performer, Timmy Hill, has to start the race at the rear of the field after finishing in the top three last week.

The combination of Preece and Hamlin gives us two drivers who can take control of this race early, which is huge in short, caution-filled iRacing events.

[Bet now at PointsBet. NJ and IN only.]

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