This is the part of the season that NASCAR fans have been waiting on. With only 10 races left, that means it's time for the playoffs to get started and there are 16 drivers who are hoping to make a push for the title. With that being said, there are surely some standouts who are in a better position. Entering things, Kyle Larson is the favorite to win the 2024 NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs. Will he get the job done?
Larson has been on a tear throughout the season and he's hoping to make a statement. Countless experts out there think that Larson is going to make a statement in the playoffs and it's hard to argue with that. Larson has proven time and time again that he has what it takes and right now his confidence is quite high. At the same time, he also wants revenge after losing out on the regular season title.
| NASCAR playoffs |  |  |  |
|---|---|---|---|
| Larson to win | +350 | +350 | +350 |
| Hamlin to win | +450 | +450 | +450 |
| Bell to win | +475 | +475 | +475 |
| Reddick to win | +600 | +600 | +600 |
“I mean, it’s not just that one,”Larson told reporter Bob Pockrass about not winning the regular season title. “I could’ve finished at Michigan, or finished at Iowa, or finished at Chicago, and not even had it been close today. So no, I don’t really look at Indy as being the reason why. That’s just part of my season. I wouldn’t give up running the Indy 500 for you know, five bonus points.”
According to the best sports betting sites, which includes the reliable Bovada sportsbook review, Larson holds +350 NASCAR betting odds to win the title. There's a great reason for that, as he's a brilliant driver. Now, soon enough, we'll find out if he'll be able to take down the rest of the field. It wouldn't be a surprise if that happens, but we're going in a different direction for our selection.
20 drivers in NASCAR history have led 200+ laps in a Cup race 10 times or more
Of these 20 drivers, none have a worse win % when doing so than Kyle Larson (27.27%) pic.twitter.com/UJFuhZB8WR
— Trey Ryan (@TreyRyan99) September 3, 2024
Denny Hamlin is our pick to win the NASCAR playoffs title
Believe it or not, Denny Hamlin is our pick to win the NASCAR playoffs title. Larson is No. 1 in terms of the online betting odds for a good reason, but Hamlin is in the mix of things too. Countless analysts have Hamlin as the second favorite to win the title, which makes a ton of sense. Hamlin, similar to Larson, has been quite impressive this year.
Throughout the racing campaign, Hamlin was able to post three wins in big-time races, which is great. He's the No. 2 ranked driver in NASCAR behind Larson, which speaks volumes to his potential in the playoffs. Yes, Larson has plenty of people in his corner to win it all, but Hamlin is going to hope to prove a lot of people wrong as well. He's also excited about his partnership with NBA legend Michael Jordan.
September 21, 2020: Michael Jordan and Denny Hamlin announce they're forming 23XI Racing.
September 1, 2024: 23XI Racing driver Tyler Reddick wins the NASCAR regular season championship. pic.twitter.com/HKtjyTJl5J
— NASCAR on NBC (@NASCARonNBC) September 2, 2024
"You can tell how nervous and into it he was," Hamlin said about Jordan attending a recent race. "It's fun knowing that someone that has been in the most pressure-packed situations as a professional athlete. When I'm out of races and I'm watching races conclude and I'm watching the No. 23 (Bubba Wallace) and the No. 45 (Tyler Reddick), you do get way more nervous because you can't control it."
According to the top-rated sportsbooks, which includes the reliable BetOnline sportsbook review, Hamlin holds +450 betting odds to win the NASCAR Cup Series title. These aren't as strong as Larson, but it shows that Hamlin indeed is right in the mix of things. Throughout the next 10 races, Hamlin will look to keep improving his odds. We think he will, as Hamlin is our pick.
Christopher Bell is also in the hunt to win the NASCAR playoffs championship
While there's a lot of attention on Hamlin and Larson, Christopher Bell is also in the hunt to win the NASCAR playoffs championship. Bell has proven to be an electric driver and he also is dreaming of winning the playoff hunt. Everyone is chasing Tyler Reddick, as he was the one to win the regular season championship.
However, Larson, Hamlin and Bell are the top favorites with the playoffs here. Remember, there are only 16 drivers who remain in the hunt. The field is quite loaded and talented from top to bottom. Bell is not someone who can be forgotten about here. He might not have the same kind of flash as Larson, but that doesn't matter.
He's the kind of driver who can surprise a lot of people and he's got a great work ethic too. Soon enough, Bell and the other drivers will get behind the wheel and look to get the playoffs off the right way. While we don't think Bell will be the last man standing, we do think he'll be ready to make some noise here. Keep an eye on him, no doubt.
