NASCAR: Christopher Bell no longer the championship favorite

As a die-hard NASCAR fan with decades of racing under my belt, I’ve seen it all – the highs, the lows, and everything in between. And let me tell you, this year has been nothing short of a rollercoaster ride! Kyle Larson, the man who dared to chase his dreams beyond the asphalt, has once again proven why he’s the cream of the crop.

Kyle Larson, representing Hendrick Motorsports, was the top choice among bookmakers to secure his second NASCAR Cup Series title in the 2024 playoffs.

Larson came up short in his quest for the regular season championship by just one point, with Tyler Reddick of 23XI Racing clinching it instead. The missing point was potentially his if he hadn’t decided to prioritize the rain-delayed Indy 500 over the Coca-Cola 600, thus forfeiting the chance to gather points at Charlotte Motor Speedway.

Even after the points reset, I found myself leading the postseason standings. Over the 26-race regular season, I managed to earn a total of 40 playoff points: 20 from my impressive four victories (a series high), 10 from the ten stage wins I shared with another racer, and an additional 10 points thanks to my strong second place finish in the overall standings.

Initially, his performance during the Round of 16 was less than ideal, with an accident at Atlanta Motor Speedway and a subpar showing at Watkins Glen International. This resulted in him falling to ninth place in the overall standings as the first finale at Bristol Motor Speedway approaches.

The current front-runner in Joe Gibbs Racing, Christopher Bell, is now the preferred choice among bettors to clinch the championship, as FanDuel Sportsbook has set his odds at a favorable +400. On the other hand, Larson holds the second spot with odds of +450.

Kyle Larson back as NASCAR Cup Series favorite

Currently, Larson has reclaimed his lead, having dominated 462 laps out of the 500 on the Saturday night race at the Bristol Motor Speedway. This four-turn, 0.533-mile (0.858-kilometer) high-banked track was no match for him, as he clinched victory in the Bass Pro Shops Night Race.

DraftKings Sportsbook now lists Larson at +400 and Bell at +450.

Winning additionally accumulated seven extra playoff points for Larson, bringing his total to 47 at the start of the round of 12. This is a 15-point lead over the next driver (Bell). Bell’s 32 playoff points are a result of his three race victories, ten stage wins, and fourth place in regular season standings.

Indeed, due to his record-breaking fifth victory and two additional stage victories this season, which were the 11th and 12th of the year, Larson surpassed Reddick in accumulated points from all 29 races held this year, despite missing one of those events.

In simpler terms, the Round of 12 is often seen as an unpredictable stage because it includes both a superspeedway (Talladega Superspeedway) and a road course (Charlotte Motor Speedway Roval). Therefore, Larson might want to accumulate as many playoff points as possible beforehand to reduce the chances of a couple of tough races pushing him below the cutoff for the Round of 8.

Full updated championship odds can be found here.

The Kansas Speedway kicks off the round of 12 this coming Sunday, September 29, with the Hollywood Casino 400 presented by ESPN BET. Last time in May, Larson clinched a victory there, which remains the closest finish ever recorded in the NASCAR Cup Series. USA Network will start live broadcasting at 3:00 p.m. ET. Sign up for a free trial of FuboTV today and don’t miss out on all the action!

2024-09-23 16:02