NASCAR Cup Series: 3 longshots to win the 2024 championship

As a veteran gamer who has spent countless hours playing racing simulators and attending real-life NASCAR events over the years, I can confidently say that the 2024 NASCAR Cup Series is shaping up to be an exhilarating season finale. After the nail-biting race at Bristol Motor Speedway, Kyle Larson has once again taken the lead in the standings, making him the clear favorite for the championship.

The 12th round of the 2024 NASCAR Cup Series is set to start this coming Sunday afternoon at Kansas Speedway, with the Hollywood Casino 400, sponsored by ESPN BET. This event follows as four drivers who were vying for the championship were officially eliminated during the Bass Pro Shops Night Race at Bristol Motor Speedway on Saturday night.

After a rocky beginning to the playoffs at Bristol, Kyle Larson of Hendrick Motorsports has regained the lead in the standings. This is due to the point resets that occur before each round, which he currently leads with 47 playoff points – a significant advantage over the second-place driver, Christopher Bell from Joe Gibbs Racing, who has 32 points.

Initially, Bell appeared as the top contender for the 2024 championship following his impressive performance in the round of 16 that placed him atop the rankings. However, Larson has once again emerged as the front-runner at FanDuel Sportsbook, with odds of +400 to his credit, surpassing Bell who is listed at +450.

As a gamer, I’m looking at the list of contenders, and there are three drivers with much longer odds than the rest. It’s no shocker, really, because these three drivers wouldn’t have made it to the playoffs based on points if they hadn’t won a race during the regular season.

Here’s a look at all three.

Austin Cindric (+7000)

As a die-hard fan, I can’t help but boast about my favorite Team Penske driver who shone brightest in the round of 16. With an impressive strategy, he managed the worst finish among all drivers, never dropping below the 13th position. The upcoming round of 12 is looking promising for him, given its unique mix of challenges – a superspeedway race at Talladega Superspeedway and a road course race at the Charlotte Motor Speedway Roval. Let’s keep our fingers crossed for another victory!

Chase Briscoe (+8000)

The Stewart-Haas Racing driver didn’t show off much in the 2024 regular season, but his opening in the playoffs bears a striking resemblance to his performance in the 2022 postseason. Back then, he wasn’t flashy during the regular season either, but managed to secure a spot for the postseason with a win and then had a significant advancement.

Two years ago, Briscoe surprised many by advancing to the round of 8 as an underdog. He was even in a strong position late at Martinsville Speedway, a win at which would have secured him a spot in the Championship 4 at Phoenix Raceway. Notably, he had already clinched a victory at Phoenix earlier in the season. Don’t make the mistake of underestimating his determination and the No. 14 team’s grit as Stewart-Haas Racing approaches its final season.

Daniel Suarez (+8000)

With a powerful beginning to the round of 16, the Trackhouse Racing Team driver had enough leeway for a less-than-ideal race at Bristol. Remarkably, this is precisely what happened. He ended up in 31st place, three laps behind the leading lap, but nevertheless advanced.

In the second half of the regular season, Suarez’s performance has significantly improved, with only two results outside the top 18 in the last ten races – one of which was at Bristol.

Honorable mention: Alex Bowman (+3000)

At 3000 odds, the Hendrick Motorsports driver finds himself in a situation where he doesn’t have many direct competitors. The other three drivers are priced at 7000 or higher, while all eight drivers with more favorable odds are listed at 1300 or lower.

However, we don’t view +3000 as an underdog, especially since Bowman is added to the roster alongside the three drivers who are currently below the cutoff for the round of 12.

The previous year, following the initial race in the Round of 8 held at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, Ryan Blaney from Team Penske had the longest odds of all the remaining championship contenders, sitting at +3400. However, he managed to win at Martinsville Speedway, securing his place in the Championship 4, and eventually claimed the title at Phoenix Raceway.

Full championship odds can be found here.

Watch the live telecast of the Hollywood Casino 400, sponsored by ESPN BET, at 3:00 p.m. ET this coming Sunday, September 29, on USA Network. Sign up for a free FuboTV trial now to catch all the action!

2024-09-27 15:02

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