NASCAR: Kyle Larson no longer the 2024 championship favorite

As a seasoned NASCAR fan with over two decades of racing passion under my belt, I must admit that this year’s championship race has been quite the rollercoaster. Kyle Larson, the man who had been the outright favorite to win it all, has seen his chances take a tumble after a less-than-stellar performance in the first two races of the round of 8.

Among the eight NASCAR Cup Series title hopefuls, it’s just Kyle Larson from Hendrick Motorsports who didn’t place among the top 10 in any of the opening two races within the championship round.

The driver of the No. 5 Chevrolet holds a significant advantage in playoff points compared to the other seven competitors, making him the front-runner as he started the playoff’s final stage (round of 8) with the highest point total.

Initially, he had a difficult time during the race, causing him to fall back into third position in the overall rankings. This move also places him fifth in the playoff standings, as the drivers ranked just below him have managed victories that secure their spots for the Championship 4.

At the Las Vegas Motor Speedway, Team Penske’s Joey Logano clinched a place in the Championship 4 with a victory during the opening round of 8. Meanwhile, on a sunny afternoon at Homestead-Miami Speedway, Tyler Reddick from 23XI Racing guaranteed his spot in the same championship round by emerging victorious.

As we approach this Sunday’s race at Martinsville Speedway, Larson, previously considered the clear frontrunner for the championship, is now no longer the favorite to secure a second title this year at FanDuel Sportsbook.

Kyle Larson championship odds lengthen

Before the Xfinity 500 race at the 0.526-mile (0.847-kilometer) oval in Ridgeway, Virginia this coming Sunday, there’s a three-way tie for the lead. Brad Keselowski, Austin Cobb (Reddick), and Christopher Bell from Joe Gibbs Racing are all at +340.

In simple terms, Bell currently holds the top position with a 22-point advantage over William Byon from Hendrick Motorsports. At minimum, one racer will qualify for the Championship 4 based on points, and he has already amassed 29 more points than the minimum required to secure a spot.

At Martinsville in April, Byron clinched a victory; he currently holds a seven-point advantage over Larson in contention for the fourth and last Championship 4 position. However, despite this lead, Larson remains ranked above Byron with odds of +600, while Byron is listed at +750.

For this coming Sunday’s race, Kyle Larson and Denny Hamlin from Joe Gibbs Racing are considered joint favorites with odds of +500. However, Hamlin is currently 18 points below the threshold for the Championship 4 and his odds of winning the championship are set at a long shot of +2200.

Full odds for all drivers can be found here. Odds and availability are always subject to change.

Mark your calendars, folks! I’m super excited about this one – catch me tuning in on NBC at 2:00 p.m. ET this coming Sunday, November 3rd. We’re talking live action from Martinsville Speedway for the Xfinity 500 race! If you haven’t already signed up, now’s the perfect moment to jump on board with a free trial of FuboTV and join me in the thrill!

2024-11-01 18:02