NASCAR

Sportsbook Tabs Tyler Reddick With Top NASCAR Cup Series Championship Odds; Chase Elliott Experiencing Deja Vu; Pole Curse Ends

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Jeff Hawkins
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Jeff Hawkins Sports Editor

Jeff Hawkins is an award-winning sportswriter with more than four decades in the industry, in both print and digital media. He joined the Sportscasting team in 2021 following a decade of freelancing. He spent his early career as a reporter for various newspapers in Illinois, New York, Florida, North Carolina, and Michigan, with a particular emphasis as a beat reporter for the Chicago Blackhawks. Jeff earned his bachelor's degree in journalism from Oakland University. Over the course of his career he earned several sports writing awards, including two national awards from the Associated Press Sports Editors for column writing and news reporting. One of the five prized columns included a commentary on NASCAR's increasing corporate influences, particularly in northern racetracks — commentary which you might find Jeff building on as part of the Motorsports writing team at Sportscasting now.  

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Sports Editor

Published5 hours ago on October 29, 2024

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cup tyler reddick burnout at miami (1)

NACAR Cup Series driver Chase Elliott may have the biggest Round of 8 challenge, but he appears to retain enough confidence to make a run at Sunday’s Xfinity 500 at Martinsville Speedway. As the No. 8-ranked playoff pilot, Elliott needs to make up 43 points or win to qualify for next month’s Championship 4 race at Phoenix Raceway. 

After leading for 81 laps, placing P5 and compiling 49 postseason points at Homestead-Miami Speedway, Elliott enjoyed one of his best rides since winning at Texas Motor Speedway on April 14, 18 events ago. Elliott has experienced this situation before.  

In 2020, Elliott needed to win at Martinsville to advance to the final four. He did – emphatically. Ousting Kevin Harvick from the playoffs, Elliott captured the event at the 0.526-mile oval by 6.222 seconds. Ryan Blaney placed P2. 

“Biggest win ever for us,” Elliott told NBC Sports moments after crossing the start/finish line. “Just so proud. To be able to be backed in the corner like that and have to win tonight. That’s what we’ve been missing these past four to five years – to perform when we don’t have a choice. 

“To do that tonight, I couldn’t ask for a better night. It’s unreal.” 

The next week, it got even more surreal when Elliott, the second-generation competitor, earned the circuit title, according to Caesars Sportsbook. 

Elliott (+5000) now enters the weekend with the longest odds to capture his second championship.

Can he re-live 2020? 

Tyler Reddick Ends Pole-Sitters’ Winning Skid 

Tyler Reddick captured last Sunday’s S at Homestead-Miami from the pole. 

That’s big news.  

Reddick became the third Cup driver in 53 events to visit Victory Lane after starting on the inside of the front row. 

Before Reddick’s Round of 8 triumph, William Byron and Ross Chastain were the only pole-sitters to take a checkered flag over the past 18 months. Byron dominated an accident-free Circuit of the Americas event in March, leading 42 of 68 laps. Chastain won at Nashville Superspeedway on June 25, 2023. 

During that 53-race span, the driver who started second won 10 times.

Reddick (+275)  received the top odds to claim the circuit title.

NASCAR Cup Series Championship Odds    

Here is an early look at the drivers’ odds for capturing the NASCAR Cup Series championship odds, according to Caesars Sportsbook:

Driver NASCAR Cup Series Championship Odds
Tyler Reddick +275
Joey Logano +300
Christopher Bell  +325
Kyle Larson +525
William Byron +900
Denny Hamlin +2200
Ryan Blaney +2500
Chase Elliott +5000

*-Odds current at time of publication

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Author photo
Jeff Hawkins
Sports Editor

Jeff Hawkins is an award-winning sportswriter with more than four decades in the industry, in both print and digital media. He joined the Sportscasting team in 2021 following a decade of freelancing. He spent his early career as a reporter for various newspapers in Illinois, New York, Florida, North Carolina, and Michigan, with a particular emphasis as a beat reporter for the Chicago Blackhawks. Jeff earned his bachelor's degree in journalism from Oakland University. Over the course of his career he earned several sports writing awards, including two national awards from the Associated Press Sports Editors for column writing and news reporting. One of the five prized columns included a commentary on NASCAR's increasing corporate influences, particularly in northern racetracks — commentary which you might find Jeff building on as part of the Motorsports writing team at Sportscasting now.  

Get to know Jeff Hawkins better
Author photo
Jeff Hawkins Sports Editor

Jeff Hawkins is an award-winning sportswriter with more than four decades in the industry, in both print and digital media. He joined the Sportscasting team in 2021 following a decade of freelancing. He spent his early career as a reporter for various newspapers in Illinois, New York, Florida, North Carolina, and Michigan, with a particular emphasis as a beat reporter for the Chicago Blackhawks. Jeff earned his bachelor's degree in journalism from Oakland University. Over the course of his career he earned several sports writing awards, including two national awards from the Associated Press Sports Editors for column writing and news reporting. One of the five prized columns included a commentary on NASCAR's increasing corporate influences, particularly in northern racetracks — commentary which you might find Jeff building on as part of the Motorsports writing team at Sportscasting now.  

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