Sportsbook Tabs Kyle Larson With Top NASCAR Cup Series Title Odds; Christopher Bell Looks Forward; Team Penske’s Pilots On Different Playoff Spectrums

Christopher Bell knows the route to next month’s Championship 4 race. The NASCAR Cup Series driver transversed the territory last year at Homestead-Miami Speedway, winning the Round of 8 event. 

Can he repeat by earning Sunday’s Straight Talk Wireless 400 title? 

To advance, he’ll likely need to look forward and not back at last weekend’s disappointment, his second postseason runner-up finish at Las Vegas in a row. After capturing the pole and leading for a race-high 155 laps last Sunday, Bell finished 0.662 seconds behind race winner Joey Logano. 

“Immediately after the race, I was just completely dejected,” Bell told NASCAR.com. “Fast forward to (Monday) … I was feeling pretty upbeat and ready to move on.” 

Bell, who ranks No. 2 in the playoff standings, enters Homestead-Miami’s lone National Series weekend this season 42 points above the cutoff line. 

Kyle Larson (+260) tops the circuit’s championship odds, per BetOnline Sportsbook. 

After what he called the biggest loss of his career, Christopher Bell redeemed himself one week later by winning at Homestead-Miami.

Will he do it again? #NASCARPlayoffs pic.twitter.com/7ZEXfzpW5J

— NASCAR on NBC (@NASCARonNBC) October 23, 2024

1 Team Penske Pilot Soars, 1 Crashes 

While Joey Logano capitalized on crew chief Paul Wolfe’s cunning call to edge Bell and capture last Sunday’s Round of 8 opener, Team Penske teammate Ryan Blaney crashed out, putting his title defense in jeopardy. 

Logano, a two-time series champion, qualified for his Cup-leading sixth Championship 4 race at Phoenix. Wolfe made the call to not pit and stretch the No. 22 Ford’s fuel supply.  

Wolfe earned a new nickname. 

“We call him ‘Big Ball Paul’ now,” Logano said, as reported by NASCAR.com.  

With 41 wins, Wolfe became the winningest active Cup chief. 

After initially failing to qualify for the Round of 8 following the Charlotte ROVAL race, Logano received word hours after the race that Alex Bowman received a disqualification and that the No. 22 Ford team would advance. After the Round of 8 opener, Logano became the first to qualify for the final four.    

“I don’t know exactly what it is, but I do know that this team rises to the occasion – that’s why I said I’m so proud to be part of them,” Logano said, per Team Penske press release. “It’s not just me driving the car.  

“All those guys realize what’s on the line.” 

Blaney, the reigning champion, knows what’s on the line.  

After getting caught up in the Reddick-Brad Keselowski accident and placed 33rd, Blaney fell to seventh in the points standings, 53 points below the cutoff line. He may need a win at Homestead-Miami or at Martinsville Speedway on Nov. 3 to advance. 

“I’m alright,” Blaney told NBC Sports. 

Las Vegas is always one to remember. pic.twitter.com/w2qTnN4QT2

— Team Penske (@Team_Penske) October 22, 2024

NASCAR Cup Series Championship Odds    

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

*-Odds current at time of publication