The 2024 NASCAR Cup Season has made its way to the final race of the season. It is now time to crown the 2024 champions, but before I get into the Best Bets for the championship race, I want to say THANK YOU!!! My goal every year is to provide you the best picks and teach you a little bit about how to bet on NASCAR. I appreciate you giving me the chance to be your “Fantasy NASCAR Crew Chief.” The 2024 season is almost complete and I already cannot wait for the 2025 season. Now onto Phoenix…
DRAFTKINGS ODDS PHOENIX
* The odds are from DraftKings Sportsbook. The odds could change between the time of this article and the time you place your bet.
BETTING STRATEGY FOR PHOENIX
This is not the race to make money with your wagers. Five of the last six championship races have been won by one of the four championship drivers: Joey Logano (2022), Kyle Larson (2021), Chase Elliott (2020), Kyle Busch (2019) and Joey Logano (2018). We did get Ross Chastain in Victory Lane last year, but the odds are high that the race will be won by Ryan Blaney, William Byron, Tyler Reddick or Joey Logano Sunday. The problem is that the sportsbooks know this and they are not offering much return on a bet with these four drivers.
I already have $100 on William Byron (+650) and Joey Logano(+1400). It is the fourth consecutive season that I have picked two of the four drivers before the season starts in my “Best Bets for the Championship” article. Obviously, I am a HUGE Joey Logano fan, since I will cash a $1,400 ticket if the No. 22 car finds Victory Lane. I also would not be upset if William Byron earned me $650 on my preseason wager.
I will hedge my bets this week and bet $50 on Ryan Blaney (4-1) to return $200 and $30 on Tyler Reedick (8-1) to return $240. I will also bet $20 on Christopher Bell (5-1) to return $100. I suggest you bet the same way if you used my preseason bets.
The best way to bet if you did not make any future bets to win the championship is to use the Best Bets listed below.
BETTING CARD FOR PHOENIX
CHRISTOPHER BELL (+500): Bell has been the best driver on the short, flat tracks that are similar to Phoenix. He won the March race at Phoenix, won again at New Hampshire, finished 4th at Iowa, 7th at Gateway and 6th in both races at Richmond. Bell has an average finishing position of 4.1 at these tracks and the No. 20 car has averaged 70 laps led per race. Bell is going to be tough to beat Sunday at Phoenix.
TYLER REDDICK (+800): Reddick is my pick to win Sunday. He led the most laps, score 19 of the 20 Stage Points and finished 10th in March at Phoenix. The only reason why he did not win the race is because he got into the fender of his boss (Denny Hamlin) at the end of the race. Joe Gibbs Racing dominated that race in March. They will be up front blocking for Reddick Sunday and helping him win his first chances. They watched the Chevy’s do it last weekend at Martinsville and JGR has a “what comes around goes around” mentality. Reddick should be the favorite in my opinion.
ROSS CHASTAIN (+1600): Chastain broke the streak of championship four drivers winning the last race of the season when he went to Victory Lane at Phoenix last year. Can he do it again? Chastain did not have a lot of speed early in the season at the short, flat tracks, but the No. 1 car has been improving in each race. Chastain finished 5th at Richmond in August and that race is a test for the race at Phoenix. Chastain is not going to move over for anyone (unless they are William Byron racing for a chance to advance to Phoenix). Chastain is a good bet for 16-1 odds Sunday.
* I know Ross Chastain will be without his crew chief and spotter. I am sure they will find someone to fill in for them.
CHASE BRISCOE (+3500): Briscoe won in the Gen-7 car at Phoenix in 2022. He has been good on the short, flat tracks in his career. He looked really good for most of the race last week at Martinsville. This is the last race for this Stewart-Haas Racing team. I am sure it will be an emotional race for them and they should be extra motivated to win. 35-1 odds on a driver who won at Phoenix not long ago is too good to pass up.
Good luck Sunday!
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