The odds for who will emerge as the 2025 NASCAR Cup Series champion have been updated following this past weekend’s playoff-opener at Darlington. Chase Briscoe notched a win in South Carolina for the second consecutive season.
It wasn’t just any ordinary win, as the No. 19 Toyota wheelman dominated at The Lady in Black. Now, World Wide Technology Raceway will take the baton. Austin Cindric was victorious at Gateway in 2024, and he can lock himself into the Round of 12 with another dub.
With that in mind, BetMGM Sportsbook has released its updated betting lines for which driver will stand above all at the end of the year as champion after all of the action in South Carolina. Here’s where each wheelman stands entering the Enjoy Illinois 300, and the continuation of the Round of 16.
Kyle Larson (+425)
Kyle Larson is usually a threat to win at Darlington year-in and year-out. Not this time around, as he finished P19 on the evening.
Larson has never finished worse than P12 at World Wide Technology Raceway. He’s pining for a win, and Gateway could provide him with one.
Ryan Blaney (+425)
Ryan Blaney was expected to contend for the win at Darlington. However, he couldn’t get going after a spin earlier in the race, and that led to his P18 finish.
Blaney’s always fast at World Wide Technology Raceway. He finished P24 here last season, but he qualified third. Additionally, he has two top-six finishes in three tries.
Denny Hamlin (+450)
Denny Hamlin started on the pole at Darlington, but he didn’t have anything for his teammate in Chase Briscoe. The veteran wheelman ended up finishing P7 on the evening though, not too shabby.
Moving ahead to World Wide Technology Raceway, Hamlin’s been phenomenal at the track the last two times NASCAR has taken the trip to Gateway. He’s finished second each of the past two seasons.
Christopher Bell (+475)
Christopher Bell started seventh and had high hopes for Darlington. They were quickly dashed, as he came home P29 in South Carolina.
While Bell doesn’t have a win at World Wide Technology Raceway, he’s never finished worse than P11. He finished P7 at the track last season.
William Byron (+650)
Darlington is usually one of William Byron’s best tracks. Not this time around, as he came home P21 when the checkered flag waved.
World Wide Technology Raceway has been a mixed bag for Byron. He finished P15 at the track in 2024, so we’ll see what 2025 has in store for him.
Chase Briscoe (+900)
Chase Briscoe dominated at Darlington. He started on the front row and never looked back on his way to another win at The Lady in Black. He’s secured his spot in the Round of 12.
While Briscoe started on the pole at World Wide Technology Raceway in 2022, he’s never finished above P17 at the track. We’ll see if his newfound confidence helps him out this time around.
Chase Elliott (+1000)
Chase Elliott was one of many playoff drivers who didn’t have their best night at Darlington. The Hendrick Motorsport star came home P17 on the evening.
Elliott still doesn’t have a top ten at World Wide Technology Raceway. He’ll need to do better than usual at the track if he’s to get to the Round of 12 this season.
Tyler Reddick (+1200)
Tyler Reddick gave it his all at Darlington. He came up just short, unable to get by Chase Briscoe in the final laps and secure his first win of the season.
Still, it was a promising result for the No. 45 Toyota team. He came home fourth at Gateway in 2024. Perhaps he can follow up an awesome performance at Darlington with a win in Illinois.
Updated NASCAR Cup Series Championship Odds:
- Joey Logano (+1800)
- Ross Chastain (+3000)
- Bubba Wallace (+3000)
- Austin Cindric (+6000)
- Alex Bowman (+8000)
- Shane van Gisbergen (+8000)
- Josh Berry (+10000)
- Austin Dillon (+10000)
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