Dean Etheridge
The 2022 NASCAR Cup Series season is now really hotting up and this weekend the roadshow visits Illinois for the next installment, the Enjoy Illinois 300, and here are our betting picks and race preview.
This time last year was the period that saw Kyle Larson emerge as the stand-out driver and take the series by the scruff of the neck. There is no sign of that happening this year, with Larson struggling to make the same impact he had in last season’s campaign.
Despite that, Larson still retains favoritism from the best online sportsbooks in the betting to be NASCAR Cup Series champion this season. The Hendrick Motorsports driver is +500 to defend the title he won last year. Teammate Chase Elliott is his closest rival, with the 2020 Cup Series champion priced up at +600.
| 2022 NASCAR Cup Series Winner |  |  |
| Kyle Larson | +500 | +500 |
| Chase Elliott | +600 | +600 |
| William Byron | +700 | +700 |
| Kyle Busch | +800 | +900 |
| Denny Hamlin | +750 | +800 |
| Joey Logano | +1200 | +1100 |
| Martin Truex Jr | +1200 | +1200 |
| Ryan Blaney | +800 | +1000 |
| Alex Bowman | +1400 | +1600 |
| Kevin Harwick | +2200 | +2100 |
The latest 2022 Series Cup betting can be found below.
Enjoy Illinois 300; All You Need To Know
Now, let’s take a look at this Sunday’s race, and it’s the Enjoy Illinois 300, held at the Gateway Motorsports Park (also known as the World Wide Technology Raceway) in Madison, Illinois.
- What; Enjoy Illinois 300
- Track; Gateway Motorsports Park/World Wide Technology Raceway
- Where; Madison, Illinois
- When; Sunday, June 5th, 2022
- Time; 3.30 pm ET
The circuit is oval and 1.25 miles long. With this being a 300-mile race, that equates to 240 laps. I’m sure all maths geeks out there could work that bit out themselves!!
This year is the first running of this race. It’s a replacement for the Pocono Organics CBD 325.
Form and the Season So Far
Last weekend saw Denny Hamlin win his second race of the season at Charlotte in the Coca-Cola 600 race. It was a grueling race with numerous incidents. In the end, 413 laps were needed, covering 619.5 miles, making the Coca-Cola 600 the longest race in NASCAR history.
THE COCA-COLA 600 COMES DOWN TO THE FINAL LAP! @dennyhamlin beats @KyleBusch to the line! pic.twitter.com/vFQpUfI9SD
— NASCAR (@NASCAR) May 30, 2022
Quite how Hamlin even made it to the finishing line is a good question. At one stage of the race, he was involved in a pile-up that nearly ended his night. In total, there were 18 yellow flags, and at one stage Kyle Larson was heard saying it was the “worst race of my life” to his pit crew.
Eventually, the pre-race favorite, Kyle Larson managed a 9th place finish. While his teammate and 2022 Series Cup point leader Chase Elliott, registered his first DNF of the season.
The race was yet more evidence of the openness of the current season, and the lack of a dominant driver.
Enjoy Illinois 600 Betting Picks
So who will win this weekend, and can points leader Chase Elliott bounce back after Sunday’s disappointment? Or will Kyle Larson finally get his season on track? I was going to say, back on track, but I’m not sure Larson has even got going yet this term.
With this being a new race there are no stats to look back on to see who performed well here last year. And with it being such an open season, it’s hard to follow form either. One week a guy wins, and the following week he throws in a DNF.
So, I’m thinking the name of the game this week is to throw in some good value picks. We’re going to hedge our bets, so it may be worth claiming one or more of the sign-up bonuses available here at MyTopsportsbooks.
This weekend I’m going for race winner bets and a Top 3 finish. The first name I’ve picked out is that of Daniel Suárez.
Can Daniel Suárez Claim a First Win?
The Trackhouse Racing Team has been in good form this season, with Suarez’s teammate Ross Chastain one of just three drivers registering two wins.
Suárez was looking good on Sunday until his day ended with a collision with Chris Buescher. The Mexican driver later said “we had the fastest car all day.”
I think with both the driver and the team in good form, Daniel Suárez is worth a wager this weekend.
Chase Elliott to Come Good Again
Next, I’m looking at Chase Elliott. Elliott has had a disappointing couple of weeks recently and will be keen to add to his one Series Cup win this season, and also to extend his points lead in the standings.
It also won’t hurt to have a Hendrick Motorsports driver in our list of picks.
Back Bell to Continue Good Form
My third and final pick for this Sunday is Christopher Bell for a Top 3 Finish. The Joe Gibbs Racing driver had a good run at the Coca-Cola 600, finishing in a credible fifth position. So far this season, Bell has four Top 5 finishes and eight Top 10s.
He has yet to win a race. But only has two DNFs against his name. Not the most obvious of calls, but I think Bell is a worthwhile NASCAR betting pick this weekend.
Bell will also have decent odds in the outright race winner market. I wouldn’t be shy in placing a small wager on Bell winning his first Cup Series race of 2022.
