Trent Reinsmith
- What: Bass Pro Shops Night Race
- Date: Saturday, September 16, 2023
- Location: Bristol Motor Speedway in Bristol, TN
- Time: 7:30 p.m. ET
- How to Watch: USA and NBC Sports App
The 2023 NASCAR Cup Series is two weeks into its playoff stage, and Kyle Larson is in first place in the points race heading into Saturday’s Bass Pro Shops Night Race in Bristol, Tennessee. Larson, the 2021 NASCAR Cup Series champion, won the Cook Out Southern 500 and placed fourth in last week’s Hollywood Casino 400. Tyler Reddick, the winner of that race, is right on Larson’s heels in the playoff points race. Reddick finished as the runner-up in the Cook Out Southern 500 in Darlington.
This year’s running of the Bass Pro Shops Night Race is the 126th NASCAR Cup race hosted by Bristol Motor Speedway. Last year, Chris Buescher won on the 1/2 mile oval short track, with Chase Elliott placing second. Darrell Waltrip has the most career wins at Bristol with 12.
Before we look at the odds, betting picks, and predictions for the 2023 Bass Pro Shops Night Race, check out the best betting sites for NASCAR, as well as our tips on how to bet on NASCAR.
Bass Pro Shops Night Race betting picks
Kyle Larson
In 28 starts this year, Kyle Larson has picked up three wins, 12 top-five finishes, and 14 finishes inside the top 10. The driver of the No. 5 Chevy for Hendrick Motorsports, Larson has performed well in the first two NASCAR Cup Series Playoff races, winning the first and finishing fourth this past weekend.
Larson struggled in his first few NASCAR Cup Series starts at Bristol, finishing 12th, 41st, and 24th. However, since 2017, Larson has not finished lower than ninth. He won the 2021 race and placed fifth at Bristol last year. Larson also had a runner-up finish in 2018.
Even if Larson is not your betting pick to win the Bass Pro Shops Night Race, a wager to finish in the top five is one that should be considered.
Denny Hamlin
Despite not winning either of the first two NASCAR Cup Series Playoff races of 2023, Denny Hamlin is not far off the playoff points lead. The driver of the No. 11 Toyota for Joe Gibbs Racing has 2,105 points, putting him 12 points behind Kyle Larson and six points behind Tyler Reddick. Hamlin led the Cook Out Southern 500 for 177 laps before finishing in 25th. Last weekend, he placed second at the Hollywood Casino 400.
Hamlin has a good history at Bristol, winning in 2012 and 2019. In his past two starts on the track, he has finished in 9th place. Hamlin has 10 top-five career finishes in Bristol.
This year, Hamlin has wins at Kansas City and Pocono. He has 10 top-five finishes and 13 top-10 finishes.
William Byron
Currently in fourth place in the playoff points race, William Byron has been performing very well at Bristol over the past two years. The driver of the No. 24 Chevy for Hendrick Motorsports, Byron has finished in third place in the past two races on the short track.
Byron was one of the best short track drivers in 2022 with the best average finish (fifth), and he finished the season tied for the most top-five finishes with three other drivers. However, this year has not been so kind to Byron. He has failed to crack the top 20 in three short-track races.
Overall, 2023 has been an excellent year for the 25-year-old. No one has more wins than Byron (five), and he is also first in laps led on the year with 877. Byron finished fourth at Darlington and 15th in Kansas City.
Best bets to win the 2023 Bass Pro Shops Night Race at Bristol
It’s hard to go against the hot hand when looking for a betting pick for the 2023 Bass Pro Shops Night Race. We will not do that. Our pick to win at Bristol is the betting favorite and NASCAR playoff points leader, Kyle Larson.
Best 2023 NASCAR 2023 Bass Pro Shops Night Race bet: Kyle Larson to win.
See below a list of reliable sportsbooks and choose the best one for you.
