by
We’re exactly halfway through NASCAR’s 2023 regular season — 13 races are down, 13 are remaining. After that, it’s playoff time and there’s big money to be made if you can pick the eventual champion. That’s what we’re doing in this article. Keep reading to get our three favorite bets to become the Cup Series champion!
2023 NASCAR Cup Series Standings
We’ll get to our picks soon, but it’ll pay off to know what the current Cup Series standings even are. Surprisingly, two of the top-three drivers haven’t even won a race this season. In first overall is the win-less Ross Chastain and in third is the soon-to-be retiring Kevin Harvick, who’s also winless. Cody Bell is sandwiched between the two in second place and does have one victory.
If you’re familiar with the NASCAR playoffs, you’re aware that any regular-season victory earns that driver a guaranteed spot in the 16-car playoffs. Bell is in the postseason and so are seven other drivers who’ve already won in 2023 — Denny Hamlin, Martin Truex Jr., Kyle Larson, Tyler Reddick, Kyle Busch, Joey Logano, and Ricky Stenhouse Jr.. That leaves eight playoff spots up for grabs with 13 races remaining.
To no one’s surprise, many of the winning drivers are favored to win the 2023 Cup Series. The betting odds are available at top betting sites for NASCAR and these drivers lead the way (for now):
| Driver |  |  |  |
| Kyle Larson | +700 | +700 | +700 |
| William Byron | +700 | +700 | +700 |
| Denny Hamlin | +800 | +800 | +800 |
| Chase Elliott | +800 | +800 | +800 |
| Christopher Bell | +1000 | +1000 | +1000 |
| Kyle Busch | +1100 | +1100 | +1100 |
| Martin Truex Jr. | +1200 | +1200 | +1200 |
| Joey Logano | +1200 | +1200 | +1200 |
Of course, odds will fluctuate from now to the beginning of September when the Round of 16 starts. Oddsmakers will update the odds at the conclusion of each race.
Unlike last year — the first with the Next Gen Car — there are fewer upsets so far in 2023. Outside of Stenhouse Jr., most of the winners have been proven commodities, not first-time winners as was the case in 2022. But even then, you want your Cup Series bets to be diversified. The sport isn’t kind to bettors that to “all in” on one driver. Keep reading and you’ll get our three-pronged bet for the rest of the way.
Who To Bet To Win 2023 NASCAR Cup Series
Settling on three drivers to bet to win the Cup Series wasn’t easy. We mean, you can talk yourself into betting a handful of drivers here. However, after heavy back and forth, the three drivers up next were MOST deserving of betting action. Allow us to explain:
Kyle Larson
Look, you don’t have to overthink this bet. When Larson is on, he’s probably the best driver in the circuit. He’s won three times this season — two Cup Series races and the most recent All-Star Race exhibition. And in the playoffs, winning becomes a premium. We all know Larson has that killer instinct in him to do so.
Larson just has to find a way not to beat himself. Because of four races he failed to finish, Larson is actually way back in ninth in the standings, 66 points behind Chastain. He can’t have that happen once the postseason rolls around.
Martin Truex Jr.
We’re putting money on Truex Jr. because he’s Mr. Reliable in the playoffs. He missed out last year adjusting to the Next Gen Car, but Truex has locked in a postseason return already. And in his five prior playoff appearances, he’s finished top-2 a whopping four times. Reliable and clutch any way you slice it, which makes him a worthy bet.
Chase Elliott
We’re actually surprised Elliott is as low as +800 to win — tied for second-best odds in the field. Surprised because Elliott has some catching up to do. He missed six races due to a snowboarding accident so even making the playoffs will be a challenge. Still, we expect him to earn one win and get an automatic spot. And once in the playoffs, Elliott has the ability to “run the table” given his own killer instinct.
How To Bet & Watch 2023 NASCAR Season
Every weekend, there’s money to make on NASCAR season betting (races happen weekly on Sundays). This will be the case until November when the playoffs wraps. If you want a one-stop shop to NASCAR gambling in the meantime, start with one of the sites below. The online gambling marketplace is flooded but these sites are industry leaders, as explained in our latest sportsbook reviews.
When picking the best sportsbook to use, we’d encourage you to consider the betting menu of each. By that, we mean what type of NASCAR bets are offered — moneylines, futures, props, and everything in between. You want a bookmaker that offers a variety of racing wagers for you to sink your teeth into.
Last thing before we let you go, we’re reaching the point of the season when NBC takes over broadcast duties from FOX, who’s been televising races up to this point. Starting with the Ally 400 at the end of June, NBC (and its affiliated USA Network) will air the rest of the races this year. Here are some races to look out for:
- August 13 — Indianapolis 200
- September 3 — Southern 500 (playoff opener)
- October 15 — South Point 400 (Round of 8 opener)
- November 5 — Championship 4
