The NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs roar into the Bristol Motor Speedway for the epic Bass Pro Shops Night Race and championship points are up for grabs. Following a strong fourth-place outing at the Hollywood Casino 400, Kyle Larson (2117) finds himself atop the leaderboard after winning the opening race of the Playoffs at Darlington. Trailing him though is Tyler Reddick who won the previous race and is only six points off the leaderboard. Meanwhile, NASCAR mainstay Denny Hamlin is in third place following a great second-place finish in Kansas City after a disastrous 25th-place outing the week prior. Finally, Christopher Bell is a dark horse choice in this race and is looking for his first win of the season since the Food City Dirt Race back in April.
In this report, SBS will be going over what to look for from each driver along with a predicted winner and even more notes about NASCAR wagering.
| Favorites to Win The 2023 NASCAR Bass Pro Shops Night Race |  |  |  |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kyle Larson | +550 | +550 | +550 |
| Denny Hamlin | +750 | +750 | +750 |
| William Byron | +750 | +750 | +750 |
| Christopher Bell | +800 | +800 | +800 |
Currently the reigning points champion, Larson has been very consistent to start the NASCAR Playoffs. During the regular season, the veteran did win two races along with a handful of top-ten finishes but also had his fair share of blowup contests as well. That said, he is in a well-positioned spot to make some noise again in Bristol especially with Reddick and the rest of the pack nipping at his heels.
As noted above, Hamlin is coming off a second-place showing in Kansas City and did an excellent job during the regular season of notching solid outings, multiple wins on the year, and limiting races where he finished in 20th place and above. However, when looking at race patterns for the year, the contest two races after he finishes in 20th place or above usually ends with Hamlin finishing in the middle of the pack (around 15th place or so).
Another racer who has accumulated multiple wins in the year, Byron had a fantastic regular season. With five total victories during the NASCAR Cup Series regular season, Byron was able to string together a ton of consistent performances to earn some recognition as perhaps a top-five driver in all of NASCAR. He is looking to build off a 15th-place finish last weekend as well.
Some betting markets are really favoring Bell in this race even though he currently sits in tenth place in the NASCAR Cup Series standings. During the regular season, Bell was able to accrue multiple top-ten outings and is only about 50 points away from the top of the leaderboard in the Playoffs. If he has a big outing then he could be setting himself up for a championship run.
Prediction: This race is going to come down to whoever is going to make the most critical decisions down the stretch, take Bell to have a surprise outing in Bristol.
After you are all squared away regarding your NASCAR bets for this weekend, make sure to also tap into the wide variety of resources that SBS has in store for you. Of course, for even more information on the topic at hand, our NASCAR betting sites guide is a must-read page for you. Here you can find the latest betting markets on the sport along with some other news and updates. Moreover, given the speed of the sport, a great page to check out is the best betting apps rundown which covers the nuances of mobile betting and how you can stay on top of all the NASCAR action. Finally, for those looking for some higher-stakes wagering, a great page to check out is the VIP sports betting sites breakdown which covers the perks of VIP sports betting and if it might be the right fit for you.
About the Author
Chris Boline is a Reno-based business development professional and freelance sports writer with over a decade of experience covering the NBA G League, Los Angeles Chargers, and national football and basketball. His expertise spans the NFL, NBA, UFC, boxing, golf, and motorsports, along with topical news, marketing, and promotional content. A proud University of Nevada graduate, Chris earned both his BS in Management & Economics (2015) and MBA (2023). He is active in the Reno community, serving on boards such as the Nevada Sagebrush Alumni Chapter, NCET, and the College of Business Alumni Association, where he was past president (2022–23). Notable honors include: - Two-time University of Nevada Alumni Chapter of the Year honoree (2017, 2021) - 2021 NCET Professional Services Organization of the Year (with TAC) - 2016–17 Reno Bighorns MVP, awarded by the Sacramento Kings - Nevada Press Association Award for Best Sports Column (2015) - Former Editor-in-Chief of The Nevada Sagebrush Chris blends his passion for sports with a strong background in sales, marketing, and community engagement.
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