The 2023 NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs have begun in earnest with last week’s race at Darlington marking the beginning of the Round of 16. Kyle Larson took home the checkered flag at the Cook Out Southern 400 and was able to upend pole position leader Christopher Bell thanks to a solid late-race performance. Meanwhile, the trio of William Byron (fourth), Tyler Reddick (second), and Chris Buescher (fourth), rounded out the top of the field at Darlington. For this week’s upcoming race in Kansas City, Byron will look to continue his winning ways after notching the regular season NASCAR Cup Series title. Meanwhile, veterans Martin Truex Jr. and Denny Hamlin are among the other favorites slated to make a big splash at the Kansas Speedway.
For this report, SBS will be going over what to look for from each driver, along with a predicted race winner and more notes about NASCAR wagering.
| Favorites to Win The 2023 NASCAR Hollywood Casino 400 |  |  |  |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kyle Larson | +400 | +400 | +400 |
| Martin Truex Jr. | +500 | +500 | +500 |
| William Byron | +500 | +500 | +500 |
| Denny Hamlin | +550 | +550 | +550 |
The winner of the Cook Out Southern 500, Larson has shown he can win consistently this season with two regular-season victories at Richmond and Martinsville. Following his victory at Darlington, he positioned himself as perhaps the leading contender in this year’s NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs, securing the victory over Hamlin (who led the most laps during the race) and others. During the race earlier this year in Kansas City, Larson was able to perform very well, leading the most laps during the AdventHealth 400 and finishing in second place.
Coming off a disappointing 18th-place finish at Darlington, Truex Jr. is seeking a rebound performance after notching three victories during the regular season. After beginning the 2023 season with a so-so start (Truex did not win his first race until May), he steadily started accruing top-10 finishes at a steady pace. This includes a late-season stretch where he notched six top-10 finishes in a row. Perhaps this is the race where he bounces back like he had during the season.
The regular season champion, Byron has had an excellent 2023 campaign, notching the most first-place outings in NASCAR this year with five. The regular season champion is coming off a fourth-place outing, which was good for his 10th top-five finish on the season. Indeed, Byron knows how to score well and is in a position to do so once again in Kansas City. Moreover, he finished in third place at this racetrack earlier in the season.
A NASCAR veteran, Hamlin had a tough outing last weekend, finishing in 25th place. This could be his big comeback race and a much-needed boost for his Cup Series title aspirations. In fact, he won the race in Kansas City earlier this year and has usually performed well at this racetrack in the past. That said, after he won in Kansas back in May, he did follow up that performance with a 12th-place showing.
Prediction: A wide-open field, Byron is primed for another win given his penchant for finishing near the top of the leaderboard.
Once you have been all squared away regarding your NASCAR wagers this time around, make sure to also tap into the wide variety of resources at your disposal at SBS. For instance, the NASCAR betting sites rundown has your back with all the latest betting markets and news on the sport. Conversely, for those on the go and in the spirit of moving fast like NASCAR, our best betting apps breakdown is a great place to learn more about mobile betting sites and make the most of them. On this page, you can find more tips about mobile wagering and how to maximize your experience. Finally, if you are looking to get the most out of your bets, then the best bonus betting sites guide is a fantastic place to learn about the latest welcome bonus offers available to you.
About the Author
As a devout aficionado of sports, Chris Boline has carved a career within the athletic realm. A skilled scribe, he boasts a decade-long portfolio that encompasses coverage of the NBA G League, the Los Angeles Chargers, football and basketball across the country. Beyond his professional pursuits, Chris is deeply invested in his community and dedicates his leisure hours to serving on boards, collaborating with community organizations, and cherishing the company of loved ones. CURRENTLY Business Development and freelance sports writing RESIDES IN Reno, NV EDUCATION University of Nevada BS and MBA EXPERTISE -Sports writing proficiency in: NFL, NBA, UFC, boxing, golf, and some motor sports -Topical news -Promotional and marketing ideas/updates -Business development Summary Chris Boline serves in a business development sales capacity as his day job. He has previously held sales/marketing positions with The Applied Companies (TAC), KTVN 2 News and the NBA G League’s Reno Bighorns, affiliate of the Sacramento Kings. He is a Reno native and is a member of various community boards including the Nevada Sagebrush Alumni Chapter, NCET and the College of Business Alumni Association (COBAA). Chris graduated from the University of Nevada in 2015 with a bachelors in management and economics and also earned his MBA from Nevada in 2023. More about Chris: Past president of the College of Business Alumni Association (COBAA) 2022-23 Two-time honoree for University of Nevada Alumni Chapter of the Year (Nevada Sagebrush Alumni Chapter, 2017 & COBAA, 2021) 2021 NCET award for Professional Services Organization of the Year with TAC Northern Nevada Human Resources Association 2020 Best Places to Work-Northern Nevada, Second Place with TAC 2016-17 Reno Bighorns MVP from the Sacramento Kings The Nevada Sagebrush editor-in-chief 2013-15 Associated Collegiate Press 2015 Four-year Non-daily Newspaper Pacemaker honoree University of Nevada, Reno College of Business Dean's List honoree (5x) from 2011-2015 Nevada Press Association award for Best Sports Column – Community in 2015 Education
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