NASCAR Cup Series Quaker State 400 Predictions & Picks: Who Will Strike First in the Playoffs in Atlanta?

Following an exciting conclusion to the regular season, the NASCAR Cup Series playoffs are here. Today, someone will look to punch an automatic ticket to the Round of 12 as the playoffs get underway with the Quaker State 400 at Atlanta Motor Speedway (3:00 pm ET, USA Network).

In the final two races of the regular season, drivers on the outside looking in held off two-time Cup Series champion Kyle Busch at the end to win and get in. In the Coke Zero Sugar 400 at Daytona, Harrison Burton made a daring pass on the final lap and claimed his first Cup Series win in dramatic fashion. And in last week’s Cook Out Southern 500 at Darlington, Chase Briscoe had a fantastic late restart, surged into the lead, and beat Busch to the line for his second career Cup Series win.

Going into today’s race, this is how the Cup Series standings shake out as the playoffs get underway. Tyler Reddick edged Kyle Larson for the regular season title by a solitary point, but Larson sits atop the standings ahead of Christopher Bell and Reddick.

NASCAR Cup Series Points Standings (Entering the Round of 16)

  • Kyle Larson – 2040
  • Christopher Bell – 2032
  • Tyler Reddick – 2028
  • William Byron – 2022
  • Ryan Blaney – 2018
  • Denny Hamlin – 2015
  • Chase Elliott – 2014
  • Brad Keselowski – 2008
  • Joey Logano – 2007
  • Austin Cindric – 2007
  • Daniel Suarez – 2006
  • Alex Bowman – 2005
  • Chase Briscoe – 2005
  • Harrison Burton – 2005
  • Ty Gibbs – 2004
  • Martin Truex Jr. – 2004

A non-playoff driver claimed pole position for the Quaker State 400. Michael McDowell missed out on a playoff spot, but he is looking to end his time with Front Row Motorsports on a high. McDowell started this season with zero career poles but will start up front for the fifth time this season, tying him for the series lead with Larson.

  • NASCAR Cup Series Quaker State 400 at Atlanta Starting Lineup

Will today be the day he converts one of those poles into a victory?

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Odds to Win the NASCAR Cup Series Quaker State 400 at Atlanta

  • Brad Keselowski +1000
  • Joey Logano +1000
  • Ryan Blaney +1000
  • Kyle Busch +1200
  • Denny Hamlin +1600
  • Kyle Larson +1600
  • Michael McDowell +1600
  • Austin Cindric +1800
  • Tyler Reddick +1800
  • William Byron +1800
  • Chase Elliott +2000
  • Chris Buescher +2000
  • Christopher Bell +2000
  • Daniel Suarez +2000
  • Ross Chastain +2000
  • Bubba Wallace +2200
  • Ty Gibbs +2200
  • Alex Bowman +2500
  • Martin Truex Jr. +2500
  • Todd Gilliland +2500

See more Quaker State 400 odds and other NASCAR Cup Series odds at Bovada.

Quaker State 400 Predictions & Picks

  • Ryan Blaney to finish in the top ten (-130 at Bovada): Blaney finished second in the February race at Atlanta, the Ambetter Health 400, and he has finished in the top ten in four straight races there. The 2023 Cup Series champion will start up front with McDowell and should contend for his third win of the season.
  • Kyle Busch to finish in the top ten (-110 at Bovada): Busch came up short of the playoffs, but he enters the Quaker State 400 on his best stretch of the season, having finished fourth (FireKeepers Casino 400), second (Coke Zero Sugar 400), and second (Cook Out Southern 500) in his last three races. He has finished in the top ten in the last three races at Atlanta, and even though he isn’t in the playoffs, he is well worth backing for a fourth straight strong showing at Atlanta and overall.
  • Daniel Suarez to finish in the top ten (+145 at Bovada): Suarez won the Ambetter Health 400 in February to claim his spot in the Round of 16, and though he has only five top-ten finishes in 24 races since, he’s worth an investment for the Quaker State 400, as he has finished in the top ten four times in the last five races at Atlanta.
  • William Byron to win the Quaker State 400: Byron had a disappointing end to the regular season, finishing 27th at Daytona and 30th at Darlington thanks to late incidents in both races. He’s still searching for his first win since taking the checkered flag three times in the first eight races this season, but he won last year’s Quaker State 400, won the early Atlanta race in 2022, and should be at or near the front at the end once again.
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Other NASCAR Betting Information

Where Can You Bet on NASCAR This Season?

NASCAR odds are widely available, as many sports betting sites offer race winner odds for the NASCAR Cup Series, NASCAR Xfinity Series, and NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series.

Additionally, sportsbooks like BetOnline, BetUS, and Bovada offer finishing position odds for each of NASCAR’s top national series. For example, you can bet on top 3, top 5, and top 10 finishing position odds for today’s Quaker State 400 at Bovada.

Are you unfamiliar with any of them? Check out our sportsbook reviews to learn more about each book. Our sportsbook reviews cover betting options, deposit and payout options, mobile and live betting, and the kind of sportsbook sign-up bonuses and other promos available at each book, as well as other factors like customer support.

  • BetOnline Sportsbook Review
  • BetUS Sportsbook Review
  • Bovada Sportsbook Review

Other NASCAR Betting Content at Betting News

Are you new to betting on NASCAR? Use our in-depth NASCAR betting guide to learn more about the basics about betting on the Cup Series, Xfinity Series, and Truck Series.

Did you like this betting breakdown of the Quaker State 400? At Betting News, you can find coverage for every Cup Series race, as well as many Xfinity Series and Truck Series races. So, bookmark us and come back for more next week.

The NASCAR Cup Series playoffs are here, but there is still a lot of money to be made. Strap in, enjoy the ride, and last but certainly not least, bet responsibly.