At the end of tonight, only 12 drivers will remain in the race to become this season’s NASCAR Cup Series champion. Will any big names be missing from that list? A dramatic, stressful night is ahead at Bristol Motor Speedway, the site of the Bass Pro Shops Night Race (7:00 pm ET, USA).
Last week, no one was able to win their way into the Round of 12 as Chris Buescher won the Go Bowling at the Glen.
It wasn’t a successful Sunday for most of the Round of 16 participants, as Austin Cindric (10th) and Chase Briscoe (sixth) were the only two playoff drivers to finish in the top ten.
While Cindric looks like a safe bet to be among the dandy dozen that move on, Briscoe finds himself in a less sturdy position ahead of tonight’s race, though he is on the right side of the cut line.
He and Ty Gibbs, who sit 11th and 12th respectively, are six points ahead of Denny Hamlin, who is on the outside looking in after finishing 24th at Atlanta and 23rd at Watkins Glen.
Also on the outside looking in are two former champions, Martin Truex Jr. and Brad Keselowski, as well as Harrison Burton.
Current NASCAR Cup Series Standings (Through Two Round of 16 Races)
- NASCAR Cup Series Standings
Of that quartet currently in peril, Truex will have the best starting position in the Bass Pro Shops Night Race. He will start fourth, with Hamlin eighth, Keselowski 23rd, and Burton 34th in the 37-car field.
Occupying the first three spots up front are three Hendrick Motorsports drivers in polesitter Alex Bowman, Kyle Larson, and William Byron. Bowman enters tonight’s race in the best position of the Hendrick stable of horses, but all four are well-placed to reach the Round of 12, including Byron, who finished 34th at Watkins Glen after a late crash.
Odds to Win the 2024 NASCAR Cup Series Bass Pro Shops Night Race
- Kyle Larson +400
- Denny Hamlin +500
- Christopher Bell +600
- Ryan Blaney +950
- William Byron +1000
- Ty Gibbs +1000
- Martin Truex Jr. +1200
- Alex Bowman +1200
- Brad Keselowski +1600
- Kyle Busch +1800
- Chase Elliott +2200
- Chase Briscoe +2500
- Bubba Wallace +2500
- Chris Buescher +2800
- Ross Chastain +3300
- Tyler Reddick +3300
- Joey Logano +3300
- Josh Berry +3300
Bass Pro Shops Night Race Predictions and Picks
Chris Buescher to finish in the top 10 (+110 at Bovada)
Buescher won this race in 2022 and finished fourth last year, and he finished seventh in the Food City 500 earlier this year. After winning last week, the #17 will start 17th tonight, but that won’t keep him from another good finish at Bristol.
Brad Keselowski to finish in the top 10 (-135 at Bovada)
Keselowski has six top-ten finishes in this race, including a win in 2011, and he finished third behind Hamlin and Larson in the first race at Bristol this season. Will a top-ten finish be good enough to send him through to the Round of 12? It may not be, but he will at least handle his part of the equation.
William Byron to finish in the top 5 (+125 at Bovada)
Byron has finished ninth, third, and third in the last three editions of the Bass Pro Shops Night Race. After coming close to claiming pole yesterday, you have to like his chances to keep that good run going tonight.
Denny Hamlin to win the Bass Pro Shops Night Race
No one has swept the two Bristol races in a season since Kyle Busch did in 2009, but what better way for Hamlin to lock himself into the Round of 12 than with a victory? He has four career wins at Bristol, including three in this race (2012, 2019, 2023). A win tonight would make him the fourth driver to win this race four or more times, joining Darrell Waltrip (seven), Cale Yarborough (five), and Dale Earnhardt Sr. (four).
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 the Bass Pro Shops 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.
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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.
