NASCAR Update and Look-Ahead to YellaWood 500

The Cup Series playoffs are revving up. We just saw an exciting showing at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway where Kurt Busch took the checkered flag and secured his 9th place position in the playoff standings, just two points behind his brother Kyle who sits in 8th.

Top Ten NASCAR CUP SERIES Playoff Standings Heading Into YellaWood 500

  1. K. Harvick 3104
  2. D. Hamlin 3101
  3. B. Keselowski 3059
  4. M. Truex Jr. 3058
  5. J. Logano 3054
  6. C. Elliott 3053
  7. A. Bowman 3052
  8. Ky. Busch 3043
  9. Ku. Busch 3041
  10. C. Bowyer 3032

Talladega to Allow Fans at YellaWood 500

We won’t see full stands or anything like that. However, the camping areas are reopening at limited capacity. This is important for NASCAR and its fans. The revenue will be negligible but the experience of a NASCAR race is all about being there. Sure, it’s cool to watch on the TV, but tailgating and camping with friends and family, cruising paddock, and of course, watching stock cars fly by at insane speeds … It’s not something that can be conveyed through a television.

YellaWood 500 at Talladega Betting Odds

The early odds have a quartet of drivers sitting at the top with 10/1 odds at most betting sites. Denny Hamlin, Joey Logano, Ryan Blaney, and Chase Elliott.

Odds for the rest of the field:

  • Brad KESELOWSKI 11/1
  • Kevin HARVICK 14/1
  • Aric ALMIROLA 14/1
  • Alex BOWMAN 14/1
  • Kyle BUSCH 15/1
  • Kurt BUSCH 16/1
  • William BYRON 20/1
  • Ricky STENHOUSE JR 25/1
  • Jimmie JOHNSON 25/1
  • Martin TRUEX JR 25/1
  • Darrell WALLACE JR 30/1
  • Chris BUESCHER 30/1
  • Christopher BELL 30/1
  • Matt DIBENEDETTO 30/1
  • Austin DILLON 30/1
  • Cole CUSTER 30/1
  • Clint BOWYER 30/1
  • Tyler REDDICK 40/1
  • Erik JONES 40/1
  • Ryan NEWMAN 50/1
  • Michael McDowell 50/1
  • John HUNTER NEMECHEK 50/1
  • Matt KENSETH 50/1
  • Corey LAJOIE 100/1
  • Ty DILLON 100/1
  • Brendan GAUGHAN 100/1
  • Ryan PREECE 100/1
  • Brennan POOLE 200/1
  • Daniel SUAREZ 200/1
  • Quin HOUFF 500/1
  • Timmy HILL 500/1
  • Joey GASE 500/1
  • JJ YELEY 500/1
  • Reed SORENSON 500/1
  • James DAVISON 1000/1

With the playoff points race so close, everything counts. So we should expect an amazing race in Alabama on October 4th. It will take a bit of a jump to move from 3rd to second, so it won’t happen in one race. But, there is just one point separating Martin Truex Jr. in fourth from Brad Keselowski in third place. Seventh, Sixth, and fifth place are all just one point apart as well, and the fifth-place spot is just 4 points away from forth. So, field position and laps led without winning this upcoming race in Talladega could yield position swaps all throughout the middle-ranks of the top ten. In addition to that, this is historically one of the most competitive races in NASCAR.

Ryan Blaney won here last year, and we have Joey Logano, Clint Bowyer, and Brad Keselowski who have multiple wins at the YelllaWood 500. But Aric Almirola is worth a hard look next Sunday. His average finish at Talladega is 4.71. He’s got a win here and 5 top fives n just 7 races at this Super Speedway. Of course, Logano and Hamlin are two of the best drivers at Talladega 6th and 7th in driver averages overall and Kurt Busch has the 9th best driver averages here, and he’s coming off a hot win in Vegas, so he’ll be carrying a ton of momentum heading into familiar territory.

Top odds to win NASCAR cup series championship

  1. Kevin Harvick +150 3/2
  2. Denny Hamlin +275 11/4
  3. Brad Keselowski +650 13/2
  4. Martin Truex Jr. +750 15/2
  5. Chase Elliott +800 8/1
  6. Joey Logano +900 9/1
  7. Kyle Busch +1100 11/1
  8. Kurt Busch +2000 20/1
  9. Alex Bowman +2500 25/1
  10. Austin Dillon +3300 33/1
  11. Aric Almirola +3500 35/1
  12. Clint Bowyer +5000 50/1