The NASCAR Cup Series is gearing up for an exciting race at the Kansas Speedway for the Hollywood Casino 400, presented by ESPNBet. This marks the beginning of the round of 12 in the playoffs, and tensions are high as drivers compete for their place in the standings. Let’s dive into the NASCAR odds, predictions, and picks for this thrilling race at Kansas Speedway.
### Kansas Speedway Overview
Kansas Speedway is a 1.5-mile intermediate tri-oval, a layout similar to the Las Vegas track. This track has seen its fair share of intense racing, and this week will be no different. As the first race in the round of 12, the stakes are higher than ever for the playoff drivers.
Currently, Kyle Larson leads the playoff standings after his victory last week. Following close behind are Christopher Bell and Tyler Reddick, who round out the top three. However, drivers like Austin Cindric, Daniel Suarez, Alex Bowman, and Chase Briscoe are in danger of elimination if they don’t deliver strong performances in Kansas.
### NASCAR Odds for the Cup Series at Kansas (Courtesy of FanDuel)
– **Kyle Larson**: +400
– **Denny Hamlin**: +500
– **Tyler Reddick**: +850
– **Chase Elliott**: +1300
– **William Byron**: +1300
– **Christopher Bell**: +1300
– **Martin Truex Jr.**: +1400
– **Ryan Blaney**: +1500
– **Ty Gibbs**: +2000
– **Chris Buescher**: +2000
– **Bubba Wallace**: +2400
– **Brad Keselowski**: +2500
– **Kyle Busch**: +2500
– **Joey Logano**: +2800
– **Ross Chastain**: +3000
– **Alex Bowman**: +3200
– **Chase Briscoe**: +4500
### How to Watch the Cup Series at Kansas
– **TV**: USA Network
– **Time**: 3:00 PM ET / 12:00 PM PT
– **Live Streaming**: *Watch NASCAR LIVE on fuboTV (Free Trial)*
### Top Favorites to Win at Kansas
#### Kyle Larson
Kyle Larson is the top favorite heading into Kansas. He’s fresh off a victory last week, boosting his momentum as he leads the playoff standings. Larson has a strong history at this track, having won two of the last six races. Last time at Kansas, he started fourth, led 63 laps, and took home the win. In fact, he’s finished in the top five in five of his last six races at this track, making him a strong contender this weekend. He’s also led laps in seven of the last eight races here, solidifying his dominance.
#### Denny Hamlin
Denny Hamlin is another driver to watch closely. He’s been incredibly consistent at Kansas, finishing in the top five in his last six races. In the spring race earlier this year, Hamlin led 71 laps and won the first stage before ultimately finishing fifth. Hamlin has a winning history at Kansas, having claimed victory in the spring of 2023, the fall of 2019, and the spring of 2020. He’s led laps in three straight races at this track and seven of the last ten, proving he’s a force to be reckoned with.
#### Tyler Reddick
Tyler Reddick rounds out the favorites for Kansas, although his track record here has been a bit inconsistent. In the spring race, he started 15th, led seven laps, but finished 20th. Despite that, he had a strong showing last year, leading 23 laps and finishing ninth in the spring. In the fall race, Reddick managed to take the victory by leading the final lap. However, prior to that, he finished outside the top 20 in four of the previous five races. Reddick will need to tap into that winning form if he wants to come out on top again.
### Sleepers to Watch at Kansas
#### Chase Elliott
Chase Elliott has been consistently strong at Kansas in recent years. He started ninth in the spring race and finished third, marking his third straight top-ten finish at this track. In the fall race last year, he led 47 laps before finishing sixth. Elliott has led laps in four of the last six races at Kansas, and he’s been inside the top ten in nine of the last 12 races here, including a victory in 2018. His history at this track makes him a strong sleeper pick.
#### William Byron
While William Byron has struggled in his last two races at Kansas, he’s had solid performances in the past. In the spring race, Byron started 36th and finished 23rd, while in the fall of 2023, he placed 15th. However, from 2020 through the spring of 2023, Byron consistently performed well, finishing in the top ten in six out of seven races and leading laps in all but one race during that stretch. If he can recapture that form, Byron could be a surprise contender.
#### Alex Bowman
Alex Bowman has also shown promise at Kansas. In the spring race, he started 18th and finished seventh, while in the fall of 2023, he finished tenth. He’s been in the top ten in six of his last eight races at this track, and in the fall of 2022, he finished fourth after leading 107 laps. Bowman also secured a runner-up finish here in 2019, making him another sleeper to keep an eye on.
### Prediction & Pick for the Kansas Cup Series
With upcoming races at Talladega and Charlotte Roval, Kansas presents a critical opportunity for drivers to solidify their standings. The Kansas track is more predictable, offering a chance for top performers like Kyle Larson, Denny Hamlin, and Tyler Reddick to shine. However, as Reddick showed in the spring race, even the favorites aren’t guaranteed success. Expect an unpredictable yet thrilling race as drivers push their limits for a playoff advantage.
Nascar Cup Series at Kansas prediction, odds, and Expert picks for the Big Race on 9/29/2024
