YellaWood 500 Race Odds: Top 3 to Win, Final Pick & Expert Analysis in the NASCAR Playoffs

The first round of the Cup Series playoffs is in the books, with the field of potential champions cut from 16 to 12.

With each passing round, it becomes a little tougher to move on, making wins, and that automatic berth in the next round, that much more valuable.

My Cup Series Analysis of YellaWood 500

The first race in the Round of 12 came last weekend, with Ross Chastain picking up the win.

Since he did not make the cut, none of the remaining drivers in the championship hunt were able to pick up the easy path into the next round.

They will get their next shot this coming Sunday in Talladega with the running of the YellaWood 500.

Let’s take a look at the current odds as we try to figure out who might get that all-important win.

Ryan Blaney +1025

I think it’s fair to suggest that Blaney was something of a surprise champion last season.

After all, he had failed to make it to the Championship Round in each of his first 7 seasons in the Cup Series, so going all the way was a major achievement.

Truth be told, it is not looking as though that was a fluke victory or a one-off, as Blaney is very much in the hunt again this season, sitting 2nd overall in the playoff standings.

While Blaney did not have a particularly good run at Talladega earlier this season, he won this race in 2023, so there is every reason to believe he will be in the top 3 this weekend, with a win also a good bet.

Joey Logano +1075

Logano is just one of the drivers who could really use a win this weekend. Heading into this race, Logano finds himself down in 8th in the driver standings.

In short, if the cut were made now, he would move on, but only by the skin of his teeth.

Even if he doesn’t win this weekend, he will want a stronger showing than what we have seen of late, as every point is valuable at this stage of the proceedings.

He has now failed to crack the top 10 in 3 straight races and has not been a factor in his last 3 runs at Talladega.

I don’t see him winning this one.

Brad Keselowski +1150

Here we have another favorite to win this weekend, and another driver who is not currently part of the playoff picture.

Just like Busch, Keselowski will be out to play the role of spoiler, while also picking up a nice check if he can come out on top in this race.

The problem for this thinking about wagering on Keselowski this weekend is that he is in poor form, failing to crack the top 10 in the last 5 races, as well as finishing outside the top 20 in each of the last 3.

He does have a pair of top 5 finishes in Talladega over the past couple of seasons, so he might be worth playing as a top 4 finisher.

Kyle Busch +1175

As we clearly saw last weekend, a driver does not have to be part of the playoffs to make an impact on the remaining races of the season.

Busch has had a history of being rather unlikeable and a bit of a menace, so he would love nothing more than to head into Talladega and spoil the party for the drivers looking to win a championship.

While he is not in the playoffs, Busch still needs to be considered a factor in this one, as he won in Talladega last season.

YellaWood 500 Info

When: Sunday, October 6 at 2:00pm ET
Where: Talladega Superspeedway
NASCAR this weekend TV Schedule: NBC Streaming, MRN, SiriusXM
Qualifying: Saturday, October 5, 11:30 am ET

Can't-miss drama meets can't-miss excitement.

This is the #NASCARPlayoffs at @TALLADEGA. pic.twitter.com/FwyZzAoBMg

— NASCAR (@NASCAR) October 3, 2024

NASCAR Betting Center

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