Hamlin, Logano Lead Wide Open NASCAR Ambetter Health 400 Odds

What a thrilling start to the 2024 NASCAR Cup Series season. A delayed Daytona 500 saw a close battle for the win between William Byron and Alex Bowman. A late caution gave Byron his first Daytona 500 win after a massive crash involving more than a dozen drivers. Now, the grid turns to another drafting speedway in Atlanta. Here’s what to know about the NASCAR Ambetter Health 400 Odds.

Favorites for victory

• Joey Logano (+1000)

Logano took pole position in Daytona and led the most laps before getting collected in the late crash. He said after the race his Ford was fast but just couldn’t make it work. Luckily, he heads to a track he’s performed well at recently.

Logano dominantly won this event last season by leading 140 of 260 laps. A year earlier, he qualified third and finished ninth. Bettors just saw him race very well at another drafting track and, with the lessons learned from the big wreck, he can navigate the narrower speedway well.

• Denny Hamlin (+1000)

Hamlin went backward in the Daytona 500. After starting eighth, he was 19th by the chequered flag. That’s not the best start to the regular season after a win at the Clash at the Coliseum.

He’s struggled in Atlanta since starting on pole position there in the 2021 spring race and finishing fourth. Since then, he’s managed just one top-10 finish in five races. He’s going to likely be in the mix but these odds seem a bit short for NASCAR picks given his recent track record.

• William Byron (+1200)

Byron couldn’t go two-for-two to start the season, right? Wrong. He was one of just two drivers to win consecutive races last season when he won in Las Vegas and Phoenix. Atlanta is far from his worst track, too. He won the fall race there last season and the spring race in 2022.

Unfortunately, the two races between those victories ended in crashes for Byron. He’s confident after a Daytona 500 win and can certainly make it two in a row at drafting tracks.

• Christopher Bell (+1200)

Bell stayed out of harm’s way in Daytona to finish third after starting fourth on the grid. That made him the top Toyota driver on the day among the Chevrolets. In 2023, he worked his way up from 10th on the grid to third by the finish in this event.

He finished well ahead of where he started in both Atlanta races last season. It’d be a surprise to see him in victory lane but he’ll likely be in the top 10 once again.

• Chase Elliott (+1200)

Elliott was one of the many drivers caught in the late wreck in Daytona. Luckily, he’s one of the best Cup Series drivers on the grid in Atlanta by average finish. Ten career races there have seen seven top-10 results including a win from first in the 2022 fall race. He won stage 1 in Daytona and should be back on pace once again at the NASCAR race this weekend.

• Ryan Blaney (+1200)

The defending Cup Series champion won stage 2 in Daytona before getting caught in that wreck as well. Like Elliott, he’s strong in Atlanta as well. He’s got the best track record by average finish in Atlanta among active Cup Series drivers.

He won this event in 2021 and finished in the top 10 in four of the five races since then. He’ll be one of the many drivers looking to bounce back from the crash in Daytona. History’s on his side to bounce back even better than most.

• Brad Keselowski (+1200)

Keselowski started 16th in Daytona and unfortunately was the main catalyst for the big wreck. Byron’s contact with him on lap 192 sent him up into Logano and started the 23-car incident.

He won this event in 2017 and 2019 and finished second last year. He’s always finished better than he started in Atlanta since moving to what’s become RFK Racing. A win may be tough in Atlanta but he’ll likely be at least in the top 10.

Sleepers worth considering

• Kyle Busch (+1500)

At +1500, Busch isn’t a huge long shot but an intriguing sleeper pick. He was one of two drivers to finish sixth or better in the first two stages at Daytona (Byron was the other). He managed 12th on the day after starting 34th. Busch’s track record in Atlanta is right behind Blaney and Elliott by average finish.

He hasn’t won in Atlanta since 2013 but Busch’s last race there saw him finish fifth after starting 22nd. That’s not bad and makes him a potential sleeper considering his early form. He offers more confidence with better payout potential than the likes of Hamlin or Bell.

• Austin Cindric (+2500)

Cindric finished just behind teammate Blaney in stage 2 at Daytona. He was racing near the front at the end as well before catching Ross Chastain in the late crash that ultimately sealed Byron’s win.

Though it’s far from Cindric’s best track on the NASCAR schedule, Atlanta could be fruitful ground for the Penske driver this week. He nearly made it through to a top-five finish in Daytona and could continue that strong showing at another drafting track this week.

He’s raced just five events in Atlanta in his Cup Series career but has led 22 laps over the last three. At these odds, he’s worth a chance for the high payout.

• Corey Lajoie (+4000)

Lajoie’s a drafting speedway specialist. His eight career Cup Series top-10 finishes were in Talladega, Daytona, and Atlanta. His fourth-place finish in Daytona last week came after starting 29th. Lajoie winning would be a big surprise as that’d give him his first Cup Series victory. But his proficiency at drafting tracks is better than most around him in NASCAR odds.

NASCAR Ambetter Health 400 Odds: Picks for Sunday’s race

The NASCAR schedule doesn’t let up to start 2024. Two of the faster layouts of the year gives fans plenty to be excited about to start the season. Though it’ll likely be a close race with multiple incidents again, Logano looks like the best bet among the favorites.

He has the track record and recent form combination to make him a worthwhile wager. Of the sleepers, his teammate Cindric could surprise after a strong showing for much of the Daytona 500.

For NASCAR betting news, NASCAR standings, and more, visit Point Spreads Sports Magazine.

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