NASCAR Cook Out 400 Odds show close field in return to Richmond

The NASCAR Cup Series returns to Richmond for the second time in 2023. This is the second return event of the season after the second Atlanta race three weeks ago. The last five Cup Series races have featured five different winners. Parity could continue with close NASCAR Cook Out 400 odds among the top dozen drivers. Here’s how the odds break down ahead of Sunday’s race.

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Championship leaders, Larson leads the way

Truex Jr. remains atop the NASCAR standings this week after a solid third-place finish in Pocono. He’s now 30 points clear of William Byron in second and is the favorite for victory Sunday at +400.

He’s leading the way thanks to solid results this season and an excellent track record in the event. Truex Jr. won this race in 2019, when he won the spring race as well, and in 2021. He’s finished in the top 10 in nearly half of his career races in Richmond. Truex Jr.’s also excelled at similar short tracks this season. He dominated in Loudon and finished fifth in Gateway. Joe Gibbs Racing’s won five of the last eight Cook Out 400 events. He’ll be in the mix for a win again.

Kyle Larson’s next in odds at +575. It’s been a year of rough luck for the 2021 champion, but one of his lone bright spots was a win in the first Richmond event of the NASCAR season. Combine that with third place in Loudon and fourth in Gateway, and he’s a lock to be in the mix for the win again.

Larson could become the first driver since Truex Jr. in 2019 to sweep both Richmond events. He’d also become the first Hendrick Motorsports driver to win the second Richmond race since Jimmie Johnson in 2008.

Reigning race winner Denny Hamlin’s next at +600. Hamlin’s win in Pocono last week keeps him in reach of Truex Jr. at the top. This week, the Cup Series heads to one of his best tracks on the schedule. By average finish, Richmond is Hamlin’s second-best track on the calendar behind Darlington. He’s finished in the top five an incredible 17 times in 33 races.

Could he be the first driver since Byron in Phoenix to win consecutive NASCAR races? He certainly has a great chance. Though he finished 20th in the first Richmond race, he did win stage 2 of that event. He also finished second in Gateway and seventh in Loudon. He’s been best on short tracks in his career and could notch another win this weekend.

Christopher Bell (+700) comes into the Cook Out 400 fresh off his first top-10 finish in nearly a month. His sixth-place result in Pocono broke a streak of bad luck, including Chicago, when he led the most laps and won two stages but finished 18th.

Bell finished fourth in the spring Richmond race. In races at Gateway and Loudon, he managed just 11th and 29th. But he took the pole at the latter race and could have some speed this time. He’s never won in Richmond but boasts the best average finish (fifth) at the track among active drivers.

Longer odds for the Cook Out 400

Byron (+800) has the longest NASCAR Cook Out 400 odds among the top three in the Cup Series standings. Last week in Pocono, he took pole and led the most laps but managed just 14th. He led the most laps in the first Richmond race but finished 24th. He’s been off his typical pace this season after the win in Atlanta. Look for him to bounce back this weekend.

Kyle Busch (+1100) has the most wins in Richmond (six) of any active driver. Yet he’s well outside of the top NASCAR odds for the win on Sunday. Rowdy’s had a tough go in recent years at Richmond. He finished 14th in the spring race this year and ninth in both races last season.

But in a rebound season this year, he’s racing well at similar tracks. A dominant win in Gateway from pole’s the highlight of his year so far. He’s in the midst of the worst two-race stretch of the season, with 36th in Loudon and 21st last week in Pocono. He’ll return to form this weekend and could fight for the win again.

Defending Cup Series champion Joey Logano (+1200) has just one win this season in the spring Atlanta race. Richmond’s one of his best tracks throughout his career. His average finish (10th) is second only to Las Vegas and Gateway among ovals in his career. In the spring Richmond race, he finished seventh. Third in Gateway and second in Loudon are great results coming into this race. He could play spoiler after the top three in the standings (Truex Jr., Byron, and Hamlin) have won the last three races.

Cook Out 400 picks

Oddsmakers rightly have a pretty close field for the second Richmond race of the year. The NASCAR Cook Out 400 odds rightly put Truex Jr. and Larson at the top. Of the favorites, look for Larson to break through. He’s been strong at tracks like this in 2023 and could finally get back in victory lane for the first time since the All-Star Race.

Look for Bell or Logano to shine in Richmond for a better payout.

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

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