NASCAR Cup Series: Pala Casino 400
Who's Odds On Favorite After Historic Daytona 500?
Pala Casino 400 Betting Preview: The Super Bowl of Stock Racing is in the rearview as the NASCAR Cup Series heads to Fontana for the Pala Casino 400. Ricky Stenhouse Jr. won the longest Daytona 500 in history after a controversial late-race crash. He was declared the winner ahead of Cup Series points leader Joey Logano after 212 laps.
The Cup Series comes to the Auto Club Speedway in Fontana, CA this weekend but neither Stenhouse Jr. nor Logano lead the odds for the Pala Casino 400.
Here’s who’s leading the odds for this weekend’s race:
Season favorites at the Top
Kyle Larson (+650), the 2021 Cup Series champion, has the best odds for the win. His 18th-place finish in Daytona was not the best start to the 2023 campaign but he’s almost always raced well in Fontana. He’s won two Cup Series races (2022 and 2017) and another two in the Xfinity Series (2014 and 2017). Larson’s finished outside the top 10 just four times in 13 combined Xfinity and Cup series races. He’s driven well at Fontana and can get his 2023 campaign back on track.
Close behind Larson in odds is 2022 regular season champion Chase Elliott (+700). He was close to the front before contact with Larson knocked him out of a chance for the win in Daytona. Elliott’s never won at Fontana and managed just 38th last week.
The third-best odds are Denny Hamlin (+800). Last year he dropped from fourth on the grid to 15th at the finish. His best career result out of 15 Cup Series races at Fontana was third in 2016. It’d be a surprise to see him at the top.
Contenders worth considering
Continuing Our Pala Casino 400 Betting Preview: Three-time Pala Casino 400 winner Kyle Busch (+1000) has historically performed well at the Auto Club Speedway. In 23 Cup Series races there, Busch has four wins. In his Xfinity career, he tallied four wins as well. He’ll have a good chance to improve on last week’s 19th-place finish.
Tyler Reddick (+1200) was in control of most of the 2022 race. He led 90 laps before a flat tire and subsequent contact with William Byron knocked him out of contention. He could make good on that misfortune this time around.
Long shot to consider
Concluding Our Pala Casino 400 Betting Preview: Reddick spent most of last year’s race with Erik Jones (+2800) close behind. Jones qualified second last season and was in the mix for the win late before finishing third. Contact in last week’s Daytona 500 left Jones well down the order in 37th. A track he’s shown good pace at recently could help move him up the championship standings.
Austin Dillon (+4000) nearly won last year’s race in Fontana. Just 0.195 seconds separated him from Larson at the chequered flag. He’s shown pace at the track before with two of his six career pole positions coming there. His only win at the Auto Club Speedway came in the 2016 Xfinity Series race there. He may be a long shot but one worth some confidence.
Predictions for the Pala Casino 400
It’s hard to go against the defending winner in Larson. A win would push him up the championship standings where he expects to be. But I’d also look for Dillon to make good on that close finish last year and make a big jump up the standings from 33rd. Be sure to check back right here for the complete 2023, NASCAR calendar so that you never miss a chance for betting on a NASCAR race.
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