A photo-finish at Talladega ruled Team Penske’s Ryan Blaney as the winner, while Stewart-Haas Racing’s Kevin Harvick’s close second place quickly turned into a disqualification after failing a post-race inspection.
Harvick’s loss was Cup Series Championship leader William Byron’s gain, as Byron moved up to second, followed By Denny Hamlin in third, Spire Motorsports’ Corey Lajoie’s second fourth-place finish of the season, and Team Penske’s Austin Cindric in fifth.
The Playoff drivers have Charlotte’s Roval as their last chance to make the cut for the Round of Eight, where Chevrolet and Toyota are expected to battle for the race win. Bangthebook has our top-five finishers for Sunday’s Bank of America Roval 400, with odds provided by BetOnline.
Heavy Betting Odds Favorite Hendrick Motorsports
Every weekend, one of Hendrick Motorsports’ big three are considered favorites to win. At Charlotte’s Roval, all three Drivers’ are in the oddsmaker’s top four to win on Sunday, each with their unique claim to being the favorite.
Non-playoff Driver Chase Elliott (+550) has won twice on the Roval (2019-20) and has driven very well during the playoffs, scoring four top-ten finishes in the last five races, with his previous top-five finish coming at Daytona’s Fall race. Elliott is one of NASCAR’s road course stars, having three top-five finishes on road courses in 2023.
2021 Cup Series Champion Kyle Larson (+900) won at Charlotte’s Roval in his Championship-winning season. Larson is currently seventh in the Cup Series standings, earning all three of his playoff top-five finishes in the Round of 16 while completely dropping out of the top-15 in the last two races. He has three top-ten finishes on road circuits this season.
However, William Byron (+650) is the leading Hendrick Motorsports driver in 2023, currently sitting atop the Cup Series standings, with a confirmed spot in the Round of Eight. However, Byron will need his best career performance on the Roval, having two top-ten finishes in five career races.
Byron has two wins and six top-ten finishes in the last seven races and is favored to potentially add to his Round of Eight lead with a win in Charlotte.
The Toyota Picks: Reddick, Bell, Hamlin
As Ford fades after a dominant weekend at Talladega, the spotlight shifts to Toyota, and we’ve got three drivers we’re focusing on as potential winners.
Joe Gibbs Racing’s Denny Hamlin (+1600 at BetOnline) might not be favored to win, but his current form suggests otherwise. Hamlin is currently second in the Cup Series championship, has four consecutive top-five finishes, and has three top-ten finishes on road circuits in 2023.
Hamlin’s Joe Gibbs Reammate Christopher Bell (+1600) won the 2022 edition of this race and has two top-ten finishes in three career races on the Roval. Bell is currently in third in the Cup Series standings but has only two top-ten finishes on road course this season, with his best finish being second at Watkins Glen.
Our favored Toyota to win is BangtheBook’s favorite NASCAR road course racer, 23XI Racing’s Tyler Reddick (+750). Reddick won at Circuit of the Americas and looked strong at the other road course until NASCAR fate dropped him down the order.
Reddick is currently outside of the top eight and has finished outside the top ten in the last three races, but could use the Roval – where he has one top-five and two top-ten finishes in three career races.
BangtheBook’s NASCAR Cup Series Bank of America Roval 400 Betting Pick
Bangthebook is taking Hendrick Motorsports’ Kyle Larson to win at Charlotte’s Roval, with Elliott, Reddick, Byron, and Hamlin completing the top five.
Bet on Kyle Larson to Deliver at Charlotte’s Roval +900 over at BetOnline!
