Following an exciting race in Texas, William Byron is the man to beat the as the top racer in the NASCAR Cup Series points standings. Byron is coming off a win at the EchoPark Automotive 400 and is now the leading racer in the Cup Series Playoffs with an advantage of nine points heading into Talladega. This weekend’s YellaWood 500 at the iconic track should have a lot of ramifications as Byron attempts to hold off the likes of Denny Hamlin (second in the standings), Chris Buescher (third), and Christopher Bell. However, one racer has risen above the field per some betting markets as Brad Keselowski (seventh in the standings) is the top choice for this race. Perhaps thanks to five top-ten finishes in a row, the veteran seems to be a smart money pick to win it all at Talladega.
In this article, SBS will be going over the top drivers at this race, along with a predicted winner, and even more news and notes about NASCAR wagering.
| Favorites to Win The 2023 NASCAR YellaWood 500 |  |  |  |
|---|---|---|---|
| Brad Keselowski | +1100 | +1100 | +1100 |
| William Byron | +1200 | +1200 | +1200 |
| Chris Buescher | +1200 | +1200 | +1200 |
| Ryan Blaney | +1200 | +1200 | +1200 |
As mentioned above, Keselowski is perhaps the dark horse top choice here thanks to his recent consistency on the NASCAR Cup Series circuit. Since the NASCAR Playoffs started, the veteran racer has not finished outside of the top ten of the last four races. Moreover, he did not win a race earlier this season, so perhaps he is due for a victory. He did finish in second place twice though, most recently at the Coke Zero Sugar 400 at Daytona.
Coming off a strong win in Texas, Byron is also in the pole position at the top of the Cup Series standings. One of the best drivers during the regular season, Byron won five races this year and has been consistently solid in the postseason with one victory and two top-ten finishes. Earlier this year, Byron finished seventh at the 2023 Geico 500 which was also held at Talladega.
A driver who is currently third in the NASCAR Cup Series points standings, Buescher has had an up-and-down series of races in the NASCAR Playoffs. Coming off a regular season where he won three races, including two back-to-back later in the year, Buescher is having his best campaign to date as a pro. While he certainly has made his mark this year on the series, he still has some ways to go by knocking off the other NASCAR favorites who have had more consistent success over the years.
Our last driver spotlight, Blaney is coming off back-to-back races where he has left a lot to be desired. Last weekend, he finished in 28th place and the weekend before in Bristol he notched a 22nd place outing. That said, he could rebound at Talladega and get back to his regular season form where he won one race and also scored a slew of top-ten finishes. It really has just been the latter half of the 2023 NASCAR season where he has struggled with multiple 30+ place finishes.
Prediction: Keselowski seems to be trending in a positive direction for this year and could be the wise money choice to sneak up and score a win on the field.
After you are all dialed in regarding the latest news and information regarding the NASCAR Cup Series, make sure to check out all the additional great resources at SBS. Of course, for even more betting markets on the sports, SBS has your back with our NASCAR betting sites guide which goes over the latest betting lines on NASCAR events. Conversely, if you are interested in maximizing your bets, and who isn’t, then the best bonus betting sites rundown is a must-read page where you can learn more about the latest welcome bonus offers. Finally, if you are uncertain about which payment options are the best fit for you, the payment methods breakdown has your back on all kinds of options from crypto to more traditional routes.
About the Author
As a devout aficionado of sports, Chris Boline has carved a career within the athletic realm. A skilled scribe, he boasts a decade-long portfolio that encompasses coverage of the NBA G League, the Los Angeles Chargers, football and basketball across the country. Beyond his professional pursuits, Chris is deeply invested in his community and dedicates his leisure hours to serving on boards, collaborating with community organizations, and cherishing the company of loved ones. CURRENTLY Business Development and freelance sports writing RESIDES IN Reno, NV EDUCATION University of Nevada BS and MBA EXPERTISE -Sports writing proficiency in: NFL, NBA, UFC, boxing, golf, and some motor sports -Topical news -Promotional and marketing ideas/updates -Business development Summary Chris Boline serves in a business development sales capacity as his day job. He has previously held sales/marketing positions with The Applied Companies (TAC), KTVN 2 News and the NBA G League’s Reno Bighorns, affiliate of the Sacramento Kings. He is a Reno native and is a member of various community boards including the Nevada Sagebrush Alumni Chapter, NCET and the College of Business Alumni Association (COBAA). Chris graduated from the University of Nevada in 2015 with a bachelors in management and economics and also earned his MBA from Nevada in 2023. More about Chris: Past president of the College of Business Alumni Association (COBAA) 2022-23 Two-time honoree for University of Nevada Alumni Chapter of the Year (Nevada Sagebrush Alumni Chapter, 2017 & COBAA, 2021) 2021 NCET award for Professional Services Organization of the Year with TAC Northern Nevada Human Resources Association 2020 Best Places to Work-Northern Nevada, Second Place with TAC 2016-17 Reno Bighorns MVP from the Sacramento Kings The Nevada Sagebrush editor-in-chief 2013-15 Associated Collegiate Press 2015 Four-year Non-daily Newspaper Pacemaker honoree University of Nevada, Reno College of Business Dean's List honoree (5x) from 2011-2015 Nevada Press Association award for Best Sports Column – Community in 2015 Education
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