The South Point 400 in Las Vegas didn’t work out quite the way that most expected. Brad Keselowski ultimately took the checkered flag in a race that involved 12 cautions and a two-lap overtime. Keselowski came in at 10/1 odds to win South Point 400 at top betting sites for NASCAR. And though he was one of our ‘Drivers to Watch’ in Vegas, still most thought that one of the ‘Big Three’ would take the event. Even though both Kevin Harvick and Kyle Busch both ran into troubles, the field in Vegas couldn’t keep the Big Three off the podium. Martin Truex Jr. took third, while Kevin Larson finished second.
Odds on the Cup Series
Despite finishing 39th in Las Vegas, Kevin Harvick’s back of pack finish didn’t matter much. He’s still +255 to win the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series. He’s just slightly ahead of Kyle Busch on the odds boards at +300 and Martin Truex Jr. at +325. Kyle Larson is +700 followed by Vegas winner, Brad Keselowski at +1000. It starts to get longer from there, Clint Bowyer and Kurt Busch are still in the mix at +2000. Chase Elliot, Denny Hamlin, and Joey Logano are at +2200. Eric Jones and Ryan Blaney sit at +2500. Followed by Jimmie Johnson at +4000, Aric Almirola at +7500 and Alex Bowman at +10000.
Cup Standings
We are likely to see these odds shift. Martin Truex Jr. is the new points leader with 2087. Kyle Busch is a close second with 2085. Brad Keselowski sits third with 2069, and Kevin Harvick is just behind with 2060 points in 4th place. ‘Sliced Bread’ rounds out the top-five with 2056 as we head into the Federated Auto Parts 400 at Richmond Raceway.
Clint Bowyer called Jimmy Johnson a ‘sleeping giant’ in this series, as he is gunning for his 8th Series Championship. But Jimmy is on the hot seat in the Round of 16. Even more so are Chase Elliot, Erik Jones, and Denny Hamlin. After Las Vegas, these four drivers are the most at risk with only two races left until the next 4-driver elimination. Alex Bowman and Clint Bowyer are also on the cusp. But the new event at the Charlotte Motor Speedway Road Course could throw a wrench in things. The last race before the next cutoff is anyone’s to take.
Richmond
Kyle Busch, Kyle Larson, and Brad Keselowski are all fantastic on the ¾ mile as well. No playoff driver has as much momentum as Keselowski. The rest of the playoff field now has reason to fear him as he has won three in a row, the Bojangles’ Southern 500, the Brickyard 400, and the South Point 400. In his last 16 short track races, he has a victory, six top-five finishes, and eight top-tens. So, look for Brad Keselowski to keep team Penske in the mix with another strong finish in Richmond. The drama is only beginning to build, and any one of these drivers could take the Cup.
