There’s only one pit stop left on the 2023 calendar, the grand finale at Phoenix. The rules for this showdown are straightforward—cross the finish line before the others and seize the championship title. It’s a white-knuckle race to the finish line, where only the fastest will bask in the glory. After a grueling season that put the racing grid through the wringer, we’ve whittled down the competition to the Championship 4. With their sights firmly fixed on the checkered flag, and only one goal in mind: to finish higher than the other three.

While the adrenaline-pumping action unfolds on the track, the off-track drama is equally heart-pounding. Bettors are rolling the dice and stacking their chips behind their favorite championship contenders, as Sin City tantalizes them with its odds. Money is on the line, and NASCAR insiders are dissecting the Vegas temptation, ensuring you place the smartest bets. It’s a high-stakes gamble that might just leave Joe Gibbs Racing‘s championship hopeful eating dust on the sidelines.

The odds are in, and it’s time to dissect the championship contenders

The 2021 champion, seems to be the odds-on favorite to clinch another title. With a stellar season under his belt, Kyle Larson is boasting a +180 odds. But let’s not forget his equally formidable teammate, William Byron, who’s been on a dazzling run. Byron’s had the season of his dreams with six victories, 14 top-five finishes, and 20 top-10s. An impeccable record in the postseason races, with the exception of the Martinsville battle, makes him a force to be reckoned with.

Then we have Ryan Blaney, who’s been turning heads with his recent triumph in Martinsville. In the past five weeks, he has won in both the longest and shortest of NASCAR’s ovals. After a somewhat shaky start in the playoffs, he’s cranked up the heat, finishing no lower than 12th in his last five races. It’s safe to say Blaney’s championship aspirations are red-hot.

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In Joe Gibbs’s camp, the seasoned veterans Martin Truex Jr and Denny Hamlin may have faltered, but the torchbearer of hope is Christopher Bell. An underdog by all accounts, Bell has been nothing short of a revelation in the last eight races. Since his 23rd-place finish in Darlington, he’s consistently placed no lower than 15th. With four pole positions in the playoffs, he has the raw speed to match his ambition.

Taking a gamble on Christopher Bell and Joe Gibbs: Why it might be a trap

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Now, let’s talk odds. According to a former driver turned NBC commentator, Dale Jarett, Vegas seems to have its pulse on the favorites, “I’m gonna say that this is one time that those people in Vegas get this right more than they don’t.”

The bookies in Vegas might be onto something this time. He acknowledges the merits of Larson but questions the odds. Larson is favored at +180, which falls just shy of offering a two-to-one return on your wager, “so you’re not even getting two to one on your money there,” indicating he’s the front-runner but not an extremely lucrative choice.

Jarrett then highlights the potential value of other contenders. “Blaney, who really was the hottest driver in the round of eight, he’s plus 260, Byron around 275.” The big surprise comes in the form of Christopher Bell, who Jarrett believes is being severely underestimated with odds at +425. “And they’re just disrespecting Christopher Bell in my mind, totally, by putting him at basically four to one that you can get on your money.”

Jarrett suggests that the odds for these four drivers should be much closer than they are, “I think that you could make a case, not that each one of these drivers could be the favorite, but I thought these odds would be much, much closer than what they are. So, I think if you’re out there looking to make a wager on the race on Sunday, there’s certainly some money that could be had.”

Christopher Bell and the Joe Gibbs Racing team may have tempting odds, but it’s a gambler’s trap. As Jarrett wisely points out, “You know that’s what Vegas tries to entice you to do: not take that, the very best bet that might be on there.” Bell’s championship hopes, while intriguing, fade in comparison to the seasoned contenders.

The Vegas odds are a siren’s call for gamblers eyeing a big payday. So who are you throwing your weight behind for the 2023 title?

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