The 2023 NASCAR season is almost here, and that means the books are preparing for the season as well. Chase Elliott has been named the preseason favorite this season.
Elliott has had a phenomenal run of season. He was champion in 2020 and then finished 4th in both 2021 and 2022. So, it comes as no surprise that Elliott opens as the favorite at +550, or an implied 15.4% chance to win his second title in four years.
Elliott‘s biggest competition is expected to be 2021 champion Kyle Larson. Larson is given +650 odds, or an implied 13.3% chance. He‘s followed by Denny Hamlin at +900, or an implied 10% chance.
Last season‘s champion Joey Logano is given +1200 odds, or an implied 7.7% chance to retain his title. That has him fifth on the market behind Elliot, Larson, Hamlin, and Ryan Blaney who‘s sitting at +1000 to win the title.
Quote from OddsChecker spokesman Kyle Newman, “It‘s honestly surprising that Kyle Larson isn‘t the favorite. Larson was the favorite to win more races than any driver last year and was the Cup Series favorite until he was eliminated. So, to see him second to Chase Elliott is a bit of a shock. We‘ll see if the books have it right this year, as their odds were the kiss of death for Larson last season.”
NASCAR CUP CHAMPION
DriverOddsImplied chanceChase Elliott+55015.4%Kyle Larson+65013.3%Denny Hamlin+90010%Ryan Blaney+10009.1%Ross Chastain+12007.7%Christopher Bell+12007.7%Joey Logano+12007.7%Kyle Busch+12007.7%William Byron+14006.7%Tyler Reddick+16005.9%
— OddsChecker —
