Memorial Day weekend is massive for motorsports. There's the Indy 500, the Monaco Grand Prix, and flying under the radar, NASCAR's Coca-Cola 600. In fact, we'd argue this NASCAR race might present the best betting opportunity of all races going down this weekend. If you need help picking who to bet to win the 2022 Coca-Cola 600, then keep reading because we have expert advice right here!
For starters, let's look at the current NASCAR betting lines to win the Coca-Cola 600 on May 29 at the Charlotte Motor Speedway. As always with this sport, the betting field is jumbled, but the following drivers are currently favored to take the checkered flag:
| Driver |  |  |
|---|---|---|
| Kyle Busch | +550 | +550 |
| Kyle Larson | +550 | +550 |
| Chase Elliott | +600 | +600 |
| Martin Truex Jr. | +1000 | +1000 |
| Ryan Blaney | +1200 | +1200 |
| Denny Hamlin | +1200 | +1200 |
| William Byron | +1200 | +1200 |
| Ross Chastain | +1400 | +1400 |
| Alex Bowman | +1400 | +1400 |
| Tyler Reddick | +1400 | +1400 |
2022 Coca-Cola 600 Preview
Any preview of the Coca-Cola 600 must begin with one thing: its length. That 600 in the race name? Yeah, that's an indication of how long this race is — as in 600 miles. The Coca-Cola 600 has the, perhaps dubious, distinction of being the longest race in the NASCAR schedule. Originally, when created way back in 1960, it was meant to rival the Indianapolis 500, but for the stock car world. It's why both races are typically run on the same day still.
Not only is the Coca-Cola 600 the longest race in the sport, but it's also one of the most difficult. Drivers will do 400 laps around the 1.5-mile oval. The history and difficulty of this race have contributed to its status as one of NASCAR's "Crown Jewels" alongside the likes of the Daytona 500 and Southern 500.
The introduction of the Next Gen Car presents a new wrinkle to Charlotte Motor Speedway. If it's anything like previous tracks already run, we might see a much more competitive race come Sunday. In the past, fans dubbed the Coca-Cola 600 "boring" because it was common for the eventual winner to lead the race from almost start to finish with very little back-and-forth with other drivers.
After last weekend's All-Star break, the Coca-Cola 600 will be a return to the normal Cup Series calendar with actual points on the line (there was none during the two All-Star events). At the moment, Chase Elliott leads the standings comfortably with 475 points (with one win and three podiums). In the runner-up spot is Ryan Blaney with 423 points (four podiums but zero wins).
Coca-Cola 600 Betting Picks To Make
There's a litany of different Coca-Cola 600 bets available right now beyond just who wins. For instance, props exist on head-to-head matchups between drivers or other outcomes like who finishes on the podium or top-5. As part of our expert sports betting strategy, we'll be sharing picks for two of these bets below.
Race Winner Bet
Kyle Larson is the reigning Coca-Cola 600 champion, having won in 2021 as part of a phenomenal run that concluded with a Cup Series championship. That's why it should be no surprise he's a co-favorite to win the 2022 edition, alongside Kyle Busch. Both are +550 to claim the victory and both have a decorated history in Charlotte. Busch has six top-10 finishes in his last seven tries at the Coca-Cola 600. Meanwhile, Larson has three wins in his last four here at the speedway.
You almost have to bet at least one or the other (if not both). If we had to pick one to wager on, it would be Busch. He's been predominantly good during 2022 as he sits third in the Cup Series standings. Before the exhibition All-Star race, Busch had three top 10s in four starts so there's no shortage of momentum. Throw in his familiarity with the Charlotte Speedway and Busch becomes a very worthy bet.
But hey, at +550 odds for each driver, it wouldn't be a bad idea to wager on both of 'em. You could still make plenty of green if either one wins at these steep prices. While we like Busch ever slightly, we wouldn't be opposed to a secondary bet on Larson to go along with it.
Top Three Bet
Kyle Harvick has had a forgettable season. With just two podium finishes, he sits all the way in 11th in the Cup Series standings. But a return to Charlotte might just be what Harvick needs. He owns a career-average finish of 14.8 across 39 starts at Charlotte Motor Speedway, which is more than respectable given the difficulties of the track. Harvick falls into our "darkhorse" category, which maybe isn't outright winner material, but to finish on the podium? Possible and worth a bet!
How To Bet & Watch Coca-Cola 600
For those inside the United States, there are two ways to watch the Coca-Cola 600. The first is via television with a basic package. FOX will exclusively air the Coca-Cola 600 race. It's expected to begin at 6 pm EST sharp, which is a tad later than most NASCAR races typically start (but convenient on Sunday as this race is the "nightcap" of race day that includes IndyCar and F1 earlier).
If you're long past watching (and paying) for TV and instead now stream, then there's an option for you too. The Coca-Cola 600 will also air on fuboTV's streaming package.
Last but not least, what about betting the race? Welp, you can't go wrong with one of the bookmakers listed on the underneath table. These betting sites are the "best of the best" in our book, and we have up-to-date sportsbook reviews to prove it (linked in the table). At any one of the bookmakers, you'll find the full gamut of NASCAR bets, whether it's this Charlotte race or any other in the Cup Series. Think of these sites as a "one-stop-shop" for NASCAR gambling!
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