The 2022 NASCAR Cup Series is heating up in a hurry, with eight races left before the playoffs begin. Chase Elliott is coming off a tremendous performance at Road America, which gave him a 33-point lead in the standings over second-place Ryan Blaney. Elliott ended up in second last weekend behind 13th spot Tyler Reddick, who won his first race of the season. In NASCAR odds, Elliott is now a +500 favorite to take win his second Cup Series title, just slightly in front of Kyle Larson, who won it in 2021. Read on for the NASCAR futures.
The question is, can Elliott hold his lead? All signs point to yes. At the sportsbooks, Ross Chastain is in the top four but Blaney, who was previously mentioned, trails only Elliott and is a long +900 to win.
NASCAR Cup Series Odds
| Odds To Win Cup Series |  |  |
|---|---|---|
| Chase Elliott | +500 | +500 |
| Kyle Larson | +550 | +550 |
| Ross Chastain | +600 | +600 |
| Denny Hamlin | +750 | +700 |
| William Byron | +750 | +800 |
| Kyle Busch | +850 | +800 |
| Joey Logan | +850 | +800 |
| Ryan Blaney | +900 | +950 |
| Martin Truex Jr | +1200 | +1000 |
| Daniel Suarez | +4000 | +2500 |
Chase Elliott Has The Resume
Elliott captured a Cup Series title in 2020 and knows exactly what it takes to win another. He heads into the Quaker State 400 in Atlanta as one of the frontrunners to finish in first place too, which would only solidify his case at the top of the standings more. He also races for one of the best teams in NASCAR, Hendrick Motorsports. It was a shaky start to the season for Elliott, but he's really coming into his own now. Before Road America, he won at Nashville, which gave him a massive 50 points. Consistency is the name of the game for the 26-year-old, who hasn't even reached his best years of driving in NASCAR yet. That's why he's intriguing in NASCAR Futures. Also, it's important to note that 13 different drivers have won races in 2022. There have only been a few who have collected more than two victories. Chase Elliott is in that category. Both of those wins have come since the start of May. He's a logicalĀ betting strategy.
Don't Count Out Larson
A lot can change in eight races. Although Larson is 71 points behind Elliott, he is after all the reigning champ. He's driven very well in recent memory and has a couple of top-five finishes under his belt in the last three races. Larson actually competed in the Xfinity Series at Road America and finished in second spot and then in third in the Cup Series. Nashville was also kind to Larson, securing a fourth-place finish. If he managed to win a couple of races in the next few weeks, it puts him right back in contention to win the Cup Series. With so much time left, he's certainly not out of the conversation yet.
Ross Chastain a Sleeper
There's a legitimate argument towards Ross Chastain being the most consistent driver in NASCAR this season. He's finished within the top five on nine different occasions. That's the most of anyone in the Cup Series. He won Talladega and the Circuit of Americas as well. The only downside for Chastain in 2022 is three DNFs. He's at +650 odds which are definitely worth a bet. We can't forget he's only 35 points behind Elliott right now. Chastain is undoubtedly in the mix in NASCAR futures.
Ryan Blaney Still in The Mix
Blaney's odds aren't so appealing at +900. For some reason, sportsbooks seem to be counting him out. But, he is literally in second place in the NASCAR Cup Series standings. It also makes absolutely no sense because he's finished within the top-10 in five of the last six races, even winning the All-Star Race in late May. If you want to talk about consistency, Blaney is just that in previous months. There is still tons of time for him to gain ground at the top of the table.
NASCAR Futures pick
A lot is still yet to be determined. Kyle Larson could very well make a heroic run and win his second straight title. But Chase Elliott may hold on and keep driving at a high level. There is so much time left, which makes this a hard pick. However, we're liking Elliott to keep his impressive run going and go for his second title in the last three seasons. It'll surely be a tight finish, but the 26-year-old is going to hang on and get it done.
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