Expert prediction
Cook Out Southern 500 Picks, Odds, and Preview (Aug 31)
Pick rationale
Analysis & key factors
Business picks up on the NASCAR schedule this weekend, as the playoffs get underway. The Cook Out Southern 500 also forms the final leg of the Crown Jewel Races, with Darlington Raceway hosting this weekend’s round of 16 race. You can find the odds and picks for the event here.
How To Watch
- When: Sunday, August 31, 2025, at 6:00 P.M. ET
- Where: Darlington Raceway, South Carolina
- How To Watch: USA
Odds
| Driver | Odds |
|---|---|
| Kyle Larson | +500 |
| William Byron | +550 |
| Ryan Blaney | +550 |
| Denny Hamlin | +600 |
| Tyler Reddick | +650 |
| Chase Briscoe | +1100 |
| Christopher Bell | +1100 |
| Other Selections | +1600 & Bigger |
Recent Winners of the Cook Out Southern 500
| Year | Winning Driver |
|---|---|
| 2024 | Chase Briscoe |
| 2023 | Kyle Larson |
| 2022 | Erik Jones |
| 2021 | Denny Hamlin |
| 2020 | Kevin Harvick |
| 2019 | Erik Jones |
Race Preview
The pressure on the drivers in the NASCAR Cup Series steps up a gear this weekend, as the playoffs get underway. This weekend’s Cook Out Southern 500 forms the opening leg of the round of 16, with races in Illinois and Tennessee staged over the following two weeks to make up the round of 12 field.
The Southern 500 has been contested since 1950, with the field covering a total distance of 501.322 miles at Darlington Raceway. The unforgiving race is made up of 367 laps, with each of the opening two stages seeing 115 laps completed. Meanwhile, the remaining 137 laps make up the final stage.
READ More: The Open Championship Odds, Preview, and Picks (2025)
Kyle Larson has been the big winner in recent weeks after claiming successive sixth-place finishes to move to the top of the Drivers’ Championship standings. However, he will be a short price this weekend to add to his three wins already this season.
William Byron remains in a strong position, having won twice so far this term. Bryon has also finished in the top 15 in three of the last four races. There is likely to be increased pressure on Chase Elliott this weekend, as the former champion has dropped to seventh in the standings after failing to finish inside the top ten in each of the last five races.
Cook Out Southern 500 Picks
A wide-open race is set for Darlington this weekend. However, we like the chances of Christopher Bell to make his move in the playoffs. Bell has won three times on the schedule this season, and he has finished in the top 15 in two of the last three races.
Free Picks:
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