Expert prediction
NASCAR 2023 Picks: Cook Out Southern 500 Prediction, Preview, and Odds (Sep 3)
Pick rationale
Analysis & key factors
- First race of the NASCAR Round of 16 is staged at Darlington Raceway on Sunday
- The Cook Out Southern 500 is the final Crown Jewel race of the season
The ante is upped in the NASCAR Cup Series this weekend, as the playoffs get underway. The first race of the round of 16 comes in the form of the prestigious Cook Out Southern 500. But, which driver will land victory to put down a marker for the crucial stage of the season?
Schedule and How To Watch
- When: Sunday, August 20, 2023 at 6:00 p.m. ET
- Where: Darlington Raceway, South Carolina
- How To Watch: USA
Cook Out Southern 500 Odds
| Driver | Odds |
|---|---|
| Kyle Larson | |
| Martin Truex Jr | |
| Denny Hamlin | |
| William Byron | |
| Ross Chastain | |
| Kyle Busch | |
| Christopher Bell | |
| Tyler Reddick |
Event Preview
The NASCAR Cup Series regular season have come to an end, as the playoffs officially get underway on Sunday. It promises to be a thrilling race to the end of the season, with the top 16 drivers competing for their place among the elite. The Cook Out Southern 500 is the final Crown Jewel Race of the season, and is staged at Darlington Raceway.
It will cover a total of 501 miles, and it was first staged in 1950. Drivers will complete 115 laps across the opening two stages in the Southern 500, with the remaining 137 laps completed in the final stage. Jeff Gordon is the most successful driver in the history of the race, having recorded six wins.
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Erik Jones could be a fascinating contender this weekend, as the driver has won two of the previous four editions. Denny Hamlin has also experienced huge success in the race, having landed two wins since 2017. The latter could be a solid selection this weekend, as he currently sits third in the Drivers’ Championship after an impressively consistent regular season.
Kyle Larson has menacingly moved up the standings in recent weeks, and he looks set to make a huge bid to regain the drivers’ championship this season. Chris Buescher is also a standout selection this weekend, as he has won three of the previous six races to move up to fourth in the overall standings.
Cook Out Southern 500 Prediction
The playoff action in NASCAR gets underway this weekend, and this should be a sensational opening race. However, we will be siding with the top selection in the betting, as Larson looks to be building momentum at a key stage of the campaign.
Free Pick:
Nascar
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