The NASCAR community is swinging into action for the longest race of the year. The Coca-Cola 600 will be held for the 127th time at the 1.5-mile Charlotte Oval. Being one of the Cup Series crown jewel events, winning this race would be a superb addition to any driver’s resume. So the competition will be stiff, and emotions will be high inside the Cup garage.
But one team soars above the rest, holding the most chances to reach Victory Lane: Hendrick Motorsports. Two of Rick Hendrick’s stellar drivers are slated to dominate the Charlotte track. One of them faces a daunting challenge and yet scores well in the betting game.
Hendrick drivers are projected to ace the Coca-Cola 600
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The 600-mile race of Charlotte dates back to 1960 when Joe Lee Johnson clinched the first trophy. Several drivers have survived the 4-hour-long grind. But Hendrick’s resilient drivers won 12 times, the highest number ever, at the track. Darrell Waltrip first cruised to Victory Lane at the prestigious event under HMS in 1988.
This time around as well, two amazing Hendrick drivers might make it to the front row. Erica Davis, NASCAR’s resident sports betting analyst, projects “William Byron in the NASCAR Coca-Cola 600 to be a top-three finisher.” Last year, the No. 24 driver finished in runner-up place after leading 91 laps. He’s also finished inside the top-10 in eight of the last 10 races on 1.5-mile tracks.
Kyle Larson also has a strong chance at the Coca-Cola 600, as he holds six top-five finishes. However, The Double may throw a wrench in his second Coke victory attempt. Attempting the Indy 500 and the Coca-Cola 600 on the same day seems like a long stretch. Davis gave a poignant example from her personal life: “I used to be a server and a bartender-working double always sounds really good until the day of the shift.”
Larson is instead projected to finish in the top five at the Indianapolis 500. But Ken Willis of the Daytona Beach News-Journal draws up a different possibility. If the Indy 500 gets delayed to Monday due to rain, then Larson will indeed have great time and poise for a winner’s performance in Charlotte.
The Indy 500/Coca-Cola 600 double is almost here for Kyle Larson. pic.twitter.com/RrSvvWE2DT
— FOX: NASCAR (@NASCARONFOX) May 17, 2024
The Sports Gambling Podcast predicts another HMS driver to win the Coca-Cola 600. Alex Bowman holds +140 odds to win, as his sturdy nature might pull him through to the end of the race. Last year, he managed to finish 12th despite hurting his back. In four of his last Coca-Cola 600 runs, he salvaged top-ten finishes.
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Hence, Hendrick Motorsports is going to dominate the Memorial Day weekend with its stellar drivers. In an unlikely twist, two racers are driving betting models on account of his outburst last weekend.
All-star fighters are expected to score big
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The Sports Gambling Podcast is highlighting stamina and durability in their Coca-Cola 600 predictions. Drivers who can withstand the draining 600-mile race have big chances. Hence, their choice fell upon Ricky Stenhouse Jr. in the top ten. In seven of his last eight Coca-Cola 600s, Stenhouse has finished at least 15th. Besides, his strength and determination to stick around were on full display last weekend.
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On the other hand, Stenhouse’s arch-enemy, Kyle Busch, may also carve out a victory. According to Ryan Pritt of the Daytona Beach News Journal, Busch could use his sore jaw as motivation. Moreover, he has the best average finish at Charlotte over the last three 600s (3.7), with two top-five finishes in that span.
Evidently, our All-Star wrestlers hold good chances of scoring big at the coveted Coca-Cola 600 race.