With only five races left in the NASCAR Cup Series regular season, discussion is intensifying around the current leaderboard and the latest Kyle Larson NASCAR championship odds, particularly as Chase Elliott has secured the top spot in the standings. The conversation is also shaped by recent performances and the shifting playoff picture at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway ahead of the Brickyard 400 Presented by PPG.
Elliott Moves Up, Byron Falls Back, and Hamlin Eyes Historic Win
Chase Elliott has notably advanced from fourth to first place among drivers, overcoming a 104-point gap to lead the circuit, while his Hendrick Motorsports teammate William Byron has experienced a significant downturn, now trailing Elliott by 16 points following an average finish of just over 25th in his last six races. Denny Hamlin is focused on claiming the rare grand slam of NASCAR’s Crown Jewel events, including the Daytona 500, Coca-Cola 500, Southern 500, and Brickyard 400. If Hamlin manages a consecutive win on Sunday, he would join Dale Earnhardt Sr., Jeff Gordon, Kevin Harvick, and Jimmie Johnson as one of the few drivers to have achieved this milestone in the sport.
Bubba Wallace continues to attract attention around the playoff cutoff, having occupied either 16th or 17th place in the drivers’ standings on 23 occasions during the Next Gen era—more times than any other competitor. Additionally, Chase Briscoe, who has already secured pole positions at both the Daytona 500 and Coca-Cola 600 this year, is aiming to complete a sweep of Crown Jewel qualifying sessions at Indianapolis.
Notable Storylines as Drivers Look to Secure Playoff Spots
Kyle Busch’s current form has raised questions, as he has not led a single lap in his last nine races, matching the longest such stretch of his career since the summer of 2005. Entering this event, history highlights that only once has a competitor who started below the playoff cutoff at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway oval gone on to win at another 2.5-mile asphalt track. That rare feat was last accomplished by Kasey Kahne in 2017, who was 181 points outside the chase at the time of his victory.
Kyle Larson Leads Championship Odds for 2025
According to BetOnline Sportsbook, Kyle Larson holds the strongest odds at +350 to secure his second NASCAR Cup Series championship, after last claiming the title in 2021. Denny Hamlin, fresh off his fourth win of the season at Dover, has the second-best odds at +425 to capture his first championship. These sportsbook figures are current as of publication and reflect the momentum and recent results of these key drivers.
As the regular season nears its end, the focus will remain on whether Chase Elliott can maintain his position at the top, if Denny Hamlin can make history at the Brickyard 400, and if Kyle Larson continues to justify his status as the favorite in the Kyle Larson NASCAR championship odds. The outcomes of these remaining races will be crucial in shaping the playoff landscape and determining which drivers advance for a shot at one of motorsport’s most coveted titles.
Our Reader’s Queries
Q. Is Kyle Larson better than Verstappen?
A. Larson might not defeat Verstappen in Formula 1, but he’s the most adaptable driver worldwide. Bianchi suggests Larson stands out because he excels in a range of car types.
Q. What caused Kyle Larson to crash?
A. The day following the incident, Bob Pockrass from FOX Sports shared Kyle Larson’s remarks on X. Larson explained the crash happened because an axle snapped. He stated, “The axle broke.”
Q. Asked about Larson’s claim on Thursday, he had just two coy words: Asked Max Verstappen for his response to Kyle Larson’s comments about being a better all-round driver – Max just smiled and said: \x26quot;That’s fine. Everyone thinks their own way, right?\x26quot; With a quick detour to another sport, let me put it this way.
A. What was Max Verstappen’s reaction to Kyle Larson?
Q. Who did Kyle Larson marry?
A. In Concord, North Carolina, Kyle Larson and his wife Katelyn had their third child, Cooper Donald Larson, on New Year’s Eve. The No. 5 HendrickCars.com Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 driver shared this news on social media on Monday. Cooper has two older siblings: an 8-year-old brother, Owen, and a 4-year-old sister, Audrey.
