With only five races remaining in the NASCAR Cup Series regular season, Kyle Larson holds the leading NASCAR Championship odds, positioning himself as the favorite to claim the 2025 title. Meanwhile, Chase Elliott has made a strong push in the standings, closing the gap and moving ahead of his Hendrick Motorsports teammate William Byron.
Chase Elliott has surged from fourth place in the drivers’ standings, 104 points behind the leader, to the top spot, now leading by 16 points over Byron. Byron, in contrast, has struggled recently, posting an average finish of 25.33 over his last six races. Other storylines at Indianapolis Motor Speedway include Denny Hamlin’s attempt to complete the prestigious Crown Jewel grand slam by winning the Brickyard 400 after his recent victory at the Southern 500.
Chase Elliott’s Rise and Other Season Highlights
Chase Elliott’s recent consistency has been a defining feature of the season’s closing stretch, dramatically improving his championship prospects. In stark contrast, Byron’s recent form has hindered his chance of maintaining a strong title bid. Meanwhile, Bubba Wallace remains a wildcard, frequently hovering near the playoff cutoff positions more than any other driver during the Next Gen car era.
Chase Briscoe will look to add to his season by securing a third Crown Jewel pole after already capturing the top starting spot for the Daytona 500 and Coca-Cola 600. On the other hand, Kyle Busch is enduring a difficult streak, tying his longest dry spell without leading laps, which dates back to nine races between June and August 2005.
Notable Trends on the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Oval
Historically, drivers entering the race below the playoff cutoff line have rarely won on the 2.5-mile asphalt circuit at IMS, with Kasey Kahne being the only driver to break through under these circumstances in 2017, despite being 181 points out of contention at that time. This highlights the challenge for drivers outside the playoff positions to secure a crucial victory this late in the season.
Current Championship Betting Odds
According to BetOnline Sportsbook, Kyle Larson holds the best odds at +350 to win his first Cup Series championship since 2021, making him the favorite among the contenders. Denny Hamlin, who currently leads the circuit with four wins following his success at Dover, sits second with +425 odds to capture his first overall drivers’ championship.
Our Reader’s Queries
Q. Is Kyle Larson better than Verstappen?
A. While Larson may not outperform Verstappen in F1, he’s considered the most versatile driver worldwide. Bianchi believes Larson is top because his achievements span many different car types. Larson has victories across a wide range of vehicles, showing off his diverse skills.
Q. What caused Kyle Larson to crash?
A. A day after the accident, Bob Pockrass from FOX Sports shared what Larson said on X. Larson explained that the crash was due to a broken axle, stating, “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’s remarks or actions?