After an extremely thrilling 2018 Monster Energy NASCAR season that saw two drivers win a mind-boggling eight times a year ago, NASCAR fans and race betting enthusiasts everywhere are fired up for the start of the quickly-approaching 2019 campaign.
Will Joey Logano go back-to-back after winning it all a year ago or will he fall prey to one of the higher favorites on the board like 2018 eight-time race winners Kevin Harvick or Kyle Busch?
2019 NASCAR Championship Odds – January 11th Edition
The rivalry returns. #EarnhardtVsGordon pic.twitter.com/ByYyk5dhOl
— FOX: NASCAR (@NASCARONFOX) Ja nuary 9, 2019
Here’s an expert looks at the odds to win the 2019 NASCAR championship along with some brief analysis on many of the top favorites.
Kevin Harvick
- Odds to Win the 2019 NASCAR Championship: +500
It’s no wonder that Kevin Harvick is the prohibitive favorite, seeing as how he won a whopping eight races last year to tie for the overall lead in victories while recording a NASCAR-best 23 Top 5 finishes and 29 Top 10 finishes.
Kyle Busch
- Odds to Win the 2019 NASCAR Championship:+500
Despite finishing fourth in 2018 and coming up just short of winning his second NASCAR title, Kyle “Rowdy” Busch is the co-favorite to win it all in 2019 and for good reason. Busch tied Kevin Harvick for the lead in victories with an impressive eight while also racking up 22 Top 5 finishes and 28 Top 10 finishes.
Martin Truex Jr.
- Odds to Win the 2019 NASCAR Championship: +700
After winning the title in 2017, Truex Jr. almost pulled off back-to-back titles before finishing second overall with four wins, 20 Top 5 finishes and 21 Top 10 finishes. Truex Jr. has moved over to to Joe Gibbs Racing alongside crew chief Cole Pearn, so there will be plenty of familiarity right out of the gate in 2019.
Chase Elliott
- Odds to Win the 2019 NASCAR Championship: +700
Elliott recorded three victories to go along with 11 Top 5 finishes and an impressive 21 Top 10 finishes. While he failed to make the Championship 4 in 2018, the baby-faced 23-year-old is definitely someone to keep an eye on not only in 2019, but for years to follow.
Kyle Larson
- Odds to Win the 2019 NASCAR Championship:+800
Despite failing to record a victory in 2018, many NASCAR observers believe Larson is arguably the best all-around racer in the field. After racking up 12 Top 5 finishes and 19 Top 10 finishes in 2018, Larson is expected to contend for the championship in 2019.
Brad Keselowski
- Odds to Win the 2019 NASCAR Championship: +800
Like the aforementioned Larson, Brad Keselowski had a solid 2018 season despite failing to win a race. Some believe the 35-year-old is on the downside of his career, but I believe that’s hogwash and I expect Keselowski to challenge for the title after finishing a respectable eighth in 2018.
Joey Logano
- Odds to Win the 2019 NASCAR Championship: +800
The 2018 champ is offering some stupendous value for a guy that….um…just won it all. The 20009 Sprint Cup Series Rookie of the Year and 2015 Daytona 500 winner won three races in 2018 while recording 13 Top 5 finishes and a whopping 26 Top 10 finishes. At +800, Logano is a ‘must-bet’ driver heading into 2019!
Ryan Blaney
- Odds to Win the 2019 NASCAR Championship: +1000
The 25-year-old Blaney is another young driver with an extremely bright future. The Ohio native won one race in 2018 while recording eight Top 5 finishes and a solid 16 top 10 finishes. At +100, Blaney looks like he may be worth a wager as well.
Erik Jones
- Odds to Win the 2019 NASCAR Championship: +1500
With one win, nine Top 5 finishes and an impressive 18 Top 10 finishes, the 22-year-old Jones quietly had a rock-solid sophomore year in 2018. With a win at Daytona in the latter part of the year, Jones looks like he could challenge to win the Daytona 500 and finish in the Championship 4.
