Okay NASCAR race fans and betting faithful, after revealing the odds to win the 2019 Monster Energy NASCAR championship last week, it’s time to offer up some fun-filled predictions on what could go down on the NASCAR tour in 2019. Despite winning a whopping eight races in 2018 – and still coming up short in his quest to win the NASCAR championship – veteran driver Kevin Harvick has been installed as the prohibitive favorite win it all in 2019.
Nevertheless, Harvick will have plenty of company when it comes to legitimate cup contenders in 2019 – even if one of the top half-dozen favorites on the board isn’t 2018 champion Joey Logano. The 2019 NASCAR Monster Energy Season begins on February 16 with the legendary Daytona 500. Now, let’s get to my expert 2019 NASCAR betting predictions.
Updated 2019 NASCAR Championship Odds – January 18th Edition
Daytona 500 Winner
If you didn’t know it before, a different driver has won the Daytona 500 every year since Sterling Martin last pulled off the feat of winning consecutive Daytona 500s back in 1994 and 1995. Each of the last four winners of the Daytona 500 were claiming their first career win at Daytona since Dale Earnhardt Jr. won the second of his two Daytona 500s back in 2014. So, which driver looks like potential a potential winner at the most coveted event on the NASCAR tour in 2019?
Kyle Larson +800
The 26-year old Larson has the look of a driver that is going to be a force for years to come after finishing an encouraging ninth in the NASCAR Monster Energy standings last year. Despite failing to nail down a victory in 2018, Larson recorded a dozen Top 5 finishes and an impressive 19 Top 10 finishes in 2018, While many expect Larson to contend for the championship in 2019, I’m thinking a win at Daytona is definitely possible for the Elk Grove, California native.
The Champ is No Chump
Joey Logano +800
It’s a bit funny that the 2018 champ is offering just the seventh-best odds to win it all in 2019, but that’s okay, it just makes him a more value-packed pick to win consecutive titles. Then again, no driver has won back-to-back NASCAR titles since Jimmie Johnson managed to win five straight from 2006-2010. Still, I’m expecting Logano to really challenge in 2019, seeing as how he’s still just 28-years-old and has experienced success at every level of his racing career. The 2015 Daytona 500 winner won three races in 2018 while recording 13 Top 5 finishes and a whopping 26 Top 10 finishes. I’m thinking Logano is a ‘must-bet’ futures odds wager heading into 2019, even though I’m predicting he’ll finish fourth overall.
No Beating Around the Busch
Kyle Busch +500
Kyle Busch might have finished fourth in 2018, but I like the 33-year-old to challenge for the title in 2019 after tying Kevin Harvick with an insane eight wins in 2018. In addition to his stunning number of wins a year ago, Busch also added 22 Top 5 finishes and 28 Top 10 finishes. The 2015 NASCAR champion has recorded a quartet of Top 4 finishes in each of the last four years and that kind of consistency means he’s going to definitely challenge again in 2019, even if I do have him finishing third.
It’s Deuces For Truex Jr. Again!
Martin Truex Jr. +700
After never finishing better than fourth and recording a double-digit finish in every season except 2015, Martin Truex Jr. is clearly now one of the most elite drivers in the world. After winning the title in 2017 Truex Jr. almost pulled off back-to-back titles before finishing second in 2018. Truex Jr. finished with the second most wins a year ago (four), while adding a stellar 20 Top 5 finishes and equally impressive 21 Top 10 finishes. Truex Jr. will be with Joe Gibbs Racing in 2019 and beyond, but the good news is that longtime crew chief Cole Pearn is joining him at JGR, so Truex Jr. should be good to go out of the gate.
Harvick Fulfills Status As Top Dog!
Kevin Harvick +500
Yes, I know Harvick is now, 43-years-old, but you’d never know it the way he’s been performing for almost the last decade, you’d never know he’s not a spry 25-year-old. If you didn’t know it before…Harvick has finished in the top 3 in seven of the last nine years while winning it all in 2014. Harvick has recorded back-to-back third place finishes the last two years and I believe he’s about due to win one more championship. A year ago, Harvick recorded a NASCAR-best 23 Top 5 finishes and 29 Top 10 finishes and that kind of excellence is going to be tough to beat in 2019!
