After an absolutely thrilling race last weekend at the Charlotte Motor Speedway, we're now down to the round of 8 in the NASCAR Playoffs. Christopher Bell dramatically captured his second victory of the season, pulling ahead of Kevin Harvick in the latter stages of the race and booking his spot in the next round. As a result, it also meant reigning champion Kyle Larson was eliminated, a surprise to many. Heading into the South Point 400 in Las Vegas on Sunday, Denny Hamlin is the frontrunner at +600 odds, followed by Chase Elliott (+800), Christopher Bell (+900), Kyle Busch (+900), and Ross Chastain (+1000). Continue reading for our South Point 400 picks.
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South Point 400 Picks
 | Odds |
|---|---|
| Denny Hamlin | +600 |
| Chase Elliott | +800 |
| Kyle Larson | +800 |
| Christopher Bell | +900 |
| Kyle Busch | +900 |
| Ross Chastain | +1000 |
| Ryan Blaney | +1000 |
| Tyler Reddick | +1000 |
| William Byron | +1100 |
| Martin Truex Jr | +1200 |
| Joey Logano | +1400 |
| Bubba Wallace | +1600 |
| Kevin Harvick | +2500 |
| Chase Briscoe | +4000 |
What You Need to Know
First, here are the drivers in the round of 8:
- Chase Elliott, Hendrick Motorsports, 4,046
- Joey Logano, Team Penske, 4,026
- Ross Chastain, Trackhouse Racing, 4,021
- Christopher Bell, Joe Gibbs Racing, 4,018
- William Byron, Hendrick Motorsports, 4,015
- Ryan Blaney, Team Penske, 4,015
- Denny Hamlin, Joe Gibbs Racing, 4,013
- Chase Briscoe, Stewart-Haas Racing, 4,009
This is a 400-mile race with 267 total laps. The South Point 400 has only been in existence since 2018, with Hamlin winning the 2021 edition, hence why he's a favorite in the sportsbooks.
South Point 400 Preview
There is a reason Hamlin is at +600. Not only did he win last year, but he's got three top-four finishes in his last four races in Vegas. Hamlin has been in good form lately too, finishing as runner-up in Darlington and Kansas while also landing in the top 10 at Talladega and Bristol. He also drove well in Vegas in the spring before running into car issues. Definitely worth keeping an eye on Hamlin in the South Point 400 picks.
Bell is someone you cannot ignore here. A win was the only acceptable result for him last weekend in order to advance and he made it happen in epic fashion. Bell continues to thrive every time he competes, securing six finishes in the top eight in his last nine outings. After keeping his playoff fate alive by the skin of his teeth in Charlotte, anything is possible for Bell. Plus, he was top-10 in Vegas in March. Another reason to ride him.
Elliott is a driver that sportsbooks always love, but he hasn't done well in Sin City in recent races. The regular season winner went 26th, 22nd, 13th, and 9th in his last four appearances in Vegas. Yes, he did finish as runner-up in the South Point 400 last year in the playoffs, but Elliott isn't thriving at the moment. He was 20th in Charlotte and outside of the top-10 in three of five races before that. On a more positive note, he did win at Talladega.
Joey Logano might only be at +1400 odds, but he could be a serious dark horse. Although Hamlin won this playoff race a year ago, Logano was leading for 31 laps in the spring before running into car problems. In 18 starts at Vegas, he's only finished outside of the top 16 once. Also, he won the 2019 and 2020 spring races at the Las Vegas Speedway, leading for almost 500 laps in total. This is clearly a place where Logano feels very comfortable. Currently sitting second in the playoff standings behind Elliott, a solid result here could possibly put Logano at the top. Don't put it past him in the South Point 400 picks.
Final Picks
There is a few different picks worth putting some money on come Sunday. Even though Elliott doesn't typically flourish in Vegas, I think he could finish top-five. This is go-time and he's one of the best around. Next, we're going Christopher Bell top-three. The numbers speak for themselves. This guy is riding a high at the moment and should keep it going in the first race of the Round of 8.
As for the winner, Joey Logano is the best bet. Between the past success on this track and his current place in the table, I think he'll come through here and win yet another race in Sin City.
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