NASCAR odds for Richmond | Denny Hamlin, Kyle Larson not favored? Who’s that atop odds board?

It’s been a couple of weeks. Here’s hoping the batteries aren’t dead.

Flip the switch. We good? We’re good. Boogity-boogity-boogity and on to Richmond!

The Olympic break is over and it’s time to check the odds board. The effort will be there, but don’t expect to find a wager as ironclad as Chinese gold in diving.

Four Cup Series races remain in the 2024 regular season. The shadows are growing long for those in need of a win or serious points gains in order to make the 16-team playoff field. But it’s never too late to cash in if you know where to look.

Let’s take a peek.

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NASCAR payoff numbers for Cook Out 400 at Richmond

Odds courtesy of Hard Rock Bet

+425: Christopher Bell

+475: Martin Truex Jr.

+500: Denny Hamlin

+575: Kyle Larson

+1000: Joey Logano

+1100: Ryan Blaney

+1200: Chase Elliott

+1300: William Byron

+1500: Brad Keselowski

+1600: Chris Buescher

+1750: Tyler Reddick

+2000: Ty Gibbs

+2250: Josh Berry

+2500: Ross Chastain, Alex Bowman

+3000: Kyle Busch, Bubba Wallace

+10000: Michael McDowell, Austin Dillon, Daniel Suarez, Austin Cindric, Chase Briscoe, Todd Gilliland

+15000: Carson Hocevar, Ricky Stenhouse Jr., Ryan Preece, Noah Gragson, Justin Haley

+20000: Riley Herbst, Zane Smith, Parker Retzlaff, Ty Dillon, Erik Jones, John Hunter Nemechek, Corey LaJoie, Daniel Hemric, Harrison Burton

Why is Christopher Bell favored at Richmond?

Good question. Dating back to 2021 and the past seven races at Richmond, three drivers have better average finishes there (Denny Hamlin, Martin Truex Jr. and Joey Logano). And of the past seven winners at Richmond, none has answered to the names Christopher or Bell.

There’s this: In eight career Richmond starts, Bell has led laps in half of them and finished sixth or better in six. That’s solid. But probably not atop-the-odds-board solid. Not sure why Hamlin isn’t up top.

Any Richmond longshots interest you?

Alex Bowman is sitting there with Ross Chastain at +2500, around the middle of the pack.

The Showman was finding some momentum before getting crashed at Indy just before the break, and the Boss is racing for his playoff life. Cars occasionally go faster when the foot mashing the gas belongs to a desperate man.

Is Denny Hamlin a favorite to fade at Richmond?

Good try, but no way. In fact, he’ll probably win it (yes, I said “probably”).

No, not fading Denny. Until further notice, it’s Truex.

In the past 10 starts, Truex has finished in the top 10 twice, and those were a ninth and an eighth. He seems to have a playoff berth locked in on points, so he and his team can still greatly change the tenor of his going-away season.

That doesn’t mean they will, however.

OK, give us some solid betting tips

Solidity is relative, let’s say.

First, stay away from picking a winner, because it’ll almost be one of the favorites and therefore the payoff isn’t worth the gamble.

Let’s hit the props.

∎ Bowman is fifth on the board, at +800, among the Chevy drivers. That’s enticing.

∎ Kyle Busch is +450 for a top-5 finish. Yeah, yeah, I know, but let’s play “this is the week” one more time with Kyle and that No. 8 team. While he was in Italy during the break, either recharging his batteries or simply trying to forget it all, let’s assume the Childress team was working 24/7 to find the handling and speed.

∎ OK, maybe not 24/7, but maybe 18/7, and maybe that will produce something. Or maybe not.

∎ Finally, I’m looking at Hard Rock’s Group 3 foursome: Keselowski (+240), Buescher (+250), Reddick (+260) and Gibbs (+300). Even at even-money, I’d probably take Gibbs here. I’d definitely take him as the sorta longshot.

This article originally appeared on The Daytona Beach News-Journal: NASCAR odds at Richmond as racing exits Olympics break. Who’s favored?