2019 NASCAR Cup Championship Odds, Tips & Top Bets to Back

Pete Pistone

February 14th, 2019

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NASCAR Cup Championship Betting Tips

One of if not the longest seasons in professional sports is about to take the green flag. The 2019 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series begins with the Daytona 500 and doesn’t end until the checkered flag flies at Homestead-Miami Speedway in mid-November.

The 36-race schedule encompasses 10 months and over 10,000 miles of racing, providing fans of NASCAR betting plenty of opportunities.

The championship is decided by a 26-race regular season qualifying 16 drivers for the Playoffs, which is a 10-race gauntlet of elimination rounds leading to the Homestead finale.

The four remaining eligible drivers for the title then compete in a race inside the race with the highest finisher of the quartet earning the crown. It’s interesting to point out since the current format was introduced five years ago, all five champs also won the Miami race.

This year’s there’s another new wrinkle that will impact each individual race as well as the overall championship picture. A new rules package will dramatically reduce the cars’ horsepower and speed, a move NASCAR officials hope will provide more competitive and entertaining racing.

It may take some veteran drivers out of their comfort zone as they learn a new driving style to adapt while elevating the competitiveness of others.

There’s a strategy to betting the NASCAR Cup Series champion, and those looking to wager on the championship should consider these favorites as well as some possible dark horses to win the 2019 crown and/or finish in the top three of the standings.

2019 Monster Energy Cup Championship Best Bets

The Favorites

Kyle Busch

The former series champion won eight races last year and was one of the Championship 4 drivers. He stumbled in Miami to take him out of title contention capping a year that saw him in the top-five a remarkable 22 times.

But make no mistake, Busch is back with his entire team intact and there are no signs of a drop off in sight. He has been a vocal opponent of the new rules package, but Busch’s talent will overcome any early trepidation and he’ll be in the title picture again in 2019.

Bet Busch to win the title at +450 and at +100 to finish in the top three with 888Sport.

Kevin Harvick

Another driver who has won the Cup title before and was also in last year’s Miami championship race. Harvick matched Busch with eight wins overall and came home third in the final standings finishing outside the top-10 in only seven races all year.

Nothing has changed with his team with the exception of Ford moving to a new Mustang body style. Other than that it’s the same strong Harvick for the new year. Bet Harvick to win the title at +500 and at +150 to finish in the top three with Karamba.

Martin Truex Jr.

The 2017 champion has a new address as he moves from the now defunct Furniture Row Racing team to Joe Gibbs Racing, where ironically he’ll be a teammate of Kyle Busch.

There may be a bit of a learning curve working inside the walls of his new team, but on the track, Truex Jr., who missed winning back-to-back titles last year when he lost the lead to eventual champ Joey Logano in Miami with just 15 laps to go, will again contend.

Bet Truex to win the title at +700 and at +150 to finish in the top three with 888Sport.

Chase Elliott

The sport’s “Most Popular Driver” came into his own last year by winning his first three career Cup races. There’s a sense of optimism around Elliott after that performance and many believe he’s ready to take the next step to become a champion.

Bet Elliott to win the title at +700 and at +150 to finish in the top three with Betfair.

Longer Odds

Joey Logano

The 2018 champ got hot when it mattered most and rode that streak through the Playoffs and into Miami. Logano scored his first career title with the season finale win and now tries to become the first back-to-back champion in more than a decade.

Bet Logano to win the title at +850 and at +200 to finish in the top three with 888Sport.

Jimmie Johnson

The seven-time champion is a long shot for a record eighth title after going winless for the first time in his career.

He says he has nothing to prove, but Johnson has a crew chief other than fellow Hall of Famer Chad Knaus for the first time and also a bit of a chip on his shoulder.

Bet Johnson to win the title at +2500 and at +550 to finish in the top three with Karamba.