NASCAR drives to the state of Alabama for this week’s GEICO 500. Now, last week was one of those weeks where we were extremely fortunate. A few late spins led us to gold as Chase Elliott won at Texas. That ended his race drought and harkened hopes to the old No. 9. Hendrick Motorsports had William Byron in contention as well. So, can the 2024 GEICO 500 Bets guide us to glory once again?
VegasBetting roars in from Talladega with some more NASCAR Vegas online betting odds for the ninth points race of the 2024 season. So, let us dig into these 2024 GEICO 500 Bets by the numbers. With a Superspeedway, there are a slew of favorites because of track uncertainty. Who might snag the checkered flag this week?
NASCAR 2024 Talladega Numbers | |||
---|---|---|---|
William Byron | +1000 | +1000 | +1000 |
Ryan Blaney | +1000 | +1000 | +1000 |
Brad Keselowski | +1000 | +1000 | +1000 |
Joey Logano | +1100 | +1100 | +1050 |
Denny Hamlin | +1100 | +1100 | +1050 |
Chase Elliott | +1100 | +1100 | +1050 |
Kyle Busch | +1500 | +1200 | +1300 |
Bubba Wallace | +1500 | +1500 | +1400 |
Ross Chastain | +1600 | +1500 | +1600 |
Christopher Bell | +1600 | +1800 | +1700 |
Ty Gibbs | +1800 | +1800 | +1800 |
Chris Buescher | +1900 | +2000 | +2000 |
Kyle Larson | +2000 | +2000 | +2000 |
Rolling the dice on Chase Elliott seemed crazy at Texas. However, it was clear from the jump that the Hendrick Motosports cars had the speed. Kyle Larson led a ton of laps before luck was not his friend. That became a theme throughout Sunday afternoon. 2024 GEICO 500 bets get fearful at Talladega because at any time (like Texas), a crash can completely alter the complexion of the race.
Texas last week hurt a lot of pocketbooks and wallets with 16 cautions totaling 72 laps in all. Arguably, this week may be even worse. The steep banking on this Alabama track combined with high speeds and tight quarters create high potential for chaos. It is why when one begins to look at previous results, some strange names appear unexpectedly along with some drivers who have had mixed pasts on the 2.66-mile track.
With Ryan Blaney, he has led 11.2% of the laps of the laps driven at Talladega since 2021. He has three top five results and four top tens. His average finish leads the way at 6.7. However, the question remains can he pull it off on Sunday? He has led laps in 10 of his previous 11 appearances, won in October 2023, and had two runner-ups before that. Again, we sheepishly ask is due to get collected in a wreck?
Naturally, at Vegas Betting, we know Blaney is around +1000 and Elliott is +1100 in a few places. Unfortunately, it is tough to gauge for Top 5 results here but Blaney has a 50-50 chance along with one other driver. Now, let us try to make things a bit more spicy below.
So, hello Brad Keselowski from the land of winning droughts. The last time Keselowski won a race was way back in 2021 at (you guessed it) Talladega. 2024 NASCAR GEICO 500 Bets know that it has been three seasons since the Ford driver tasted the spoils of victory lane.
Again, risk abounds with an aggressive driver like Keselowski. At any time, wrecks can happen at Talladega. Often, it is not the amount of cautions but how many cars that get claimed in accidents. Timing never seems to be a driver’s friend on this track. When that 32 to 33-degree banking gets you, it gets you. There is no other way to slice it. However, the RFK Racing driver has shown better form in 2024 compared to 2023.
Now, as we mentioned with superspeedways, the odds get bunched heavily. That makes finding value a little more challenging. On the bright side, every driver opens at +1000 or longer. At least, there is that. Alas, Keselowksi has endured his share of wrecks on this track. What driver has not at this point?
Despite a perceived lack of speed, Keselowski’s pit crew and driving expertise play well on this track. If there was a time for the owner-driver to win, it makes sense that Talladega would be the track to snap the 107 race drought.
Okay, how about making some more 2024 GEICO 500 Bets? Yes, Top 3 and Top 5 choices can be very fickle here. A Keselowski Top 5 though does pay out at +130. It is hard to get plus money even on this track at that level. All three favorites are at +130 by the way. That includes William Byron and Ryan Blaney.
Again, many expect Ryan Blaney to do well. He has been talked about at +275 for a podium spot. With that 1st-2nd-2nd over the past three Talladega races, who could blame the betting public? However, drivers like Ross Chastain and even Daniel Suarez could be fun gambles for a Top 5 or Top 10. Again, the roll of the dice at Talladega tests many a betting soul.
Staying away from driver head-to-head matchups feels like a wise option for this week. Our strategy involves more about taking small risks on drivers. Spending less money appears to be the right play. However, one can take a roll on Ford to win here at +170.
Are we trading paint from the back? You bet! Take a look at where some drivers qualify on Saturday. Often, at Talladega, drivers in the back tend to fare better late than those at the front. Ryan Blaney’s average start is 11.2 and Chase Elliott is 17.8 since 2021. It must be monitored.
Keselowski tops our 2024 NASCAR GEICO 500 Bets for this Sunday afternoon.
Vegas betting site bonuses and great online betting sites are at the waiting for bettors. Good luck!
Summary
Chris Wassel is a skilled scribe who possesses a fervor for both sports and entertainment. Boasting a journalism background and over two decades of experience, he has crafted pieces that encompass a diverse array of sports including hockey, basketball, football, and others. His writing is characterized by its lucidity and sharpness, and provides a unique viewpoint on entertainment and political matters. While Chris primarily focuses on sports writing, he also writes about a wide range of subjects.