NASCAR approaches its next crowned jewel. Every Memorial Day weekend, the Cup Series takes on the Coca-Cola 600 in Charlotte, North Carolina. This race produced some great racing in 2023 and some drama. We’ll go over the drama a bit later, but there’s drama headed into this race too! The drama we’ll also get into. But the Coca-Cola 600 is a fan favorite, and it’s sold out its 2024 rendition for good reason. As usual, Chris and I will come in and give some picks for you. As well as a guy to stay away from. So let’s just dive right in, and here’s to another great week of racing. Here are your expert picks for this weekend!
Chris’s Picks: #9 Chase Elliott (+1,100) & #11 Denny Hamlin (+600)
Embed from Getty ImagesSo, what do you guys want to talk about today? Just kidding, I know the drama that took place between these two last season at this exact race. It’s a new season though, and both have wins so things are a little different this Coca-Cola 600. I’m going with fan-favorite Chase Elliott because of a few reasons. The first one being in the last nine races, Chase has finished inside the top ten in six of the nine races. His worst finish came back at COTA coincidently enough and it was a 16th-place finish. If that momentum isn’t enough of a reason. I’ll do one better. In twenty career starts on the Charlotte Oval, as long as Chase isn’t involved in an accident, his worst finish was 18th. Coming way back in 2018 when he drove the #25 car for HMS before his rookie season. I like Chase’s chances at the very least for another top-ten finish.
A big hit for Denny Hamlin. #NASCAR pic.twitter.com/Ss1FEqGYiJ
— FOX: NASCAR (@NASCARONFOX) May 29, 2023
Denny is another driver who has a ton of momentum on his side this season heading into one of the sports crown-jewel races. He has three wins alone this season and has shown speed pretty much in every race. He’s averaging around 12th place finish and has led over 600 laps in total. Oh yeah, and he won this race two seasons ago. I think Denny may be an easy pick this week but sometimes you need an easy pick.
Kaleb’s Picks: #8 Kyle Busch (+1800) & #17 Chris Buescher (+1400)
Embed from Getty ImagesNobody’s had a better track record at the Coca-Cola 600 than Kyle Busch. In six of the last eight races, Rowdy has finished in the top five. Last year he finished P6 and in 2022 he was runner-up. 2018 was his last win at the event, sweeping all the stages and taking home the checkered flag. Busch this year has been inconsistent to say the least. In 13 races he has just three top five finishes. He also enters the Coca-Cola 600 with a target on his back, after this viral moment with Ricky Stenhouse Jr. If Busch can stay out of trouble, and RCR can give him a car to work with, I like his odds here. But those are two really big ifs.
Kyle Busch and Ricky Stenhouse Jr. fight after the All-Star Race. pic.twitter.com/IJMttBw90W
— Jordan Bianchi (@Jordan_Bianchi) May 20, 2024
As for Chris Buescher in the #17. There is nobody who is more due for a win than him. After finishing .001 seconds behind Kyle Larson at Kansas, and getting pushed out of contending for a win by Tyler Reddick at Darlington, he’s itching for a win. At Charlotte, he has yet to put up a top-five finish in 11 races, but he’s got four top tens and won the second stage at this race last year. Another set of odds where the path is there, and it’s good enough to throw some cash at.
Chris’s Fade: #22 Joey Logano (+1800)
Embed from Getty ImagesI know he just won a million dollars in the all-star race. I also know he had the privilege of going to a tire test at the same track a little while ago. So, I’m not quite as impressed as some may be. Plus, he has one top-ten finish on mile-half tracks and that was way back in the third race of the season in Las Vegas. Oh not to mention in the last five points-paying races he hasn’t grabbed one top-ten finish. Now, I’ll probably eat these words but I’m staying as far from Joey betting-wise until he proves otherwise.
Kaleb’s Fade: #20 Christopher Bell (+1300)
Embed from Getty ImagesI’ve been fading Christopher Bell a lot in recent weeks, but I’m still just not seeing the vision with this #20 car. He’s got one top-ten finish since the beginning of April. As we approach the halfway point in the season, Bell has looked like the fourth car at Joe Gibbs Racing. He’s locked into the playoffs with that win at Phoenix, but being 15th in points is not what you want to see out of Bell. The Coca-Cola 600 in the past hasn’t been great to him either. In three races he has just one finish above P24, a P5 2022. He’s got some solid points days with stage finishes, but never a complete picture. Christopher Bell needs to prove something to me before I advocate betting on him. At this time last year, I’d see the #20 car with +1300 and jump for joy. Now, it’s just kinda where he belongs and I’m not touching it with a ten-foot pole.
If you enjoyed this content, or hate it and want to argue with me, follow me on Twitter @KalebEmcee! Also, read up on the rest of the NASCAR content Belly Up Sports has to offer here! Heck, for all your other sports needs, follow the main page. If you love racing of any shape or form, find Chris on Twitter, and let’s talk!
