NASCAR Darlington odds, picks and predictions for Goodyear 400 Cup race

The Southern Illinoisean

13 May 2023

NASCAR Darlington odds, picks and predictions for Goodyear 400 Cup race

It’s Throwback Weekend for NASCAR as the Cup Series heads to Darlington Raceway for the Goodyear 400 on Sunday.

Many drivers and teams will be paying homage to NASCAR legends over the past 75 years with special paint schemes on their race cars.

As it is with so many tracks on the NASCAR circuit, Darlington has a special history in the sport, hosting its first Cup race in 1950.

The 1.366-mile track, which is shaped like an egg, is known as “the track too tough to tame," as cars reach speeds of over 184 mph.

This Sunday’s running will mark the 124th Cup race at the Darlington.

Denny Hamlin, fresh off his first win of the season last week at Kansas, has the most victories of any active driver at the South Carolina track with four. Kevin Harvick is right behind with three career Cup wins, while Erik Jones and Martin Truex Jr. have two each.

Hamlin’s victory at Kansas snapped a 33-race winless streak for the No. 11 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota driver and set him up as one of the favorites for this Sunday, which is just the 10th time in NASCAR history there’s been a Cup race on Mother’s Day.

FrontPageBets takes a look at drivers to watch as the green flag drops on the Goodyear 400 from Darlington Raceway on Sunday afternoon (FS1, 3 p.m.)

Pick to win: Tyler Reddick (+850)

Ranked sixth in Cup Series points this season, Tyler Reddick has one win, six top-10 and four top-5 finishes in 12 races.

While he’s never won at Darlington, his average finish at the 1.366-mile track is 11.1.

In seven races there, the driver of the No. 45 23XI Racing Toyota has three top-10 finishes, including second in the spring race last year and third in the fall race.

Top-3 finish: Denny Hamlin (+200)

Hamlin figured something out at Kansas last week and getting back in the winner’s circle will only breed more confidence in the driver who has won at Darlington four times (2010, 2017, 2020 and 2021).

This season, Hamlin is fourth in Cup points, with his one win and five top-10 finishes.

Hamlin has tamed Darlington in his career, not just with the four victories, but his average finish is 7.4 in 21 Cup starts, including 16 top-10 and 12 top-5 finishes. He’s led 792 career laps there.

Top-10 pick: Kyle Larson (-390)

In 12 races this season, Kyle Larson, the driver of the No. 5 Hendrick Motorsports Chevy, has two wins and five top-5 finishes.

In 10 career starts at Darlington, Larson is winless, but has five top-5s, including three consecutive runner-up finishes from 2019-2021. His average finish at the 1.366-mile track is 9.2, while he’s led 686 career laps.