Despite not winning a race this year, Denny Hamlin currently holds the top position in the NASCAR Cup Series standings. Additionally, he is regarded as a frontrunner at the sportsbooks for both this weekend’s race and the remainder of the season.
How?
As Hamlin continues to secure top 5 finishes in an impressive seven out of eight starts, his points continue to accumulate. With a commanding 76-point advantage over Martin Truex Jr. and a 77-point lead over Joey Logano, Hamlin finds himself in a prime position as the 2021 Cup Series season intensifies.
Let’s not deny it: Hamlin should be feeling motivated as NASCAR heads to another racetrack in Virginia this weekend.
Having grown up in Virginia and honed his driving skills on the state’s go-kart circuits, Hamlin has returned to his home state for consecutive NASCAR races.
Hamlin’s Virginia doubleheader concluded with heartbreak in the first part. However, the finale at Richmond Raceway, which will host Sunday’s Toyota Owners 400 (3 p.m., Fox), presents an opportunity for Hamlin to potentially redeem himself. Virginia sportsbooks are favoring Hamlin’s odds to win at this track.
Denny Hamlin comes up short in Martinsville
At Martinsville Speedway this past weekend, Hamlin emerged as the frontrunner. Despite the rain delay in the Blue-Emu Maximum Pain Relief 500, he displayed dominance by leading for 276 laps throughout the two-day race.
In the closing stages of the race on Sunday, Hamlin found himself in dire need of a yellow flag and an opportunity to hit the pits. Nevertheless, the caution failed to materialize, leading to Truex Jr. and Chase Elliott eventually catching up to him in the final laps.
Hamlin shared with NASCAR.com that he secured a third-place finish.
“The situation was simply determined by the hand we were dealt. Our car performed exceptionally well in the short run, but unfortunately, it fell short in the long run. Regrettably, we struggled to make our car maneuver effectively over extended periods. I suppose you could say that was the main challenge we encountered.”
He was simply unlucky with the race conditions.
Yet, it was yet another impressive ending to a season that could have been dominant with just a few fortunate opportunities.
The shrinking Denny Hamlin odds to win on Sunday, as well as the final race of the season, are largely due to this significant factor.
Toyota Owners 400 odds
By Monday, the majority of VA sportsbooks had already published the odds for the Toyota Owners 400.
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the 300-lap, 400-mile race in 2020 was cancelled by NASCAR. Truex, who emerged victorious in the previous year’s race, holds the title of defending champion.
Despite never winning the Toyota Owners 400, Hamlin, a 40-year-old racer, has achieved victory three times in the Richmond Raceway fall race, known as the Federated Auto Parts 400. This accomplishment demonstrates his proficiency in winning at the renowned “America’s Premier Short Track.”
Truex and Hamlin are top contenders for the upcoming spring race, which will see a restricted number of fans in person. Additionally, they are both favored to clinch the 2021 Cup Series championship.
For instance, at DraftKings, Hamlin’s odds are +600 (requires a $10 bet to earn a $60 profit) for both the Toyota Owners 400 and +650 for winning the season championship.
Courtesy of DraftKings, we present the odds for the leading drivers.
| Toyota Owners 400 | 2021 Cup Series championship | |
|---|---|---|
| Martin Treux Jr. | +400 | +650 |
| Denny Hamlin | +600 | +650 |
| Kyle Larson | +700 | +800 |
| Brad Keselowski | +750 | +900 |
| Chase Elliott | +850 | +550 |
On Sunday, the skilled driver Quin Houff, hailing from Virginia, achieved a commendable and season-best 29th position at Martinsville. As for his chances of winning on Sunday, he stands at +150000, while his odds of winning the season championship are +200000.
Alternatively, you have the option to place bets on Houff’s chances to secure a top 3 finish (+30000) or a top 10 finish (+8000), which provide more reasonable possibilities and odds.
NASCAR Xfinity Series has week off
The NASCAR Xfinity Series will take a break this week following Josh Berry’s victory in the weather-rescheduled Cook Out 250 on Sunday.
Virginia’s Xfinity Series drivers failed to secure a spot in the top 10 during the Cook Out 250. Jeb Burton managed to finish 11th, Gray Gaulding achieved a season-best 21st place, while Brandon Brown faced disappointment with a 27th-place finish.
After the race, Brown was clearly disappointed as this marked the first time in 2021 that he has consecutively finished outside the top 10.
Burton’s spirits hadn’t improved by much.
As for Gaulding, his thoughts were preoccupied with other concerns.
While the Xfinity Series takes a short break, the NASCAR Truck Series is currently in action at Richmond this weekend.
The ToyotaCare 250 is scheduled for Saturday at 1:30 p.m. and will be aired on FS1. Grant Enfinger holds the title as the previous champion. In the current 2021 NASCAR Truck Series season, John Nemechek is leading the points after participating in five races.
Kyle Busch, a full-time Cup Series driver and frequent Truck Series competitor, has the shortest odds at -130 for the ToyotaCare 250. Following him are Nemechek at +750, and Matt Crafton and Sheldon Creed both at +1000.
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