By David Caraviello | May 26th, 2021 | 4 mins

Coca-Cola 600 Odds, Expert Picks & 2021 Betting Predictions

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The longest race in NASCAR is typically a test of man and machine: Drivers have to know what changes their cars need as day turns to night in the Coca-Cola 600, and vehicles have to endure over four-and-a-half hours of competition. That makes the marquee event at Charlotte Motor Speedway something of a moving target for fans of NASCAR betting, given that good cars in the hot late afternoon can fade as the track changes after nightfall.

That was evident last year, when Alex Bowman led 163 laps early on only to fade to 19th at the end. Meanwhile, Brad Keselowski started at the rear due to an unapproved adjustment under impound, and led the final five laps to win. That ability to adjust is a big reason why championship-level drivers typically win the 600, barring the type of late gas-mileage drama that produced winners like Casey Mears in 2007 and Austin Dillon in 2017.

Toss out the qualifying order, given that the lineup will be set under the blazing morning sun. The race really begins when the sun goes down, when driver savvy and a proven crew chief can make the difference. So, keep that in mind when you peruse odds at top sportsbooks.

Coca-Cola 600 Odds

Odds current as of publication from DraftKings Sportsbook and subject to change.

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NASCAR Coca-Cola 600 Predictions & Betting Tips

Chase Elliott to Win, +700

As we saw during last year’s championship run, Elliott is a driver who thrives on momentum. He broke through with his first victory of the 2021 campaign last week at Circuit of the Americas, although the road course event sort of fell into his lap once it became a rainy, mismanaged mess.

Even so, Elliott has now finished seventh or better four weeks running, and he has finished fourth or better in five of his last six at Charlotte – a span that includes two runner-up finishes and a victory in a 500-miler last year. Crew chief Alan Gustafson also knows his way around the 1.5-mile tri-oval, owning five top-3 finishes there with Kyle Busch and Jeff Gordon in addition to Elliott.

For more great expert NASCAR picks for the Coca-Cola 600 from our team of handicappers, check out bookiesEDGE:

Coca-Cola 600 Betting Tips

Looking at the NASCAR betting lines, Kyle Larson is the favorite by virtue of his three straight runner-up finishes. But he owns an average finish of 18.9 at Charlotte and has just one career top-10 in the 600. The biggest threat shapes up to be No. 2 odds favorite Martin Truex Jr., who has three Charlotte wins, two of them in the 600, since 2016.

He’s completely dominated the place at times, leading 392, 233 and 116 laps over the course of his three victories there, and he leads the circuit with three wins this year. Among veteran drivers, Joey Logano owns the top average finish at Charlotte at 12.2, and he enters this week on a nice streak of two straight top-fives.

Denny Hamlin is close behind with an average finish of 12.5, although the still-winless Cup Series points leader has been all over the place recently. He has two top-10s in his past five starts this season, and two finishes of 17th or worse in his last three at Charlotte, where he’s still winless as well.

Another driver yet to break through in 2021, Kevin Harvick, has top-10s in 12 of his last 14 at Charlotte. Keselowski, last season’s 600 winner, has been seventh or better in three of his last four at Charlotte, although he enters on a three-week skid of poor finishes.

Three other bets to keep an eye on at sports betting sites: Elliott to win at +700; Truex top-3 at +155; and Tyler Reddick – eighth and 14th in his lone two Charlotte starts – top-10 at +135.

Coca-Cola 600 Time, Date and TV

When: Sunday, May 30, 6 p.m.

Where: Charlotte (N.C.) Motor Speedway

TV: FOX

About the Author

David Caraviello

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