Camila Vega
The Pala Casino 400 race will take place on Sunday, February 26, 2023. This NASCAR Cup Series race is sure to be tremendously exciting, as some of the best drivers in the sport will be competing for the top spot. With the competition being so tight, it is difficult to make informed selections about who will win the race.
That is exactly why, at JefeBet, we will cover everything you need to know to help you make the best selections. We will look at each drivers’ records, past performances and other key aspects to provide you with an informed prediction.
So, if you’re a NASCAR fan and would like to know what we think, read on for our picks and predictions on the upcoming Pala Casino 400 race.
Betting Preview for the Pala Casino 400 at Auto Club Speedway NASCAR Cup Series Race on February 26 2023
- Where: Auto Club Speedway, California, U.S.A.
- When: Sunday, February 26, 2023, 3:35 PM E.T.
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All odds are courtesy of BetMGM.
Favorites
Kyle Larson (Odds +700)
First, we have driver Kyle Larson, who started the season in 17th place after finishing 18th in the Daytona 500. While a Top 20 start is not ideal, this is a racer who has many capabilities. He is aggressive and in 2021 was a NASCAR Cup Series champion in both the regular season and the postseason.
In the preparatory races for the Daytona 500, Larson won the pole position in Bluegreen Vacations Duel 2 and finished sixth, which is actually not the best result, since he started in first place. This race gave him 5 points.
Denny Hamlin (Odds +900)
In second place we have Denny Hamlin, who finished 17th in the Daytona 500, which gave him 22 points and is currently in 19th place in the Drivers’ Championship standings. While it is still early in the championship, he is one of the best on the circuit, and in 2022 he finished the season in fifth place after his last victory in the Coca-Cola 600 in Charlotte.
In the last race in preparation for the Daytona 500, Denny Hamlin started 13th and finished ninth, a result that is quite good. This record gave him 2 points.
Ryan Blaney (Odds +900)
Ryan Blaney had a much better start to the season than the two drivers previously mentioned. Not only did he reach the top 10 in the Daytona 500, but he also reached seventh place in the Drivers’ Championship standings because of this result. Undoubtedly, this result will give him enough confidence to excel in the Pala Casino 400 race.
In contrast, the races leading up to this event in Daytona were favorable. During the first race, the driver led the most laps and managed to secure a third-place finish. This shows that he is in good shape ahead of the next meeting.
Sleeper Picks
Chase Elliott (Odds +1000)
The first of our sleeper picks is Chase Elliott. This driver is tremendously strong, and his talent has been great enough to help him won some of NASCAR’s most important awards. Last year he finished as NASCAR Cup Series regular season champion, and in 2020 he was the postseason champion.
In Duel 2, prior to the Daytona 500, he came in third place after starting seventh, which gave him 8 points. At Daytona, however, he finished 38th, a truly disappointing result for a driver of his level, and which leaves him in the 29th place in the Drivers’ Championship standings.
However, he is one of the best runners on the circuit and could easily bounce back for the Pala Casino 400.
Kyle Busch (Odds +1100)
Kyle Busch is coming off a successful 2022 in which he qualified for the early part of the NASCAR Cup Series playoffs. Now, he started 2023 on a positive note. In fact, in Duel 2, prior to the Daytona 500, he led the most laps (28). However, he finished in 19th place after starting in the 5th position.
However, in the Daytona 500 he repeated his luck to pass the checkered flag in the same place as in the preparation race. As a result, he is in the 22nd place in the Drivers’ Championship before the Pala Casino 400.
Dark Horse
Christopher Bell (Odds +1100)
Finally, we have Christopher Bell, the young driver who has been making waves in the NASCAR Cup Series, as last year he had his best season in his entire career with a third place finish in the final playoffs. He raced the Duel 1 pre-Daytona 500, which he finished second after starting 11th.
In the Daytona 500 he repeated this accomplishment but finished third. This gave him 44 points and the fourth place in the Drivers’ Championship. He is undoubtedly one of the drivers that is most likely to win the Pala Casino 400 this following Sunday.
Read our review of BetMGM here.
JefeBet Prediction
Pala Casino 400 will be a demanding race for all drivers involved. However, only a few have proven to be capable to win. So far, Christopher Bell is the driver with the best results and the most consistent one, so he will be the champion of this NASCAR Cup Series race.
