Editor’s note: Sunday’s Coca-Cola 600 was postponed due to wet weather and will run Monday. Sunday’s original story (below) has been updated.
The NASCAR Cup Series returns to Charlotte Motor Speedway Monday for the 2023 Coca-Cola 600. Green flag is scheduled to drop shortly after 3 p.m. ET (FOX). Let’s analyze BetMGM Sportsbook’s lines around the 2023 Coca-Cola 600 odds, and make our expert NASCAR picks and predictions.
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2023 Coca-Cola 600: What you need to know
- Joe Gibbs Racing’s Denny Hamlin won the Coca-Cola 600 last season in a race which featured 18 cautions, 2nd-most in the history of the track
- Hamlin is 2nd in Average-Finish Position (AFP) at 11.9 (min. 4 starts) with 11 top-5 runs and 395 laps led in 31 career Cup starts
- 23XI Racing’s Tyler Reddick leads all active drivers with a 9.3 AFP, and he has never finished lower than 14th at Charlotte in 4 career Cup starts
- Jimmie Johnson, the 7-time Cup Series champ, will drive the No. 84 Chevrolet for the Legacy Motor Club. He leads all active drivers with 8 wins at Charlotte, while also posting 1,936 laps led in 37 career Cup starts with a 12.9 AFP
- Hendrick Motorsports driver William Byron, who has wins at Las Vegas, Phoenix and Darlington this season, has struggled in his Cup career at Charlotte. He has a 19.3 AFP in 6 career Cup starts with 2 DNFs
- Stewart-Haas Racing’s Kevin Harvick starts from the outside of Row 1. He has 3 career wins at Charlotte, tied with Martin Truex Jr. for 2nd-most among active drivers
- 23XI Racing’s Bubba Wallace, who was 2nd in the All-Star race last weekend at North Wilkesboro, has had big-time issues at Charlotte. He has a dismal 26.3 AFP with 2 DNFs
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2023 Coca-Cola 600 – Expert picks
Odds provided by BetMGM Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated at Sunday at 7:10 p.m. ET.
MARTIN TRUEX JR. (+1000) has been a bit on the erratic side this season. He has a win at Dover, what amounts to the home track for the New Jersey native, but he also has just 2 top-5 finishes, and 5 top-10 runs in his 12 starts this season.
While that sounds like MTJ should be avoided, he brings a lot of energy and excitement to Charlotte. In 31 career Cup starts, Truex has picked up checkers on 3 separate occasions, while posting 13 top-10 runs and 1,059 laps led with a 14.1 AFP.
2023 Coca-Cola 600 – Long shot
It’s more of a massive long shot, but JIMMIE JOHNSON (+15000) is definitely worth a look. He is no longer in top-notch machinery like his days with Hendrick Motorsports when he was competing for championships, but Johnson knows this track well. He has dominated with 8 career wins. Why not risk a $1 or $2 on the 7-time series champ?
If that’s not for you, CHASE BRISCOE (+8000) is also worth a shot. The Stewart-Haas Racing driver rattled off 3 consecutive top-5 runs on the Bristol dirt, Martinsville and Talladega. Briscoe has raced twice in the Cup Series at Charlotte, posting a 4th-place finish last season. If that’s too risky, too, consider BRISCOE TOP-10 FINISH (+230), which is still an outstanding value.
2023 Coca-Cola 600 prop pick(s)
CHASE BRISCOE (+120) over Austin Dillon
As mentioned above, Briscoe was 4th last season in the 600, and he has also finished 23rd with 2 laps led in his 2 career Cup starts at the track.
Dillon is quite a bit riskier. While he has won at Charlotte Motor Speedway in 14 career Cup starts, he has managed just 4 top-10 finishes with 10 laps led and 3 DNFs, too. Briscoe is a value play at plus-money.
MARTIN TRUEX JR. (-150) over Bubba Wallace
Again, Truex is a 3-time winner at this track, most among the active, full-time Cup drivers, while turning in a dominating 14.1 AFP with 1,059 laps led. He also has never had a DNF at Charlotte in his 31 career Cup starts
On the flip side, Wallace has consistently struggled in his 6 career Cup runs in Charlotte, posting a 2 DNFs, leading just a single lap while posting a 26.3 AFP. This is free money. Take advantage.
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For more sports betting picks and tips, check out SportsbookWire.com and BetFTW.
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