Get ready for a heart-pounding showdown at Talladega Superspeedway this Sunday, where the 2025 YellaWood 500 promises to shake up the NASCAR playoffs. But here's where it gets controversial: with Denny Hamlin already securing his spot in the Final Four, the pressure is on the remaining drivers to claw their way to the top. And this is the part most people miss—while Hamlin’s victory last week was impressive, the real drama unfolds as Kyle Larson (+35), Christopher Bell (+20), and Chase Briscoe (+15) battle it out in the Round of 8. The postseason format is brutal: four rounds, 10 races, and four drivers eliminated in each of the first three rounds. Only the toughest will survive to compete in the championship race.
In the betting world, Ryan Blaney stands out as the favorite at +900, but don’t sleep on William Byron, Joey Logano, or Austin Cindric, all sitting at +1000. Chase Elliott (+1100) and Larson (+1200) are also in the mix, making this race a gambler’s paradise. The green flag drops at 2 p.m. ET, but before you place your bets, you need to hear this: CBS Sports NASCAR expert Steven Taranto is here to guide you. With 20 iRacing wins under his belt and a red-hot 2024 season where he called 17 winners—including 16-1 longshot William Byron at Daytona—Taranto’s insights are pure gold.
For Talladega, Taranto is all in on Joey Logano (+1000), but his head-to-head prop bet between Ryan Blaney (-120) and Chase Elliott (-110) is where things get interesting. Bold prediction alert: Taranto leans toward Blaney, citing his three Talladega wins and the urgency to rebound after a Las Vegas setback. But Elliott, with two Talladega wins of his own, isn’t one to underestimate. Taranto’s logic? Blaney’s narrative and Team Penske’s recent success make him the safer pick. Yet, Elliott’s 2022 fall victory over Blaney raises questions—is Taranto underestimating him?
And here’s the kicker: Taranto’s also eyeing a massive 100-1 longshot that could pay out big. Thought-provoking question: Are you willing to take a chance on the underdog, or will you stick with the favorites? Let us know in the comments! Before you finalize your picks, you absolutely need to check out Taranto’s full analysis—it could be the difference between a modest win and a life-changing payout.
