2026 NASCAR Cup Series Title Odds: Kyle Larson, Denny Hamlin at Top of Board

DraftKings Sportsbook released the opening betting odds for the 2026 NASCAR Cup Series Championship on February 10, positioning Kyle Larson and Denny Hamlin as the early favorites following a dramatic shift back to the traditional 10-race Chase playoff format. Larson, the 2025 champion, leads the board at +400, while Hamlin follows closely at +450 as he continues his long-standing quest for an elusive first career title. The early lines reflect the high expectations for these drivers as the league transitions its postseason structure to reward consistency and performance under the revised rules for the upcoming 2026 season. The competitive landscape for the title features several heavy hitters from the Hendrick Motorsports and Joe Gibbs Racing stables. Behind the leading duo, William Byron sits at +550, followed by Christopher Bell at +600 and Ryan Blaney at +650. Chase Elliott, a perennially popular choice among bettors, rounds out the top tier with +750 odds. The betting market highlights a significant gap between these frontrunners and long-shot contenders, suggesting that oddsmakers expect the perennial powerhouses to dominate the newly reinstated Chase format. Interesting narratives are forming further down the list, notably with 18-year-old prospect Connor Zilisch entering the board at +2000, outranking established veterans like Ross Chastain, Kyle Busch, and Brad Keselowski. Former champions like Joey Logano and Busch find themselves in atypical positions further down the list at +1800 and +4500 respectively, indicating a potential changing of the guard or a lack of confidence in their current equipment packages. As the 2026 season approaches, these odds will likely fluctuate based on early-season performance and how teams adapt to the technical requirements of the 10-race playoff structure.