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Denny Hamlin Earns Top NASCAR Cup Series Drivers’ Championship Odds; Jeff Gordon Recalls 1st Title

Jeff Hawkins Written by Sports EditorJeff Hawkins
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Denny Hamlin Earns Top NASCAR Cup Series Drivers’ Championship Odds; Jeff Gordon Recalls 1st Title

Joe Gibbs Racing has the data to formulate winning game plans at Phoenix Raceway. Will that benefit NASCAR Cup Series Championship Race sports-betting favorite Denny Hamlin?

The Huntersville, N.C.-based organization claimed nine event titles at the 1-mile oval, including Christopher Bell’s visit to Victory Lane last March.

Hamlin undoubtedly will lean on JGR’s history in his bid for his first drivers’ title. FanDuel Sportsbook tabbed Hamlin (+200), who won at Phoenix in 2012 and ‘19, with the top odds to earn Sunday’s checkered flag. Hamlin previously qualified for the final four four times, placing P3 in 2014 and ‘21.

Since 2014, the first season of the current playoff system, JGR paces all organizations with 16 Championship 4 appearances, featuring five top trophies. Joining Hamlin is teammate Chase Briscoe, marking the fourth time it delivered more than one team to the finale.

Hamlin paced the Cup Series with six wins this season, including his milestone 60th of his career. He also surpassed the 16,000 career laps led, becoming the 12th pilot to reach that mark.

Jeff Gordon Reflects On Hendrick Motorsports’ 1st Title

In 1995, Jeff Gordon earned not only his first NASCAR Cup Series championships, but handed Hendrick Motorsports’ initial crown. Now, vice chairman, the hall of famer spoke of the opportunity for the Charlotte, N.C.-based organization to win its 15th title. Gordon owns four of those trophies and spoke Tuesday of Kyle Larson and William Byron competing in Sunday’s finale.

“It’s hard to believe it’s been 30 years,” Gordon said via NASCAR PR. “A lot has happened at Hendrick Motorsports since then (and) it’s been exciting to be a part of that.

“Obviously honored to be a part of that first one. I think all of us at that campus at that time saw something that was special and was building.

“That’s special.”

NASCAR Cup Series Drivers’ Championship Odds  

Here is an early look at the drivers’ odds for the NASCAR Cup Series’ drivers’ championship at Phoenix Raceway, according to FanDuel Sportsbook:

Driver NASCAR Cup Series Drivers’ Championship Odds
Denny Hamlin +200
Kyle Larson +260
William Byron +270
Chase Briscoe +380

*-Odds current at time of publication

Jeff Hawkins Written by Sports EditorJeff Hawkins
Jeff Hawkins is an award-winning sportswriter with more than four decades in the industry, in both print and digital media. He joined the Sportscasting team in 2021 following a decade of freelancing. He spent his early career as a reporter for various newspapers in Illinois, New York, Florida, North Carolina, and Michigan, with a particular emphasis as a beat reporter for the Chicago Blackhawks. Jeff earned his bachelor's degree in journalism from Oakland University. Over the course of his career he earned several sports writing awards, including two national awards from the Associated Press Sports Editors for column writing and news reporting. One of the five prized columns included a commentary on NASCAR's increasing corporate influences, particularly in northern racetracks — commentary which you might find Jeff building on as part of the Motorsports writing team at Sportscasting now.  
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