NASCAR Cup Series Enjoy Illinois 300: Ryan Blaney, Christopher Bell’s Top Odds, Predictions & Best Bets At WWTR

NASCAR Cup Series driver Joey Logano, a three-time series champion, could be in trouble one race into the playoffs.

Finishing P20 last Sunday at Darlington Raceway, Logano’s title defense turned into a lackluster effort. He struggled with the No. 22 Ford’s handling.

He just never got a grip during the playoff opener.

“We just didn’t go fast,” Logano said, as reported by TheSportsRush.com. “Just couldn’t get a handle on the car. Either the front was plowing or the rear was loose and sometimes I had both at the same time.”

Logano could use a rebound effort and Sunday’s race at World Wide Technology Raceway could provide the perfect venue. In his past three starts at Gateway, Logano posted one win and three top-five finishes.

Ryan Blaney and Christopher Bell were tabbed with the Sunday’s top odds at +500, according to BetOnline Sportsbook. Logano was at +950.

Below, we’ll preview the top storylines heading into Sunday’s Enjoy Illinois 300, go over the odds, and give our best bets for the 28th race on the 2025 NASCAR schedule.

Joey logano finished p20 in Darlington
Next race: Gateway pic.twitter.com/YqfhLTRshO

— Joey Logano nation #22 (@meekstyler_22) September 1, 2025

NASCAR Cup Series Enjoy Illinois 300 Storylines

• Still growing. John Hunter Nemechek, a non-playoff driver, enjoyed a career-best P4 at Darlington last Sunday.
• Chase Briscoe, who visited Victory Lane at Darlington, led 309 points, the most since Bobby Allison’s 329 in 1971. Briscoe, who entered the Round of 16 with only 10 playoff points, earned seven after winning both stages.
• Continuing his second-half rise, Bubba Wallace posted top-10 finishes in five of his past eight races. The playoff driver entered the opener minus-one point below the Round of 12 cutoff line and exited plus-35.

"If we just do our job, nothing fancy, we can go really far." – @BubbaWallace has high hopes for the No. 23 team in the playoffs after a strong performance at the Southern 500.

Presenting partner: @MyPlaceHotels pic.twitter.com/TA1V8lyNNY

— Frontstretch (@Frontstretch) September 1, 2025

NASCAR Cup Series Enjoy Illinois 300 Driver Odds  

Here is an early look at the NASCAR Cup Series drivers’ odds for the Enjoy Illinois 300 at World Wide Technology Raceway, according to BetOnline Sportsbook:  

*-Odds current at time of publication

Enjoy Illinois 300 Predictions and Picks

Here are our best NASCAR Cup Series bets for the Enjoy Illinois 300 at World Wide Technology Raceway:

Kyle Larson (+850)

Is it time for Larson to end his recent mini-slump? The 2021 circuit titleholder has not recorded a top-five in five outings.

Austin Cindric (+1800)

If Cindric can repeat his winning effort from last season, the playoff driver will qualify for the second round and cement an underdog title run. Can he count on another leader running out of fuel?

Kyle Busch (+2000)

In 2023, Busch won from the pole in overtime at Gateway despite enduring lightning delays and red flags. It would be another miracle for Busch end his prolonged winless skid.

Alright @KyleBusch fans its Gateway week. KB has been great there all 3 years with winning cars in 2022 and 2023, and top 5 cars in 2024. With one of those being a win in 2023. Why not have it happen again? pic.twitter.com/GkKYbxgcWV

— The Kyle Busch Fan🇺🇲🇺🇲🇺🇲 (@TheKyleBuschfan) September 2, 2025