Quaker State 400 Predictions: Playoffs Begin at Unpredictable Track (Cup Series)

• Beware of Kyle Larson, the top seed in the NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs.

• As Playoffs begin, William Byron needs to find a way out of the doldrums.

• Kyle Busch can salvage his season with a victory in the final 10 races.

Quaker State 400 Betting Odds

Odds taken from BetMGM Sportsbook. Place your bets at BetMGM and use our promo code WSNSPORTS to claim the bonus: Get Up to $1,500 in Bonus Bets*
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Our Picks for the Quaker State 400

• Kyle Busch to win the race at (+1200) via BetMGM

• Daniel Suarez to finish in the top three at (+650) via BetMGM

• Christopher Bell to beat Kyle Larson head-to-head at (-105) via BetMGM

Quaker State 400 Predictions

Superspeedway Racing Isn’t Top-Seeded Kyle Larson’s Cup of Tea

The NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs get under way on Sunday at Atlanta Motor Speedway, and Kyle Larson is the top seed in the postseason with a series-high 40 Playoff points.

But it’s generally a good idea to stay away from Larson at so-called “drafting tracks,” no matter the price.

That’s especially true of Atlanta, where the driver of the No. 5 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet has a best finish of 13th in five starts since the track was repaved and reconfigured in 2021.

Larson’s other four races in that time frame produced finishes of 30th or worse.

Hence, we’re steering clear of Larson this week at (+1400) via BetMGM, and we think you should, too.  

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William Byron Needs a Sharp Turnaround after Lackluster Summer

William Byron won three of the first eight NASCAR Cup Series race of the season, including the Daytona 500, but the driver of the No. 24 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet hasn’t found Victory Lane since then.

Over the last five races, Byron has posted an average finish of 22.0 with three DNFs - despite a second-place run at Michigan in that span.

Yes, Byron has won two of the last five races at Atlanta Motor Speedway, but until he shows he’s back on form, we’re reluctant to back him.

Hence, it’s our advice to avoid “Willie B” in this weekend’s superspeedway crapshoot, even at an attractive (+1400) price via BetMGM.

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Kyle Busch Can Salvage His Season with a Win in Next 10 Races

Kyle Busch, who leads active full-time drivers in the NASCAR Cup Series with 63 career victories, missed the Playoffs this season by the slimmest of margins.

He was third at Atlanta in February, just 0.007 seconds behind winner Daneil Suarez. He was second by a car-length two weeks ago at Daytona and second again by 0.361 seconds in last Sunday’s Southern 500 at Darlington.

A win in any of those races would have given Busch a Playoff spot, but he still has a significant streak on the line. Busch has won at least one race for the last 19 straight seasons - a series record - and he would like nothing better than to extend the run to 20 years.

Bottom line? We think Busch gets the job done this time at (+1200) via BetMGM. We also like Suarez to finish in the top three on Sunday at a generous (+650) via BetMGM.

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How to Watch the Quaker State 400

• What: Quaker State 400 NASCAR Cup Series Race

• Where: Atlanta Motor Speedway

• When: Sunday, September 8, 3 p.m. ET

• How to Watch: USA