NASCAR driver completely removed from championship odds
By Asher Fair
One full-time NASCAR Cup Series driver is no longer included in FanDuel’s championship odds, and it’s not surprising why the change was made.
In this Sunday afternoon’s NASCAR Cup Series race at Martinsville Speedway, the series will surpass the one-third mark of the 2023 regular season.
Seven drivers have already won a race this year, though only one has officially locked himself into the playoffs by winning twice.
Irrespective of how many winners there are, there are 16 playoff spots. All full-time drivers are eligible to qualify, including any who miss races, provided they are granted a playoff waiver.
However, one full-time driver has been completely removed from the NASCAR Cup Series championship odds.
Rick Ware Racing’s Cody Ware was ruled out of last Sunday’s dirt race at Bristol Motor Speedway due to a “personal matter”. It was later revealed that a conflict had taken place on Monday, April 3, and Ware was taken into custody by the Iredell County Sheriff’s Office in North Carolina.
The 27-year-old Greensboro native was held on a felony charge of “assault by strangulation — inflict serious injury” as well as a misdemeanor charge of “assault on female”. His bond was set at $3,000 and he was bonded out of custody, but recent reports indicate that he is back in jail on two additional charges.
However, NASCAR suspended him indefinitely, and as the legal process continues to play out, he remains suspended indefinitely.
You can also no longer bet on him to win the 2023 championship (not that anyone was going to).
Here are the full NASCAR Cup Series championship odds for 2023, courtesy of FanDuel Sportsbook.
NOTE: +650 means bet $100 to potentially win $650
- Kyle Larson, Hendrick Motorsports: +650
- Kyle Busch, Richard Childress Racing: +650
- William Byron, Hendrick Motorsports: +800
- Chase Elliott, Hendrick Motorsports: +850
- Joey Logano, Team Penske: +1000
- Christopher Bell, Joe Gibbs Racing: +1000
- Tyler Reddick, 23XI Racing: +1000
- Denny Hamlin, Joe Gibbs Racing: +1000
- Ross Chastain, Trackhouse Racing Team: +1200
- Ryan Blaney, Team Penske: +1200
- Martin Truex Jr., Joe Gibbs Racing: +1300
- Kevin Harvick, Stewart-Haas Racing: +1400
- Alex Bowman, Hendrick Motorsports: +2800
- Brad Keselowski, RFK Racing: +4000
- Ricky Stenhouse Jr., JTG Daugherty Racing: +5000
- Daniel Suarez, Trackhouse Racing Team: +5500
- Ty Gibbs, Joe Gibbs Racing: +6000
- Chase Briscoe, Stewart-Haas Racing: +6000
- Bubba Wallace, 23XI Racing: +6500
- Ryan Preece, Stewart-Haas Racing: +6500
- Austin Cindric, Team Penske: +6500
- A.J. Allmendinger, Kaulig Racing: +10000
- Austin Dillon, Richard Childress Racing: +10000
- Erik Jones, Legacy Motor Club: +10000
- Noah Gragson, Legacy Motor Club: +10000
- Chris Buescher, RFK Racing: +10000
- Todd Gilliland, Front Row Motorsports: +12000
- Corey LaJoie, Spire Motorsports: +20000
- Justin Haley, Kaulig Racing: +20000
- Ty Dillon, Spire Motorsports: +20000
- B.J. McLeod, Live Fast Motorsports: +20000
- Aric Almirola, Stewart-Haas Racing: +20000
- Michael McDowell, Front Row Motorsports: +20000
- Harrison Burton, Wood Brothers Racing: +20000
Access full odds for the championship and bet now at FanDuel Sportsbook! Odds and availability are subject to change.
Ware, who sits in 31st place in the point standings, had been listed along with the other longshots at +20000. He has only finished higher than 25th once this year, that being in the season-opening Daytona 500 at Daytona International Speedway when he finished in 14th, so he wasn’t a championship threat anyway.
However, some of the other drivers listed aren’t legitimate threats to win the title either, but they are still included as drivers you can bet on until they are no longer mathematically in the fight.
Additionally, Hendrick Motorsports’ Chase Elliott was never removed from the list amid his six-week absence with a fractured left tibia, though his odds have fluctuated during that stretch.
Next. All-time NASCAR Cup Series wins list. dark
Three-time Truck Series champion Matt Crafton replaced Ware behind the wheel of the No. 51 Ford at Bristol Motor Speedway, and reigning Truck Series champion Zane Smith is set to replace him in this coming Sunday afternoon’s race at Martinsville Speedway. This race, the NOCO 400, is set to be broadcast live on Fox Sports 1 beginning at 3:00 p.m. ET. Begin a free trial of FuboTV now!