NASCAR odds: Clash at The Coliseum favorites named, entire field finish prediction

NASCAR will preface the beginning of their season with one of the more fascinating events of the year, as the Clash of the Coliseum will take place on Sunday.

While the Daytona 500 is the world-renowned start of the NASCAR Cup Series campaign, the exhibition that is The Clash provides fans a taste of what the season to come will provide. Over the last couple of seasons, the event has taken place in Los Angeles’ Memorial Coliseum, becoming a spectacle.

The racing has been something to behold, and the event as a whole has become a prestigious trophy to add to the resume of NASCAR’s best. Ahead of the event, FanDuel Sportsbook has ranked the top contenders. Here are their odds for the event.

Martin Truex Jr. (+900)

When you’re the defending champion of an event, you’re usually going to be among the favorites when you return to the track. That’s exactly where Martin Truex Jr. finds himself entering Los Angeles in 2024.

The end of the 2023 season didn’t go so smoothly for the regular season champion. Truex Jr. floundered in the playoffs, but the NASCAR veteran is back for another go-round in 2024, as he looks for his second Cup Series title, and another victory in The Clash.

Denny Hamlin (+900)

Denny Hamlin has made his goal clear for 2024, as he looks to win his first NASCAR Cup Series title. While The Clash won’t provide points towards that goal, it could gain him some serious momentum if he was to win.

Hamlin came home P9 in the event last season. While Daytona is more his speed, the Joe Gibbs Racing wheelman can start 2024 off with a bang if he wins, even if the fans in attendance may not be thrilled with the result.

Kyle Larson (+900)

The face of Hendrick Motorsports since arriving on the scene, Kyle Larson has been phenomenal since his return to full-time racing. He came home P5 last season during The Clash, and will look to add another exhibition trophy to his collection after dominating last season’s All-Star Race.

Larson came close to his second Cup Series title in 2023, finishing second to Ryan Blaney at Phoenix in the point standings. That’ll be motivating for Larson, as he looks to add another championship to Hendrick’s lofty resume in 2024.

Ryan Blaney (+1000)

Ryan Blaney broke through the glass ceiling in 2023, capturing his first NASCAR Cup Series title. While he’s had better regular seasons throughout his career, Blaney turned it on in the playoffs, and was clearly the best car over the last month and change.

Now, the question becomes whether “Young Ryan Blaney” can do it all over again. The Clash would be a fantastic way to continue his momentum, and start his defense off with a bang.

Kyle Busch (+1000)

It looked like Kyle Busch was the perfect fit for Richard Childress Racing at times in 2023, but the veteran driver lost steam as the season went on. He won multiple races, but entered the playoffs cold, and was eliminated swiftly.

One of the goals on Busch’s docket for 2024 will be winning his first Daytona 500. Before that, the veteran wheelman will look to start his season off hot with a win in The Clash, after coming home third in the event last season.

William Byron (+1200)

William Byron was dominant at times in 2023, winning multiple races and establishing himself as one of the best in the sport. The driver of the No. 24 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet made it all the way to the Championship 4, but couldn’t close out the deal.

Last season at The Clash, Byron came home P10. He’ll be looking for a better finish in 2024, and to prove his success in 2023 was far from a fluke. Time will tell if he’s able to do so.

Christopher Bell (+1200)

During NASCAR: Full Speed on Netflix, Christopher Bell caught attention by proclaiming that he loves to be counted out, as many have done to him over the course of his career. After multiple Championship 4 appearances, his name still isn’t mentioned among the best in the sport.

Perhaps a victory this weekend in The Clash could remind the world just how good he is. He came home P13 in 2023, but he’s capable of so much more, as we’ve seen from the Joe Gibbs Racing driver in the past.

Joey Logano (+1200)

The 2022 NASCAR Cup Series champion didn’t have the best defense of his title last season, unceremoniously being eliminated from the playoffs last fall. That’s motivating Joey Logano as we enter a new campaign.

The Team Penske wheelman is still one of the best week-in and week-out. A bounce-back campaign could be on the horizon for Logano, who finished P16 in The Clash in 2023, but won the event in 2022.

NASCAR’s Clash at The Coliseum — Odds for the rest of the field:

• Chase Elliott (+1400)
• Brad Keselowski (+1400)
• Tyler Reddick (+2000)
• Ryan Preece (+2000)
• Josh Berry (+2000)
• Chris Buescher (+2000)
• Chase Briscoe (+2000)
• Bubba Wallace (+2500)
• Alex Bowman (+2500)
• Ty Gibbs (+2500)
• Ross Chastain (+2500)
• Austin Dillion (+3000)
• Erik Jones (+5000)
• Austin Cindric (+8000)
• Daniel Suarez (+8000)
• John Hunter Nemechek (+8000)
• Noah Gragson (+8000)
• Carson Hocevar (+8000)
• Justin Haley (+10000)
• Michael McDowell (+15000)
• Ricky Stenhouse Jr. (+20000)
• Daniel Hemric (+20000)
• Zane Smith (+25000)
• Josh Williams (+25000)
• Harrison Burton (+25000)
• Todd Gilliland (+30000)
• Corey LaJoie (+30000)
• Kaz Grala (+30000)

As you can see, there’s a myriad of wonderful drivers ready to try to win the Clash at the Coliseum, many for the first time, some for the second. Who will be the one to beat them all? Find out on Sunday, as the 2024 NASCAR campaign begins to gain heat in Los Angeles.