The 67th running of the Coca-Cola 600 takes the green flag Sunday at Charlotte Motor Speedway under one of the most somber backdrops in recent NASCAR history. The Cup Series field will race in memory of two-time champion Kyle Busch, who died at age 41 from severe pneumonia and sepsis.
The racing storylines remain compelling. Tyler Reddick claimed pole position via NASCAR's qualifying metric after rain washed out Saturday's session, and Denny Hamlin opens as the betting favorite at +400 to win the longest race on the schedule.
Below is a complete look at the 2026 Coca-Cola 600 odds, the case for and against Hamlin, mid-tier value plays, and longshot options worth a sprinkle on a race where attrition and 600 miles of strategy will scramble the running order. See our full 2026 Coca-Cola 600 odds preview for additional context.
Last Updated: Sunday, May 24, 2026
2026 COCA-COLA 600 DATE, TIME & HOW TO WATCH | |
|---|---|
| Where | Charlotte Motor Speedway, Concord, NC |
| When | Sunday, May 24 – 6:00 PM ET |
| TV | Prime Video |
Denny Hamlin Leads 2026 Coca-Cola 600 Odds
Hamlin opens at +400 despite starting 11th. The case for the price is strong on paper. Hamlin is one of just twelve drivers in NASCAR history to capture all three crown jewels — Daytona 500, Coca-Cola 600, and Southern 500 — and his 2022 Coke 600 victory remains one of the wilder finishes in the race's history. He won the 2026 NASCAR All-Star Race at Dover last weekend and sits second in the Cup Series championship standings, behind only Reddick.
The case against is the price itself. A +400 line carries an implied probability of 20 percent, and Charlotte's 600-mile format has been a coin flip for the chalk in recent years. Ross Chastain stunned the field from 40th starting position in 2025. Christopher Bell took home the 2024 race in similarly chaotic conditions. The race has changed hands in overtime, in cleanup laps, and on tire calls — situations no driver fully controls. Backing Hamlin at this number means trusting that a top-tier car and a winning crew chief can survive 400 laps of attrition. It is a defensible bet. It is not the value play.
Reddick at +500 is the obvious counter. He sits on pole and leads the championship by more than 100 points. His 2024 fourth-place finish remains his best Coke 600 result, however, and he was two laps down in 2025. The Toyota driver has the equipment. Charlotte has not yet rewarded him.
2026 COCA-COLA 600 – TOP ODDS TO WIN | |
|---|---|
| Name | Odds |
| Denny Hamlin | +400 |
| Tyler Reddick | +500 |
| Christopher Bell | +800 |
| Kyle Larson | +800 |
| William Byron | +1000 |
| Carson Hocevar | +1200 |
| Chase Briscoe | +1200 |
| Ryan Blaney | +1200 |
| Ty Gibbs | +1200 |
| Chase Elliott | +1400 |
Odds accurate as of Sunday, May 24, 2026 via TheSpread.com. Odds change, get the latest NASCAR Odds - Props
Where the Betting Value Sits at Charlotte
The most defensible Coca-Cola 600 plays sit between +1000 and +1400, where bettors can grab proven Charlotte talent without paying the favorite premium.
William Byron (+1000) is the headliner. The Hendrick Motorsports driver led 283 of 400 laps in last year's Coca-Cola 600 and finished second to Chastain after a late-race tire battle. He swept the first three stages in that race. Byron has been the most consistent 1.5-mile racer in Cup over the past two seasons and is a former Daytona 500 winner. He will start 31st on Sunday under the qualifying metric, but track position matters less in a 600-mile race than in any other event on the schedule. At +1000, the implied probability is roughly 9 percent. Byron's race-day ceiling at Charlotte is closer to 15.
Carson Hocevar (+1200) posted the second-fastest single lap in Saturday's practice session before qualifying was canceled. The Spire Motorsports driver has steadily improved on 1.5-mile ovals and will roll off 23rd, but his short-run pace was the talk of the garage Saturday. He is a defensible bet at this number with genuine upside if his car holds long-run speed through 400 laps.
Chase Briscoe (+1200) finished third in the 2025 Coca-Cola 600 from pole position and drives the No. 19 Toyota for Joe Gibbs Racing. He starts fifth on Sunday and has the equipment to challenge from the front. He has yet to win a crown jewel, but his pricing leaves room for upside given his recent form.
Ryan Blaney (+1200) rounds out the value tier. The Team Penske driver was fourth-fastest in Saturday's practice and brings the kind of consistent oval pace that wins long races. He starts sixth and has the pit crew to capitalize when the race comes back to green after late cautions.
Longshot Coca-Cola 600 Picks and Sunday Storylines
At +6600, Michael McDowell is the most defensible deep play. The Spire Motorsports driver posted the best 10-lap average of any driver in Saturday's practice session and rolls off fourth on the grid. McDowell has historically thrived in chaotic, attrition-driven races — the type of race Charlotte's 600 miles tends to produce. His implied probability is roughly 1.5 percent. His ceiling is higher.
Connor Zilisch (+8000) is the speculative play. The Trackhouse Racing rookie will start 25th but is among the most highly-rated young drivers entering Cup. The car is the same model Chastain won in last year. The price reflects experience, not equipment.
Two narratives outside the betting board will shape Sunday's race. Kyle Busch's death has cast a heavy shadow over the weekend. NASCAR has confirmed pre-race tributes including a moment of silence and helmet decals across the entire field. Drivers including Joey Logano have publicly described the garage as still processing the news. Separately, Katherine Legge (+25000) will be in the field after attempting the Indianapolis 500 / Coca-Cola 600 "Double Duty," becoming the first woman to make the attempt. She is a sentimental story, not a winning ticket, but a name worth tracking on race night.
2026 Coca-Cola 600 Betting FAQ
Who is the favorite to win the 2026 Coca-Cola 600?
Denny Hamlin is the consensus favorite at +400. The 2022 Coca-Cola 600 winner is the reigning 2026 NASCAR All-Star Race champion and sits second in the Cup Series championship standings.
When is the 2026 Coca-Cola 600?
The 67th running of the Coca-Cola 600 is scheduled for Sunday, May 24, 2026, with the green flag set for 6:00 PM ET at Charlotte Motor Speedway in Concord, North Carolina.
Who is on the pole for the 2026 Coca-Cola 600?
Tyler Reddick will start from the pole after Saturday's qualifying session was canceled. The lineup was set by NASCAR's qualifying metric, which weighs the previous race finish by owner and current owner points position.
What channel is the 2026 Coca-Cola 600 on?
The 2026 Coca-Cola 600 will stream on Prime Video, with PRN Radio and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio carrying the audio broadcast.