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2024 Enjoy Illinois 300: NASCAR at Gateway Odds, Picks & Predictions

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Growing up, the best memories were made on the nights we didn’t plan. It’s kind of reminiscent of how, these days, the best NASCAR races and most profitable betting weekends usually come at tracks we don’t expect.

After a lackluster Coca-Cola 600 shortened by rain and the news of Stewart Haas Racing (SHR) closing rattling the industry, that’s what I’m hoping for. That Word Wild Technology (WWT) Raceway, aka Gateway, can be the lynchpin race fans and teams need this weekend.

Weirdly, I think the Madison, Ill.-based, 1.25-mile track is the perfect rebound. It’s quirky, unique and, as Joey Logano and Kyle Busch have proved over the past two years, “Old Man Country.”

Between nearly 300 people at SHR learning they’ll be out of work, playoff waiver debates and Cup Series charter negotiations reaching a fever pitch, vibes in the garage feel off. The best cure for that is getting cars on the track and, for our purposes, firing bets on the competition.

Let’s turn the page with our best bets for the Enjoy Illinois 300 and entire betting card for a weekend of NASCAR racing.

2024 Enjoy Illinois 300: NASCAR at Gateway Odds, Picks & Predictions

Top 3: Joey Logano (+420 via FanDuel) | .5u

In somewhat of a disappointing season so far for Team Penske, Joey Logano has just three T10s through 14 races. That means if you’re going to get invested with the two-time Cup Series champion in the placement prop market, go all-in and lock in the coveted T3.

I’m backing Logano because I trust him, both at Gateway and on the shorter-flat tracks as a whole. The driver of the No. 22 Ford Mustang has parked it on the podium in both of the only two Cup Series races at WWT Raceway, winning the inaugural running. Logano is good for No. 3 in the Gateway Next-Gen total speed rankings, courtesy of ifantasyrace.com, and also has an average starting position of 6.5.

While the 34-year-old was off at the primary comp track of Phoenix earlier this year, he finished runner-up at Richmond, another similar circuit. Maybe most importantly, Logano led 199 laps and won the NASCAR All-Star Race two weeks ago at North Wilkesboro, another shorter-flat track.

Hoping Team Penske’s momentum transfers from IndyCar to NASCAR, I’m backing Logano on the T3 and 14-1 outright on FanDuel, looking for a potential cashout.

Top 5: Martin Truex Jr. (+155 via BetRivers) | 1u

BetRivers continues to offer one of the only weekly NACAR betting promos, their T5 insurance. This means if you bet the outright and that driver still finishes T5, you get a free bet back. By playing Martin Truex Jr. on the 9-1 outright for 1u and +155 T5 for another, you can still profit and get a free bet back if the veteran finishes T5.

However, I won’t be shocked if the No. 19 car is in victory lane come Sunday evening. Truex Jr. has finished fifth and sixth, respectively, the past two seasons and is No. 4 in the Gateway Next-Gen total speed rankings.

More so, the New Jersey native had by far the best car at Richmond, leading 228 laps and running away with it if it weren’t for a late-race caution. An additional P7 at Phoenix puts Truex Jr. as the clear No. 1 in the 2024 short-flat track total speed rankings. If not now, when?

Top 10: Michael McDowell (+650 via FanDuel) | 1u

Since the launch of online sports betting in North Carolina, FanDuel has been offering some occasional wild NASCAR lines, and this is one of them (also see Alex Bowman vs. Ty Gibbs below).

Odds of +650 for Michael McDowell to finish T10 imply there’s only a 13.3% chance of it happening. However, “McNasty” has finished T10 in four of 14 races (28.6%) this season. In addition, the Phoenix native has cashed this bet in 50% of Gateway races, finishing P9 last season and even leading 34 laps in the inaugural Cup Series event. McDowell has also finished T10 in half at half our comp tracks this season, finishing P9 after starting P8 at Phoenix.

Odds for this placement are going for as low as +225 at other shops. Let’s take advantage of this soft T10 line for the 17-year Cup Series veteran on FanDuel.

Other Cup Series Bets on My Card:

Toyota 200 (Truck) Bets:

Pacific Office Automation 147 (Xfinity) Bets:

Tail Seth’s Plays on the BP App @Between_SethFF

Seth Woolcock is a featured writer and editor at BettingPros. For more sports betting and fantasy sports analysis from Seth, check out In-Between Media & follow him on X/Twitter @Between_SethFF.

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