North Wilkesboro returns as Blaney tops Window World 450 odds
Ryan Blaney is the FanDuel favorite for Sunday’s Cup race, but SportsLine’s model is fading him and circling Ty Gibbs.
By Deshawn Carter · Sports Writer
3 min read
NASCAR’s Cup Series is bringing points racing back to North Wilkesboro Speedway for the first time in 30 years, and the betting board is already buzzing.
The 2026 Window World 450 is scheduled for Sunday at 7 p.m. ET, according to CBS Sports. The race is also the penultimate stop in the NASCAR In-Season Challenge.
Ryan Blaney, fresh off a win in Atlanta, sits at the top of FanDuel’s odds board at +480, CBS Sports reported. Denny Hamlin and Christopher Bell follow closely at +500, with Kyle Larson at +900 as he continues to chase his first victory in more than a year.
North Wilkesboro has been back in NASCAR’s spotlight recently through All-Star events. CBS Sports noted that Larson, Joey Logano and Bell won the All-Star races held there from 2023 through 2025.
Model pumps the brakes on Blaney
SportsLine’s Mike McClure is not buying Blaney at the shortest price, according to CBS Sports.
McClure’s NASCAR model, which CBS Sports says runs 10,000 race simulations, projects Blaney barely inside the top five despite his favorite status. CBS Sports also reported that Blaney has gone eight straight short-track starts without a win.
His most recent North Wilkesboro appearance did not help the case. At the 2025 All-Star Race, Blaney finished 16th in a 23-driver field, according to CBS Sports.
McClure is described by CBS Sports as a professional daily fantasy player with more than $2 million in career winnings. CBS Sports also reported that his model has picked 30 NASCAR winners since 2021 and called Denny Hamlin’s consecutive victories at Michigan and Pocono last month.
Ty Gibbs draws model support
The longer price getting attention is Ty Gibbs at +1800. CBS Sports reported that McClure’s model has Gibbs positioned for a strong run near the front.
Gibbs has three Cup Series appearances at North Wilkesboro through All-Star competition, according to CBS Sports. He twice won the pole for the All-Star Open, winning that event once and finishing second in the other.
There is also a team angle. Gibbs drives for Joe Gibbs Racing, the organization that won the most recent North Wilkesboro event when Bell took the 2025 All-Star Race, CBS Sports reported.
Gibbs enters Sunday sitting fourth in the NASCAR standings, which CBS Sports described as the best season of his Cup career after he had never previously finished better than 15th. He also arrives with three straight top-10 finishes.
Key FanDuel odds
FanDuel’s listed prices, as reported by CBS Sports and subject to change, put the main contenders in this order:
- Ryan Blaney: +480
- Denny Hamlin: +500
- Christopher Bell: +500
- Kyle Larson: +900
- Tyler Reddick: +1000
- Joey Logano: +1100
- Chase Elliott: +1400
- William Byron: +1500
- Chase Briscoe: +1600
- Ty Gibbs: +1800
Chase Elliott is also the +150 favorite to win the NASCAR In-Season Challenge, according to CBS Sports. Bubba Wallace and Austin Cindric are each listed at +2200 for the Window World 450, with Carson Hocevar at +2500.
CBS Sports reported that McClure’s model is also high on two additional longshots at +1500 or longer, with those selections available through SportsLine.
This story draws on original reporting from CBS Sports.