Top 5 Favorites to Win the Food City 500 at Bristol Motor Speedway
Bristol Motor Speedway is set to host the ninth race of the 2025 NASCAR Cup Series this Sunday, marking the quarter-point of the season and one-third of the way through the regular season.The high-banked, 0.533-mile short track in Tennessee is a fan favorite and a critical stop for playoff hopefuls, especially with a postseason race scheduled there later this year. Here are the top contenders for victory in the 500-lap showdown:
T-1. Kyle Larson – Hendrick Motorsports (+490)
Despite a rough outing at Darlington, Kyle Larson is expected to rebound at a track where he’s been lights-out since joining Hendrick Motorsports.He’s earned two wins in just five Bristol starts with the team, all of which resulted in top five finishes. Over that stretch, he’s led an impressive 710 laps, making him one of the top threats heading into the weekend.
T-1. Denny Hamlin – Joe Gibbs Racing (+490)
Denny Hamlin is on a hot streak and looking to match the early-season dominance of teammate Christopher Bell. Hamlin won at Bristol last spring and has four career wins at the track, including two in the last three races. With momentum on his side, he’s tied with Larson as the odds-on favorite.
3. Christopher Bell – Joe Gibbs Racing (+600)
Though Christopher Bell has yet to win on Bristol’s concrete surface, he’s consistently been strong since joining Joe Gibbs Racing, with just one finish outside the top 10 in his five starts there. He also won the dirt race at Bristol in 2023. With three victories already in 2025, he’s clearly in top form.
4. Ryan Blaney – Team Penske (+750)
Ryan Blaney came close to a win at Darlington and is hoping to carry that performance into Bristol, where he hasn’t had much success historically. In 16 starts, he has yet to win and holds an average finish of 18.6. Still, after showing speed last week, he’s one to keep an eye on if he can build on that momentums
