William Byron, driver of the No. 24 Chevy, has won the last two NASCAR Cup Series races. He'll go for his third checkered flag Sunday in Atlanta.
It’s been William Byron’s world lately and the rest of NASCAR is just living in it.
The driver of the No. 24 Hendrick Chevrolet is going for his third consecutive Cup Series win this weekend at Atlanta Motor Speedway as the green flag drops on the Ambetter Health 400 on Sunday afternoon (3 p.m. FOX).
Byron is also the defending champion of this race, winning last year in Atlanta by a mere .145 seconds over Ross Chastain.
Bryon, however, enters this weekend with a cloud surrounding the Hendrick teams as they were penalized by NASCAR this week for unauthorized modifications of hood louvers on their cars. Byron, as all the Hendrick teams, will be without his crew chief Rudy Fugle, who was fined $100,000 and suspended for four races. Hendrick is appealing the penalties.
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The last Cup driver to win three straight series races was Kyle Larson, Byron’s Hendrick teammate, who did it in 2021.
Byron, to no one’s surprise, is the odds-on favorite to win again Sunday, sitting at +900 odds, according to DraftKings. Larson is also at +900 to take the checkered flag.
FrontPageBets takes a look at drivers to watch at the repaved 1.54-mile Atlanta Motor Speedway.
(All odds courtesy of DraftKings and are subject to change)
Pick to win: William Byron (+900)
Until someone beats him, Byron’s got to be the guy.
In the first four races of the 2023 NASCAR season, Byron has won at Las Vegas and Phoenix, leading a combined 240 laps.
Even though the penalties assessed by NASCAR this week dropped him out of the Cup points lead, Bryon is one of the hottest drivers behind the wheel. His average finish this year is 15.3, and his average running position is 7.8, which is second best of all Cup drivers.
In seven starts at Atlanta, to go along with last year’s victory, Byron has one top-five finish and two top 10s.
Top 3 finish: Kyle Busch (+300)
Kyle Busch, driver of the No. 8 Richard Childress Racing Chevy, currently sits in ninth in Cup Series points, already posting one victory through four races (Fontana) this season.
Busch is coming off an 8th-place finish at Phoenix for his only other top 10 this year.
In 26 Cup starts at Atlanta Motor Speedway, Busch has two wins and eight top-5s.
Top 5 finish: Kyle Larson (+100)
While Larson hasn’t logged a victory yet this season, he’s fifth in Cup points and has two top-5s in four races, including runner-up at Las Vegas.
Larson hasn’t won yet in Atlanta, but has two second-place finishes at the 1.54-mile track.
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A list of top NFL players on the move this offseason
Jalen Ramsey, Miami Dolphins
The Miami Dolphins are acquiring All-Pro cornerback Jalen Ramsey in a trade with the Los Angeles Rams. The Rams will get Miami's third-round pick in the 2023 NFL draft and tight end Hunter Long.
Derek Carr, New Orleans Saints
Derek Carr spoke enthusiastically of his opportunity to “reinvent” himself in New Orleans after spending the first nine years of his career with the Raiders in Oakland, California, and Las Vegas.The four-time Pro Bowler is the Raiders' all-time leader in yards passing (35,222) and touchdown passes (217), but the team made the playoffs just twice with Carr at QB and did not win a postseason game.
Baker Mayfield, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Former No. 1 overall pick Baker Mayfield was among other players on the move Wednesday, agreeing to an $8.5 million, one-year contract with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, a person with knowledge of the deal told The Associated Press. Mayfield, the top pick by Cleveland in 2018, joins his third team since last July. He gets an opportunity to compete with Kyle Trask to replace Tom Brady, who retired after three seasons with the Buccaneers.
Miles Sanders, Carolina Panthers
Running back Miles Sanders, coming off his best season with the NFC champion Eagles in which he ran for a career-high 1,269 yards with 11 touchdowns, is heading to Carolina.
Tremaine Edmunds, Chicago Bears
The Chicago Bears made two big additions at linebacker, agreeing to contracts with two-time Buffalo Bills Pro Bowler Tremaine Edmunds and former Philadelphia Eagle T.J. Edwards. Edmunds’ deal is worth $72 million over four years with $50 million guaranteed.
Javon Hargrave, San Francisco 49ers
The San Francisco 49ers made a big addition to their stellar defense, agreeing to a four-year, $84 million contract with star defensive tackle Javon Hargrave. The 30-year-old Hargrave is coming off his most productive season in seven years as a pro with a career-high 11 sacks that helped Philadelphia beat San Francisco in the NFC title game and reach the Super Bowl.
Orlando Brown Jr., Cincinnati Bengals
Four-time Pro Bowl tackle Orlando Brown Jr. agreed on a $64.09 million, four-year deal with the Cincinnati Bengals. Brown’s agent, Michael Portner, confirmed the deal to the AP. He said it includes a $31 million signing bonus. Brown goes from protecting Patrick Mahomes for the Super Bowl champion Chiefs to blocking for Joe Burrow and the AFC runnerup Bengals.
JuJu Smith-Schuster, New England Patriots
The New England Patriots made their first big pickup of free agency, adding wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster. A person with knowledge of the deal said it is for three years and could be worth as much as $33 million. Smith-Schuster had 78 receptions for 933 yards and three touchdowns last season for Kansas City.
Jimmy Garoppolo, Las Vegas Raiders
Jimmy Garoppolo is finally out of San Francisco, ready to start the next phase of his career wearing the Raiders' silver and black. He agreed to a three-year, $67.5 million contract with Las Vegas, where he'll replace Derek Carr, who signed with the New Orleans Saints earlier this offseason after being cut by the Raiders. Garoppolo’s contract includes $34 million in guaranteed money.
Stephon Gilmore, Dallas Cowboys
The Dallas Cowboys acquired cornerback Stephon Gilmore from the Indianapolis Colts for a fifth-round draft pick. The 32-year-old Gilmore played 16 games for the Colts last season, finishing with two interceptions and 11 pass breakups as a four-year Pro Bowl run ended.
Juan Thornhill, Cleveland Browns
The Browns agreed with safety Juan Thornhill on a three-year contract worth $21 million — $14 million guaranteed — a person familiar with the negotiations told the AP. Thornhill leaves the Super Bowl champion Chiefs after four seasons. He’s the third defensive player to join the Browns in free agency along with run stopper Dalvin Tomlinson and end Ogbonnia Okoronkwo.
Hayden Hurst, Carolina Panthers
Carolina added former Cincinnati Bengals tight end Hayden Hurst on a three-year contract. Hurst caught 52 passes for 414 yards and two touchdowns last season with another 13 receptions for 141 yards and a TD in the playoffs.
Jacoby Brissett, Washington Commanders
Jacoby Brissett, who replaced Mayfield in Cleveland while Deshaun Watson served a suspension, agreed to terms with the Washington Commanders on a one-year contract worth $10 million with $8 million guaranteed, according to a person with knowledge of the deal. Brissett will compete with projected starter Sam Howell, a second-year pro. Brissett threw for 2,608 yards, 12 touchdowns and six interceptions last season for the Browns in 11 starts.
Taylor Heinicke, Atlanta Falcons
Setting up a competition at quarterback, the Atlanta Falcons have agreed to terms with Taylor Heinicke on a two-year contract worth up to $20 million. For Heinicke, it's a homecoming. He was born in Lawrenceville and played at Collins Hills High School in suburban Atlanta.
Darren Waller, New York Giants
Tight end Darren Waller is being traded to the New York Giants, who will send the Las Vegas Raiders a 2023 third-round draft pick, two people familiar with the deal said Tuesday.
Byron Murphy Jr., Minnesota Vikings
The Minnesota Vikings have agreed to terms on a contract with former Arizona cornerback Byron Murphy Jr. The deal was announced on the first day of NFL free agency along with agreements with former New Orleans outside linebacker Marcus Davenport and former Miami tight end Josh Oliver.
Jakobi Meyers, Las Vegas Raiders
The Las Vegas Raiders agreed to a three-year, $33 million deal with former Patriots wide receiver Jakobi Meyers, who reunites with Raiders coach Josh McDaniels, his former offensive coordinator in New England.
Andy Dalton, Carolina Panthers
The Carolina Panthers have found their stop-gap quarterback, agreeing to a two-year, $10 million contract with unrestricted free agent Andy Dalton.
Mike White, Miami Dolphins
Mike White is staying within the AFC East, leaving the New York Jets for the Miami Dolphins to back up Tua Tagovailoa.
Sam Darnold, San Francisco 49ers
Sam Darnold is heading West to replace Garoppolo on the San Francisco 49ers' roster.
Eric Kendricks, Los Angeles Chargers
Eric Kendricks agreed to terms with the Los Angeles Chargers, giving the franchise a veteran inside linebacker on a unit that has struggled the past couple seasons. Kendricks was drafted by Minnesota in the second round in 2015 and spent eight seasons with the Vikings before being released on March 6. The 31-year old linebacker has started 113 regular-season and six playoff games.
DeMarcus Walker, Chicago Bears
The Chicago Bears have added help on the defensive line, agreeing to a deal with former Tennessee Titans defensive end DeMarcus Walker.
Mike Szvetitz is the General Manager and Content Director for FrontPageBets.com. Szvetitz is a 23-year veteran reporter and editor, including serving 17 years as a sports editor in Florida, Alabama and Virginia, covering everything from preps to pros. His "View From The Lazy Boy" column won multiple state and national awards. He can be reached at mszvetitz@timesdispatch.com.
