Enjoy Illinois 300 Predictions: Short-Track Aces Should Prevail on Larger Track

• Kyle Larson is favored despite spotty record in first two Gateway runs.

• Two former WWT Raceway winners aren’t getting much respect this week.

• New series leader Denny Hamlin comes to Gateway with confidence.

Enjoy Illinois 300 Betting Odds

Odds taken from BetMGM. Head to BetMGM and get up to $1,500 in Bonus Bets with our code WSNMGM*.
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My Picks for the Enjoy Illinois 300

• Denny Hamlin to win the race at +525 via BetMGM

• Chase Elliott to finish in the top three at +425 via BetMGM

Enjoy Illinois 300 Predictions

Kyle Larson Hopes to Rebound from Disappointing “Non-Double”

A promising Sunday quickly went south for Kyle Larson, who had hoped to run 1,100 miles in a single day on Memorial Day weekend.

In the rain-delayed Indianapolis 500, a pit road speeding penalty negated his fifth-place qualifying effort. Larson finished 18th.

Because the race at the Brickyard was delayed by roughly four hours, Larson couldn’t make it back to Charlotte in time to start the Coca-Cola 600. In fact, he never ran a lap at the 1.5-mile track, because rain once again intervened.

Having scored no points at Charlotte, Larson also lost the NASCAR Cup Series lead to Denny Hamlin.

Though the driver of the No. 5 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet would love a rebound race at World Wide Technology Raceway outside St. Louis, we don’t think it’s in the Cards.

Larson may be the favorite at +700 via BetMGM, but given his mediocre qualifying performances in the first two Cup races at Gateway (15th and 22nd), we have reservations.

We prefer Larson’s teammate, Chase Elliott, to finish in the top three at +425 via BetMGM. Elliott has found his form on short tracks this season, and despite its 1.25-mile length, Gateway drives more like a short track than an intermediate speedway.

Former Winners Are Unlikely to Remedy Their Struggles at Gateway

Joey Logano won the inaugural NASCAR Cup Series event at WWR Raceway in 2022. Kyle Busch followed with a victory last year in his maiden season with Richard Childress.

Busch and Logano are the only two drivers in the series who have won more than one championship, but neither has enjoyed expected success this season.

Busch is marginally inside the bubble of Playoff eligibility, and Logano currently is two spots out of a place in the postseason.

Though both would love to see a turnaround at Gateway, we don’t think they’ll find victory at the 1.25-mile track. Busch opened at +1400 via BetMGM and Logano at +1200 via BetMGM, and though their odds have tightened since then, we’re not backing either driver this weekend.

A Confident Denny Hamlin Expects to Run Up Front This Weekend

Denny Hamlin saw an impressive streak stopped last Sunday. Before the Coca-Cola 600, Hamlin had led at least one lap in 17 straight NASCAR Cup Series races.

Though the driver of the No. 11 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota didn’t lead a lap at Charlotte, he finished fifth and took over the series lead from Kyle Larson, who was unable to return from the Indianapolis 500 in time to start the race.

Hamlin spent the 2022 Gateway race feuding with Ross Chastain and finished 34th. Last year he qualified third and finished second, 0.517 second behind Busch.

Hamlin’s driving style and his hallmark ability to conserve his equipment are ideally suited to WWT Raceway.

“This is going to be a track position race,” Hamlin asserted. “From what we’ve seen with this car at this track, you’re going to have to qualify well and have a really good day on pit road to stay up front.

“I feel like it’s a good track for us. We were really strong last year and stayed in the top five all day. It’s just going to be super important to unload strong and get a good qualifying spot and a good pit stall to have a shot on Sunday.”

We think Hamlin will accomplish all of the above and win his fourth race of the season. He’s our pick to win at +525 via BetMGM.

How to Watch the Enjoy Illinois 300

• What: Enjoy Illinois 300 NASCAR Cup Series Race

• Where: World Wide Technology Raceway at Gateway

• When: Sunday, June 2, 2:30 p.m. ET

• How to Watch: FS1