Based on the 2025 Cook Out Southern 500 odds, bookmakers predict that the battle for the win at Darlington will be led by Kyle Larson, William Byron, Ryan Blaney, Denny Hamlin, and Tyler Reddick. Those five are the only drivers with odds shorter than +1000, with Larson being at the top of the favorites’ list, priced at +500.
2025 Cook Out Southern 500 Odds
| Driver | Odds |
|---|---|
| Kyle Larson | +500 |
| William Byron | +550 |
| Ryan Blaney | +550 |
| Denny Hamlin | +600 |
| Tyler Reddick | +650 |
| Chase Briscoe | +1100 |
| Christopher Bell | +1100 |
| Brad Keselowski | +1800 |
| Chase Elliott | +1800 |
| Joey Logano | +1800 |
| Ross Chastain | +2000 |
| Bubba Wallace | +2000 |
| Chris Buescher | +2000 |
| Austin Cindric | +3300 |
| Kyle Busch | +3300 |
| Josh Berry | +3300 |
| Alex Bowman | +4000 |
| Ty Gibbs | +4000 |
When, Where, and How to Watch?
- Place: Darlington Raceway in Darlington, South Carolina
- Date: Saturday, August 31, 2025
- Time: 6:00 p.m. ET
- How to Watch: USA Network
Reasons Why The Southern 2025 Odds Favor Kyle Larson
Kyle Larson is generally considered to be one of the finest drivers of his generation, not just in the NASCAR Cup Series, but across the motorsports universe. This guy finished the regular season in the No. 1 position in the Drivers’ Standings, recording three wins along the way.
Not only is he in top shape this season, but he also has some great memories from Darlington. He did mess things up in the 2025 Goodyear 400 race, where we saw him hit the wall early on in the race.
However, when it comes to The Southern race at the same raceway, he’s got a much better record. He won this race two years ago, and in 2024, we saw him finish fourth.
Other Top Contenders for The Southern 500
Kyle Larson is the top favorite to win the Cook Out Southern 500 on August 31, but there are four drivers whose odds aren’t too dissimilar. Those are, namely:
- William Byron – He’s been consistent throughout the entire season, albeit with a couple of mishaps in the early summer. However, his form improved in August, the month he started with a win in Iowa.
- Ryan Blaney – This guy’s been in a sensational run lately, finishing in the Top 10 in each of the last six races. The best thing is that he’s the one who won the final race of the regular season (Coke Zero Sugar 400).
- Denny Hamlin – With three wins at The Southern and two wins at the Goodyear 400, he’s the most successful driver on the active roster when it comes to driving at Darlington.
- Tyler Reddick – Even though he’s one of the most talented NASCAR drivers in 2025, he’s still without a single win this year. He got to the Playoffs thanks to collecting enough points, but if he wants to win the title, now’s the right time to up his game.
2025 Cook Out Southern 500 Prediction
We’re backing Denny Hamlin to win the 2025 Cook Out Southern 500 on the last day of August. This guy just loves racing at Darlington and has had way more success on this track than any other driver on the active NASCAR Cup Series roster. That’s enough for us to make Hamlin our top pick.
Pick: Denny Hamlin