NASCAR insider Bob Pockrass picks Joe Gibbs Racing driver to win Kansas playoff race

The 2024 NASCAR Cup Series playoff season heads to the 1.5-mile intermediate track for Sunday’s Hollywood Casino 400. Ahead of Sunday’s race, NASCAR insider Bob Pockrass shared his prediction, picking the winner, top-five finishes, and longshot to win the fourth playoff race of the season.

Pockrass picked Joe Gibbs Racing driver Christopher Bell to take the checkered flag at Kansas. Bell finished sixth at this track in this year’s Kansas spring race and will start from pole on Sunday.

Rounding out Pockrass’ top-five predictions are Kyle Larson, Chris Buescher, Denny Hamlin, and Bubba Wallace. Larson and Hamlin are the playoff-eligible drivers contending for the 2024 NASCAR championship. He also named Carson Hocevar as a longshot pick.

On X, Pockrass wrote:

“My pick for Kansas: Bell ... top-5: Bell Larson Buescher Hamlin Wallace. ... longshot: Hocevar”

Christopher Bell ran well at Kansas Speedway. He has scored two top-fives and six top-10 finishes with an average of 14.1 in nine starts at this track.

If Bell manages to win, he will directly advance into the next round of playoffs. He is currently placed second behind points leader Kyle Larson in the NASCAR Cup Series championship standings.

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Kevin Harvick back Kyle Larson to win Kansas NASCAR's playoff race

Former driver-tuned commentator Kevin Harvick picks points leader and last weekend's winner Kyle Larson as a favorite to win Sunday’s NASCAR playoff race at 1.5-mile track. Larson is coming off a dominating win and will start 11th on Sunday. The #5 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet driver is leading the Cup Series playoff standings with 15 points.

In a recent episode of Kevin Harvick’s Happy Hour, when his co-host Kaitlyn Vincie picked Larson and asked to name his favorite bet for the Kansas race, Harvick also picked the same and said:

“Yep, me too." [53:24]

However, co-host Mamba Smith has different predictions, as he believes Bell is going to take the checkered flag in Kansas.

“I'm going to go with Christopher Bell. I just think that this track is really good for them. It’s a mile and a half. He's running on the top and can run anywhere. I would go Tyler Reddick, too, or him, because 23XI is dominating Kansas, #45 specifically; that number wins at Kansas a lot,” Smith said.

Catch Cup Series drivers and teams in action at Kansas Speedway on Sunday, September 29 at 3 pm ET. The event will be telecast on USA Network and NBC Sports.