Three to watch, one to avoid for NASCAR's Coca-Cola 600

It's Memorial Day weekend, which means it's time for the greatest day in motorsports. Following the Indianapolis 500 early on Sunday afternoon, NASCAR will run its longest race of the season at Charlotte Motor Speedway, a 600-mile marathon.

Most of the attention will be on Kyle Larson, who will run both races in an attempt to become the fifth driver to complete the Memorial Day "double." He's not the only driver in the race, though, so here are three drivers to watch — a favorite, a contender and a dark horse — and one you probably want to avoid in the Coca-Cola 600.

Favorite: William Byron (+800, per DraftKings as of Friday afternoon)

With Larson facing an uphill battle Sunday, Byron seems like a solid bet to be the class of the field. He won the pole in this race and led 91 laps a season ago, and he's always a threat on intermediates.

Charlotte Motor Speedway is the only track type he's yet to win on in 2024 after victories at a superspeedway (Daytona), a road course (Circuit of the Americas) and a short track (Martinsville).

Hendrick Motorsports' Chevrolets should be fast as usual, and Byron and his No. 24 team know how to methodically pace themselves for a grueling event like this one. His odds are third-highest behind Denny Hamlin and Larson, but he may be your best bet.

Contender: Kyle Larson (+550)

Larson must be given a spot this week, even if the wear and tear and potential travel complications — there is a chance of rain in Indianapolis — may prevent him from being the surefire favorite he would be otherwise. He won the 600 in 2021 and nearly went back-to-back in 2022 before a late wreck took him out while leading.

If Larson were to capture the checkered flag Sunday, it would be among not only his most impressive victories, but one of the all-time great moments in NASCAR history. If there's anyone capable of such a feat after driving 1,100 miles, it's him.

Dark horse: Ross Chastain (+2500)

Surely these odds must be a typo for Chastain, who led the most laps in the 600 in 2022 and has been fast in the past two 1.5-mile intermediates this season at Texas and Kansas. 

Sure, Chastain's Trackhouse Racing equipment may have inconsistent speed, but for him to only have the 14th-highest odds for Sunday feels like a massive oversight. He could be your best value in the field.

Avoid: Denny Hamlin (+500)

Hamlin, the favorite, has been fast everywhere this season and is sure to be a threat again. However, he only has one career win at Charlotte (the 2022 race) in 32 career starts on the oval. 

It's never fun to bet on the favorite, and it feels like there are other drivers with better chances to win this weekend.