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NASCAR AI Predictions at Darlington 2025
Pictured: NASCAR Cup Series driver Denny Hamlin during practice and qualifying at Darlington Raceway. Photo by Jim Dedmon via Imagn Images.

After nailing Denny Hamlin’s first win of the NASCAR Cup Series season, we’re once again turning to AI to break down today’s Goodyear 400 at Darlington Raceway. With the green flag set to wave at 3 p.m. ET on FS1, we asked ChatGPT for its full NASCAR at Darlington predictions.

Using a blend of historical trends, betting odds, and statistical models, ChatGPT delivers its projected winner, top prop bet, best long shot, and a full predicted finishing order for all 38 drivers in today’s field.

Along with our 2025 Goodyear 400 predictions at Darlington, here are our AI-powered NASCAR best bets and full AI-simulated finishing order:

🤖 NASCAR AI picks & predictions for Goodyear 400 at Darlington

We've previously used ChatGPT to predict its March Madness bracketSuper Bowl picks, and even its Canada vs. USA predictions, and we're once again turning to OpenAI's popular chatbot to predict the winner of today's Goodyear 400 at Darlington.

We trained ChatGPT's latest and most advanced AI model to study the latest NASCAR odds, betting history, and relevant trends before predicting this weekend's winner:

NASCAR AI Predictions at Darlington 2025: ChatGPT
Pictured: NASCAR Cup Series driver Denny Hamlin sprays Coca Cola after his win at the Cook Out 400 at Martinsville Speedway. Photo by Jim Dedmon via Imagn Images.

🏆 ChatGPT's pick to win Goodyear 400 at Darlington

ChatGPT predicts Denny Hamlin will win the Goodyear 400 at Darlington. His best odds are +800 via BetMGM, which would turn a winning $10 bet into an $80 profit with an implied win probability of 11.11%.

Here's why the AI model is predicting Hamlin will win today's race:

✅ Short-track savvy: Hamlin’s long history on short, punishing tracks gives him the experience needed to navigate Darlington’s notorious “Track Too Tough to Tame,” avoiding the mishaps and attrition that often plague less experienced drivers.

✅ Team excellence & strategy: Joe Gibbs Racing consistently fields strong cars at Darlington, and Hamlin’s ability to manage cautions, fuel strategy, and late-race restarts is a big advantage on this challenging circuit.

✅ Proven consistency: Despite the inherent chaos of Darlington, Hamlin’s track record as a veteran who can execute under pressure makes him a standout in a field where even the favorites have slim win probabilities.

🤖 AI confidence level: ⭐⭐⭐ (15% win probability)

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💰 ChatGPT's best prop bet for Goodyear 400 at Darlington

ChatGPT predicts Chase Briscoe will finish in the top three as its best NASCAR prop bet for Darlington. Briscoe's best odds to score a top-3 finish are +550 via bet365, which would turn a winning $10 bet into a $55 profit with an implied win probability of 15.38%.

Here's why the AI model is predicting Briscoe to finish in the top three today:

✅ Strong starting position & package: Briscoe qualified 4th with Joe Gibbs Racing - a team known for building competitive cars at Darlington - and his starting position puts him right in the mix.

✅ Experience on tough tracks: JGR drivers have a good track record at Darlington, and Briscoe’s aggressive yet measured driving style makes him well-suited to navigate Darlington’s unique challenges.

✅ Ability to capitalize on caution-fueled restarts: Darlington is notorious for its unpredictable cautions and restarts. If the leaders are caught up in strategy or on-track incidents, Briscoe’s aptitude for seizing opportunities could see him climbing into the top three.

🤖 AI confidence level: ⭐⭐⭐ (25% chance of top-3 finish)

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🎯 ChatGPT's best long shot to win Goodyear 400 at Darlington

ChatGPT predicts Alex Bowman to win the Goodyear 400 as its best long shot at Darlington. His best odds to win are +5000 via Caesars, which would turn a winning $10 bet into a $500 profit with an implied win probability of 1.96%.

Here's why the AI model is predicting Bowman as its best long shot today:

✅ Undervalued starting position vs. team quality: Although Bowman qualified 33rd, his Hendrick Motorsports car is typically one of the best on the circuit. A deep starting position can mask his true race pace if his team brings a strong setup for Darlington.

✅ Opportunity in Darlington’s chaos: Darlington’s reputation for attrition, unpredictable cautions, and strategic gambles means that drivers starting deep can climb the order dramatically if they avoid early incidents.

✅ Proven ability to overperform: Bowman has shown in past races that he can make up significant ground when conditions favor his driving style. His experience and skill could allow him to exploit a chaotic race and deliver a surprise win.

🤖 AI confidence level: ⭐ (4% win probability)

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🤖 Goodyear 400 AI projections for full finishing order

Here is our predicted Goodyear 400 finishing order and results for every driver based on AI projections. While ChatGPT is a large language model and not specifically designed for predicting sporting events, it can spot trends or insights that NASCAR bettors might overlook.

🏁 ChatGPT's full NASCAR finishing order predictions at Darlington

1. Denny Hamlin 🥇 (No. 11, Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota) - Using his veteran short‐track savvy and ability to manage fuel and cautions, Hamlin pulls away to take the win.

2. William Byron 🥈 (No. 24, Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet) – Byron’s strong car and clean air from starting first help him finish near the front.

3. Chase Briscoe 🥉 (No. 19, Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota) – A well-handled race by Briscoe capitalizing on strategic restarts secures him a podium finish.

4. Bubba Wallace (No. 23, 23XI Racing Toyota) – Wallace’s aggressive style suits Darlington’s unpredictable nature, keeping him in the top four.

5. Kyle Busch (No. 8, Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet) – Busch’s experience and ability to avoid trouble make him a steady presence in the top five.

6. Joey Logano (No. 22, Team Penske Ford) – Logano overcomes a deeper starting position with a series of strong restarts to climb into the top six.

7. Chase Elliott (No. 9, Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet) – Despite a mid-pack start, Elliott’s racecraft and Hendrick’s setup allow him to finish strongly.

8. Tyler Reddick (No. 45, 23XI Racing Toyota) – Reddick’s speed and determination help him navigate the short-track mayhem for a top-10 finish.

9. Austin Cindric (No. 2, Team Penske Ford) – Cindric’s consistency and a smart pit strategy keep him in contention among the leaders.

10. Christopher Bell (No. 20, Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota) – Bell capitalizes on clean air and a well-timed move to round out the top 10.

11. Ryan Blaney (No. 12, Team Penske Ford) – Blaney stays in the mix and finishes solidly in the upper group.

12. Kyle Larson (No. 5, Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet) – Larson’s talent sees him fighting through traffic for a top-12 finish.

13. Todd Gilliland (No. 34, Front Row Motorsports Ford) – In the midst of the short-track chaos, Gilliland manages to keep a respectable position.

14. Ryan Preece (No. 60, RFK Racing Ford) – Preece, starting near the front, is jostled around early and slips to 14th.

15. Michael McDowell (No. 71, Spire Motorsports Chevrolet) – McDowell’s early speed is tempered by the attrition typical of Darlington, landing him mid-pack.

16. Ty Gibbs (No. 54, Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota) – The young gun shows promise but finishes behind the veterans as the race unfolds.

17. Carson Hocevar (No. 77, Spire Motorsports Chevrolet) – Hocevar’s package keeps him in contention, but he ultimately settles in the lower mid-field.

18. Chris Buescher (No. 17, RFK Racing Ford) – Buescher’s RFK setup allows him to cruise steadily, finishing just outside the top 15.

19. Justin Haley (No. 7, Spire Motorsports Chevrolet) – Haley makes a late charge but is held back by traffic, finishing in the upper mid-field.

20. Ross Chastain (No. 1, Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet) – Chastain’s bold moves see him climb significantly - but contact and cautions slow his progress, putting him 20th.

21. Austin Dillon (No. 3, Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet) – Dillon’s car struggles with the track’s relentless demands, dropping him into the lower mid-field.

22. Josh Berry (No. 21, Wood Brothers Racing Ford) – Berry’s knack for close-quarters racing keeps him around the 20th–22nd range.

23. Brad Keselowski (No. 6, RFK Racing Ford) – Keselowski battles through on-track incidents to finish in the low 20s.

24. Zane Smith (No. 38, Front Row Motorsports Ford) – Smith’s less competitive package and a few missteps push him slightly back.

25. A.J. Allmendinger (No. 16, Kaulig Racing Chevrolet) – Allmendinger’s aggressive style yields mixed results, and he ends up mid-pack.

26. Noah Gragson (No. 4, Front Row Motorsports Ford) – Gragson is caught in the frequent Darlington cautions, finishing in the mid-field.

27. John Hunter Nemechek (No. 42, Legacy Motor Club Toyota) – Nemechek’s strategic driving helps him inch forward, but he remains in the lower mid-field.

28. Ricky Stenhouse Jr. (No. 47, Hyak Motorsports Chevrolet) – Stenhouse Jr. is involved in a couple of incidents, dropping him further back.

29. Ty Dillon (No. 10, Kaulig Racing Chevrolet) – With a modest package, Ty Dillon finishes in the latter part of the field.

30. Daniel Suarez (No. 99, Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet) – Suarez’s volatile style sees him struggle with consistency, landing him near the back.

31. Cole Custer (No. 41, Haas Factory Team Ford) – Custer’s car isn’t well-suited for Darlington, resulting in a lower-field finish.

32. Riley Herbst (No. 35, 23XI Racing Toyota) – Inexperience and a lack of track finesse see Herbst fade in the latter half.

33. Alex Bowman (No. 48, Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet) – Bowman’s pace drops off amid the chaos, and he falls toward the back.

34. Erik Jones (No. 43, Legacy Motor Club Toyota) – Jones is hampered by on-track contact and ends up further down the order.

35. Cody Ware (No. 51, Rick Ware Racing Ford) – With one of the least competitive packages, Ware is forced into a deep back finish.

36. Shane van Gisbergen (No. 88, Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet) – The international star struggles to adapt to Darlington’s brutal demands and falls out of contention.

37. Austin Hill (No. 33, Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet) – Hill’s inexperience on this demanding track sends him near the rear.

38. J.J. Yeley (No. 44, NY Racing Team Chevrolet) – Yeley’s limited Cup experience sees him finish in the final stretch.

💰 NASCAR best bets for Goodyear 400 at Darlington

BetDriverOddsImplied win probability
🏆 Pick to winDenny Hamlin+80011.11%
💰 Best prop betChase Briscoe (top-3)+55015.38%
🎯 Best long shotAlex Bowman+50001.96%

📺 How to watch the 2025 Goodyear 400 at Darlington

📅 Race date: Sunday, April 6
🕒 Start time: 3 p.m. ET
📍 Track: Darlington Raceway (Darlington, S.C.)
📺 TV: FS1 | Streaming: Fox Sports App

🏁 Best NASCAR betting sites for Goodyear 400 at Darlington

Looking to bet on the Goodyear 400 at Darlington Raceway? Here are our top-rated NASCAR best sports betting sites as determined by our expert team at Sportsbook Review, along with our best sportsbook promos ahead of today's race at 3 p.m. ET.

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