2024 Daytona 500 betting odds, prediction, picks

Nola

17 February 2024

The stage is set for 2024 Daytona 500, as the top drivers in the NASCAR Cup Series have been preparing all week for the most anticipated race of the season.

The drivers will have 35 other chances to reach victory lane, but there’s no win bigger than the Daytona 500 considering how prestigious it is for a driver to add their name to the storied list of winners in what’s one of the most difficult races to come out on top.

There are Cup Series champions in the field that are still searching for their first Daytona 500 such as Kyle Busch and Brad Keselowski, but there are also several young drivers that are hungry to win in what appears to be a deep field.

40 drivers will be taking the green flag on Sunday afternoon, weather permitting, and I went through the odds to determine who I felt were the best bets to finish top 10, top five and top three along with a pick to win and a longshot play.

Best bet to finish top 10- Austin Cindric, No. 2 Team Penske Ford (+125)

Cindric won the Daytona 500 as a Cup Series rookie in 2022, and he's shown that he's got what it takes to run up front consistently at superspeedway races. Cindric's biggest issue last season was getting involved in wrecks, but he's had a clean week so far and appears to have a strong car that should be able to finish in the top 10 as long as he keeps it in one piece.

Best bet to finish top five- Tyler Reddick, No. 45 23XI Racing Toyota (+350)

Reddick's had a brutal history at the Daytona 500 so far throughout his young career, but a lot of that has been due to being at the wrong place at the wrong time as opposed to a lack of speed. Reddick will start fourth after winning the second duel race and should be able to maintain a top five position considering how fast the new-look Toyotas have been.

Best bet to finish top three- Chris Buescher, No. 17 RFK Racing Ford (+500)

Buescher has established himself as one of the top drivers on superspeedways, as he was able to win the Daytona fall race last season and was in the mix to win the 500 after running up front for most of the day. RFK Racing's superspeedway program is among the best in the sport, so Buescher should have a successful day and finish near the front again.

Pick to win- William Byron, No. 24 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet (+1800)

Picking a Daytona 500 winner is always a challenge, but a common theme is that a driver on one of the top teams in the sport who isn't being talked about much ends up stepping up and surprising everyone. Byron fits this description, as he's flying under the radar at +1800 despite being an elite superspeedway racer in top-tier equipment, which makes him a strong pick to win in my eyes.

Longshot pick to win- Zane Smith, No. 71 Spire Motorsports Chevrolet (+7000)

There are several drivers with long odds that are capable of winning, as we've seen underdogs win the past three Daytona 500's, and I see Smith as someone that could extend that number to four. Smith's won at Daytona the past two years in the Truck Series and finished 13th in his first Daytona 500 start last year, and he should have better equipment this time around.