Daytona 500 Odds and Betting Lines

Daytona 500 Odds and Betting

The 75th NASCAR season will get underway when the green flag waves at the Daytona 500 on Sunday, February 19.

The annual season opener in Daytona, Florida is often referred to as NASCAR’s Super Bowl. Pack racing and wild crashes make this race unlike any other.

Although the cars are no longer fitted with restrictor plates, the racing is essentially the same. All cars are on an even playing field. Michael McDowell won the 2021 Daytona 500 despite being a 100-1 underdog in the Daytona 500 odds. In the 2022 summer Daytona race, a bettor won $1 million on a $13 parlay bet with this Daytona 500 pick– Cody Ware +2000, B.J. McLeod +2000, Landon Cassill +1500 and David Ragan +950 to all finish inside the top 10.

Ryan Blaney, Kyle Larson, Denny Hamlin and Chase Elliott are the current favorites to win the 2023 Daytona 500 at +1200 on the Daytona 500 betting odds. Of those drivers, only Denny Hamlin has won a Daytona 500. Among the long shots are several past super speedway winners. Justin Haley and Aric Almirola sit at +4000, while seven-time champion Jimmie Johnson makes his return to NASCAR as a +5000 underdog, making him someone to watch in the Daytona 500 rankings.

Daytona 500 FAQs

When and where is the Daytona 500?

The Daytona 500 is the first race of the NASCAR Cup Series regular season. It will be held at Daytona International Speedway in Daytona, Florida on February 19.

Which current drivers have won the Daytona 500?

Many current drivers have won at Daytona and Talladega, but only a handful of current drivers have won the prestigious Daytona 500. Those drivers are Austin Cindric (2022), Michael McDowell (2021), Denny Hamlin (2020, 2019 and 2016), Austin Dillon (2018), Joey Logano (2015), Jimmie Johnson (2013 and 2006) and Kevin Harvick (2007).

Why are there big wrecks that eliminate the favorites in the Daytona 500?

The steep banking in the turns allows NASCAR stock cars to travel around the track without ever having to slow down. The cars travel at full throttle but can go even faster when tucked in behind another car. Two to three lanes of 10 to 20 cars packed bumper to bumper maximizes speed. If one driver makes an errant move and wrecks, a pile up ensues. This is referred to as The Big One — a wreck that can eliminate half of the field.

Can longshots in the Daytona 500 odds win the Daytona 500?

Longshots commonly earn top-10 and top-5 finishes at Daytona and Talladega due to the nature of the racing. These drivers simply luck out and avoid the multiple wrecks, and through attrition, they earn a solid finish. Winning the race is much more rare, but it has happened in recent history. Michael McDowell won the 2021 Daytona 500 at +10000 odds and Trevor Bayne won the 2011 Daytona 500 at +8000 odds.