NASCAR Odds: Harry Breaks Down the Daytona 500 Odds
The Race:
The Daytona 500
Where:
Daytona International Speedway
Daytona Beach, Florida
Sunday in Daytona Beach will mark the 61st race in this iconic event and is known as the Super Bowl of NASCAR. However, since 1982, there is one stark difference between the timing of the Daytona 500 and the Super Bowl; unlike the Super Bowl—which comes at the end of the football season—the Daytona 500 marks the beginning of the NASCAR season.
Richard Petty has the most wins ever at Daytona with seven, and Cale Yarborough is second with four. Chevy is first in number of wins with 24, and Ford is second with 15. That is enough history about Daytona, now, let’s take a look at the NASCAR odds for this weekend and check out my winning betting selections for Sunday’s season opener.
Best Sports Books 2020
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The NASCAR odds Winner at the Daytona 500
Denny Hamlin +1000
Hamlin is the defending champion at Daytona and has captured this event twice in the last four years. Why would you go against history?
Joey Logano +1000
The 29-year-old won this in 2015 and this will mark his 400th race on the NASCAR circuit. Logano will be the youngest driver ever to race in his 400th event. Doesn’t that just seem like a fairy tale story line?
Chase Elliott +1400
Elliott is entering his fifth season in NASCAR and it’s time he starts doing more than just winning short courses. I expect big things out of the No. 9 car this season. These are my top three racers for this race, so if you bet them all and one wins you will still make a pretty penny.
NASCAR Odds: Winning Car Number: Over/Under 17.5
-150 Over
-110 Under
This is an interesting bet and should be fun to follow on Sunday. Hamlin and Elliott would qualify for the under and a couple other sneaky plays for the under would be No. 12 Dave Blaney who is getting bet bigtime in Vegas. Another guy that not many people are mentioning is the No. 2 car of Brad Keselowski who could really do some damage this season, but especially at Daytona. Then there is the man right on the button; pole sitter Ricky Stenhouse Jr. drives the No. 17 car and is worth keeping an eye on… if you’re going with the under.
If you are leaning with the over, the sentimental pick would be Jimmy Johnson (No. 48) who will be racing at Daytona for the last time as he plans to retire after this season. A few other sneaky plays who could surprise are Erik Jones (No. 20) who had a nice Daytona last year by finishing 3rd and Kyle Larson (No. 42) as well as he finished 7th.
NASCAR Odds: Top 3 Finishers
Joey Logano +280
Logano has been right in the mix the last two years, finishing 4th in both races.
Kyle Busch +280
Busch was the winner here in 2017 and finished in 3rd in 2016 and second last year. Does he improve again this year?
Martin Truex Jr +280
A very good price for the guy who I consider the favorite to win the NASCAR Cup this season.
Kevin Harvick +390
Getting almost 4-to-1 on a true veteran is worth a play. Harvick turns 44 this year and just signed on for two more years of racing in the circuit.
NASCAR Odds: Manufacturer to Win
+140 Ford
+175 Chevy
+220 Toyota
Like I stated earlier, Chevy leads with 24 wins, but Ford is currently the favorite. Clint Bowyer, Keselowski, Logano, and Harvick lead the attack for Ford. And since “Ford vs. Ferrari” came out last season, doesn’t it just feel like a Ford season?
NASCAR OddS: Team Race Winner
+300 Joe Gibbs Racing
+400 Team Penske
+450 Hendrick Motor Sports
+350 Any Other team
Ultimately, I feel when the dust clears this will be a tight win for Team Penske with Joey Logano coming out on top. Joe Gibbs racers Truex, Kyle Busch and Hamlin will all finish in the top 10 and will make a run for the checkered flag, but again it’s Joey Logano who will get it done in Daytona.
Harry’s Daytona odds and Top 10 Finishers List
10-Clint Bowyer
9-Jimmy Johnson
8-Erik Jones
7-Kyle Busch
6-Kyle Larson
5-Kevin Harvick
4-Martin Truex Jr.
3-Chase Elliott
2-Denny Hamlin
1-Joey Logano
Harry Gagnon
Expert WriterHarry Gagnon spent 14 years as a Vegas Sportsbook Supervisor and holds a Communications degree from SUNY-Oswego. You might know him better as part of the Degenerate Trifecta on the award nominated betting podcast “Against All odds with Cousin Sal” on the Ringer Podcast Network. Feel free to find him on Twitter (@AAOHarry) and tweet him a message if you want to talk casinos, sports, or just shoot the breeze about betting in general cause, hey, that’s what Twitter is for, right?
