The 2023 NASCAR season will be given the green flag this weekend. The Daytona 500 is always a thrilling spectacle and this year will be no different. The great American race will kick off the new season and there are plenty of things for bettors to pay attention to ahead of this weekend.
Daytona 500 Odds
| Ryan Blaney | +1000 |
| Denny Hamlin | +1000 |
| Kyle Busch | +1200 |
| Chase Elliott | +1200 |
| Kyle Larson | +1200 |
| Joey Logano | +1300 |
| Ross Chastain | +1600 |
| William Byron | +1800 |
| Brad Keselowski | +1800 |
| Martin Truex Jr. | +1800 |
Ryan Blaney comes into this race as a joint-favorite but does so off the back of a disappointing 2022 season. The 24-year-old qualified 4th for this weekend and has a great record here, with a pair of second-place finishes in his pocket. However, he didn’t win a single race last year which may give cause for concern.
Last years’ winner & Rookie of the Year Austin Cindric, is priced at +2200. It’s tough to imagine Cindric winning again, but stranger things have happened.
Speaking of, we have to mention Travis Pastrana. He’ll be making his NASCAR debut at The Great American Race, with odds of +10000. He’s no stranger to overcoming the odds and has built a whole career off of doing the impossible. Although, NASCAR is a very different beast.
Joey Logano could be a great shout at +1300. Not only is he the reigning series champion, but he won here in 2015 and has 5 top-10’s in his last 8 Daytona 500’s. Considering how tight the odds list is, there is some value on a proven vet who knows what it takes to win this kind of race.
It’s also worth noting that Denny Hamlin is probably going to be the chalk pick here. He has 3 Daytona 500 wins to his name, with the last coming in 2020.
Where to find value in the Daytona 500
Aric Almirola
To win: +3500
Top-5: +1000
Top-10: +450
I love playing Almirola in DFS formats. He came fifth here last year and came 18th in the recent Bush Light Clash. Fans will remember how he was half a lap away from winning this race back in 2018. Will this be the year of redemption?
Tyler Reddick
To win: +8000
Top-5: +1600
Top-10: +650
Reddick has been a great name to watch over the past few years and the Daytona 500 doesn’t just mean a new season, but a new era. Reddick will be replacing Kurt Busch in the 23XI #45 car. His previous record at the Daytona 500 has been dismal, but perhaps a change of scenery will yield better results for the talented driver.
Austin Dillon
To win: +2500
Top-5: +700
Top-10: +330
Dillon won the non-500 race at Daytona last year, as well as finishing third in the 500 last year. He bettered that in 2018 with a win at the Great American Race. It’s definitely worth keeping an eye on his odds, which have already dropped from +3000.
Betting prediction for The Daytona 500
The Daytona 500 is ultmately anyone’s race, which is what makes it so fun to bet on. You could pick a +4000 longshot and have every chance once the wrecks have settled and those final laps draw near. I do like Austin Dillon as an outsider, but I can’t look past Chase Elliott as the outright winner.
Daytona 500 betting offers
John Cordes/Icon Sportswire
