"The 2026 NASCAR season drops the green flag with its most iconic event: the 68th running of the Daytona 500. But before the field begins the high-speed chess match of fuel-saving, yes, if you're new here, that's a thing, bump drafting, and aggressive blocking, let's review the current outright odds for "The Great American Race." When looking at the board, it's important to remember that Daytona is a different beast than your average Sunday at the track."
"You aren't betting on who has the fastest car, you're betting on who can dodge the "Big One", that inevitable, multi-car pileup that can turn a front-runner into a spectator in a heartbeat. Because any driver can be collected in a wreck at any moment, the odds reflect that uncertainty. Even the favorites have much longer odds than they would at a standard oval."
The 2026 Daytona 500 opens the NASCAR Cup season as the 68th running and a marquee superspeedway event. Daytona's pack racing creates extreme variance where avoiding the "Big One" matters as much as raw speed. Betting odds reflect that uncertainty, producing longer lines even for top names. Kyle Busch and Denny Hamlin lead the board at +900, with Busch capturing the pole and seeking his first Daytona 500 win while Hamlin targets a fourth Harley J. Earl Trophy. Team Penske's Joey Logano (+1000) and Ryan Blaney (+1000) round out the top contenders, with Logano starting on the second row after winning his Duel.
Read at Bleacher Nation
Unable to calculate read time
Collection
[
|
...
]