Daytona 500 Betting Preview: Drivers to Back for NASCAR's Opener
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Longshots have recently cashed out at the Daytona 500. In 2021, Michael McDowell won at +10000 – the biggest underdog to win going back to 1997. And just last year, rookie Austin Cindric won the event at +3300.
So how should NASCAR betting players look at this year's race?
The nature of restrictor plate racing gives drivers with longer odds a chance to win. Pack racing and large multi-car crashes lead to the unpredictability of the Daytona 500.
But some drivers tend to perform better at superspeedway than others, and those are the ones we will look to target for the start of the 2023 season.
Betting Advice for the Daytona 500
Denny Hamlin
If there’s a driver I’m looking to back at the top of the odds board, it would be Hamlin, who has had plenty of success at Daytona throughout his career.
Hamlin has three Daytona victories, including in 2016, 2019 and 2020. Those wins become even more impressive when you consider no other driver in the field has won the race more than once.
If Hamlin can win his fourth Daytona 500, he will tie Cale Yarborough with the second-most wins at the race, trailing only Richard Petty with seven.
Hamlin to win is +1300 at DraftKings.
Erik Jones
Gone are the days of getting Jones at +7500 or higher at superspeedways, but he’s still a worthy play.
The only thing that kept him from winning recently at superspeedways were unfortunate accidents that were no fault of his own.
He was running in the top five in the final laps at last year’s Daytona 500 before he was caught up in a multi-car crash that relegated him to a 29th-place finish.
Jones had two sixth-place finishes at Talladega last year and even led the field on the final lap before he was taken out.
Jones' ride isn't a bad choice if you want to just bet on one of the coolest-looking cars. He’ll be sporting a Guns n’ Roses-themed paint scheme for the race.
Jones to win is +3500 at DraftKings.
Welcome to the NASCAR jungle @gunsnroses! pic.twitter.com/t11rD7Zv7g
— LEGACY MOTOR CLUB (@LegacyMotorclub) February 14, 2023
Jimmie Johnson
Jimmie Johnson? Yes, the seven-time champion is coming out of retirement to run a partial schedule this season for Legacy Motor Club.
Johnson officially qualified for the race on Thursday and will start 29th. He was the fastest of the six non-chartered cars in the qualifying session, recording the 23rd fastest lap before the Bluegreen Vacations Duel qualifying races.
“I didn’t know what to expect honestly,” Johnson said. “I mean I really didn’t. To be the fastest of the non-chartered cars or being the middle of the pack. In the situation we’re in and how late this program got off the ground, really happy with where we landed. And it was just about making the race. I’m so thankful we don’t have to race through the Duels, so we definitely hit our marks.”
Despite not having the backing of Hendrick Motorsports anymore, Johnson is still a worthy longshot given his history here.
He has won the Daytona 500 twice (2006 and 2013) and has three total wins at the track, including 12 top fives and 16 top 10s here.
Johnson to win is +4000 at FanDuel.
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