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2026 Daytona 500 NASCAR Race
Date: February 15, 2026
Time: 2:30 PM ET (Green Flag Approx.)
Track: Daytona International Speedway
Track Type: 2.5 mile tri oval superspeedway
Location: Daytona Beach
Laps: 200
Total Distance: 500 miles
Last Year Winner: William Byron
Last Race Winner: N/A
Last Race 2nd Place: N/A
Points Leaders: To be determined entering 2026 season opener
Television: FOX
Radio: MRN Radio and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio
Daytona 500 Betting Talk – Outright Market
Superspeedway racing is chaos with a betting slip attached. You are not just handicapping speed, you are pricing survival, drafting partners, and whether your guy avoids the Big One.
At the top of the board, Joey Logano and Ryan Blaney sitting at +1000 tells you Bovada are respecting Team Penske’s drafting muscle. Fair numbers, but not exactly steals in a race where half the field can win with two laps left.
The +1400 tier with Chase Elliott, Denny Hamlin and Kyle Busch feels like the “brand name tax.” You are paying for pedigree and plate experience. Especially Hamlin, who always gets action here.
That +1800 cluster is interesting. William Byron, Kyle Larson and Austin Cindric offer upside without dipping too far into lottery territory. Daytona history matters, and these numbers suggest books expect them near the front late.
From +2000 to +3500 is where gamblers start hunting. Brad Keselowski, Christopher Bell, Bubba Wallace and Ricky Stenhouse Jr. all have superspeedway credentials. You are getting real win equity at numbers that actually move the bankroll.
Then you scroll to +5000 and beyond. That is pure Daytona logic. Michael McDowell, Erik Jones and even +8000 names like Jimmie Johnson are not dead tickets. Drafting luck and late restarts can flip everything.
Bottom line: this is not about picking the fastest car. It is about pricing chaos correctly. And at Daytona, chaos always cashes somebody’s long shot.
Read on to see our pick for this week.
Here are the Odds for the Top Drivers:
Daytona 500
Outright
Joey Logano +1000
Ryan Blaney +1000
Chase Elliott +1400
Denny Hamlin +1400
Kyle Busch +1400
Austin Cindric +1800
William Byron +1800
Kyle Larson +1800
Brad Keselowski +2000
Chase Briscoe +2000
Christopher Bell +2200
Bubba Wallace +2500
Carson Hocevar +2500
Ryan Preece +2500
Alex Bowman +2500
Chris Buescher +2800
Tyler Reddick +2800
Connor Zilisch +3000
Ricky Stenhouse Jr. +3300
Josh Berry +3500
Michael McDowell +3500
Ross Chastain +3500
Odds source: Bovada Sportsbook
The Prediction: Denny Hamlin 14/1 (+1400)
Here’s why, straight up: this race is about positioning, patience, and knowing when to strike. Hamlin has mastered superspeedway rhythm better than almost anyone in this era. He understands manufacturer alliances, manages runs late, and rarely panics in the draft.
At Daytona, you want someone who knows how to survive 190 laps of chaos and then flip the switch in the final five. Hamlin has made a career out of doing exactly that.
In a race where half the field can win, I trust experience plus situational awareness. That combination plays at this track
Propping up:
- Take William Byron +400 for Top 3 Finish
- Take Kyle Busch +325 for Top 5 Finish
- Take Over 20.5 Number of Drivers To Finish On Lead Lap at -125
- Driver H2H Match Up Take Denny Hamlin -115 over Austin Cindric
- Long Shot Bets – Joey Logano to be Top Ford and Denny Hamlin to be Top Toyota +2000
Bet on the Daytona 500 at Bovada Sportsbook where you can get $250 bonus.
