NASCAR is back! The Great American Race will run its 66th edition this coming Sunday at Daytona International Speedway. The 2.5-mile speedway is home to thrilling, exciting, and chaotic racing, and I have you covered with 2024 Daytona 500 odds and best bets!
Betting on superspeedway racing is one of my favorite styles to bet on, but also one of the riskiest. You should never bet more than you are willing to lose, and at Daytona, that’s even more true. Approach this race as if you’ll lose it all and be happy if you win anything. This race will be chaotic and full of wrecks.
2024 Daytona 500 Odds and Best Bets
The Odds
Brad Keselowski +950
Kyle Busch +1000
Denny Hamlin +1000
Ryan Blaney +1100
Joey Logano +1200
Chase Elliott +1400
Chris Buescher +1500
Kyle Larson +1500
William Byron +1600
Bubba Wallace +2000
Christopher Bell +2200
Ty Gibbs +2500
Martin Truex Jr +2500
Ross Chastain +2800
Austin Cindric +2800
Austin Dillon +2800
Erik Jones +2800
Alex Bowman +3000
Ricky Stenhouse Jr +3000
Tyler Reddick +3000
Chase Briscoe +3500
Michael McDowell +4000
Josh Berry +4000
Ryan Preece +4500
Corey Lajoie +5000
AJ Allmendinger +5000
Daniel Suarez +5000
Harrison Burton +6000
Justin Haley +6000
Jimmie Johnson +6000
Noah Gragson +6000
John Hunter Nemechek +6000
Carson Hocevar +6500
Todd Gilliland +7000
David Ragan +7500
Zane Smith +7500
Daniel Hemric +8500
Riley Herbst +8500
Anthony Alfredo +15000
Kaz Grala +15000
BJ McLeod +25000
Best Bets
AJ Allmendinger Top 5 Finish (+850)
AJ Allmendinger is known for his excellent road course racing abilities. He’s the all-time leader in wins on road courses for the NASCAR Xfinity Series. However, AJ is also a stud when it comes to superspeedway racing.
In last year’s Daytona 500, Allmendinger finished in sixth. His last Daytona 500 attempt before that was in 2018, where he finished third. He also finished third in the 2017 Daytona 500.
In the Xfinity Series, Allmendinger’s last four starts at Daytona have resulted in a third place, two-second places, and a fifth-place finish. AJ won in Xfinity at Talladega in 2022, further proving his superspeedway prowess.
“The Big One” wreck can get anyone, but Allmendinger has proven time and time again he’s smart at not putting himself in bad situations and making it to the end of these races.
David Ragan Top 10 Finish
David Ragan is back for another attempt at the Daytona 500. The retired Cup Series driver has always been a superspeedway ace. He’s won at Daytona before and crossed the line first at Talladega, but he violated the double yellow line rule and wasn’t awarded a win there. Ragan was the leader at the 500-mile mark in 2011 but lost the race in overtime.
In his most recent starts at Daytona, Ragan finished eighth and ninth in both races in 2022. On Wednesday night in single-car qualifying, Ragan locked himself into the Daytona 500 as one of the open cars.
Ragan who is entered in the Roush Fenway Keselowski Racing #60 car, is in one of the best rides he’s had an opportunity in in a while. Look for the veteran to hang around and have a shot at the end.
One driver well down the depth chart who shouldn’t be overlooked is David Ragan.
Two-time superspeedway winner, summer 2011 Daytona champ.
Will be piloting a fast RFK Ford. Smart racer who stays in line and doesn’t do stupid things (guess he did lose a Daytona 500 doing…
— Ryan (@ifantasyrace) February 8, 2024
Most Laps Led by Any Driver – 73.5 (Under -115)
Coming off of the Super Bowl last week and all their fun props, Caesars Sportsbook is giving us a chance to run it back in our “Super Bowl of Racing.” Brad Keselowski has led the most laps in the last two Daytona 500s, leading 42 laps in 2023 and 67 laps in 2022.
In 2021, Denny Hamlin paced the field for 98 laps. Hamlin was also the lap leader in the 2020 500, leading 79 laps. Over the last 10 Daytona 500, it’s an even split at five over this number, five under.
Tossing Daytona’s summer race, which keep in mind is only 400 miles (roughly 40 fewer laps). In both races in the NextGen Cup Series car, the under hit on this number, with Chase Briscoe leading 67 in 2023 and Chase Elliott leading only 31 laps in 2022.
While the stats are close, the new car has given an edge to the under lap. That’s not factoring in weather, which could come into play and cause a shorter race or more intense racing, leading to more wrecks. Under is the play here.
Kyle Busch to Win (+1600)
Kyle Busch is one of those drivers who have accomplished just about everything in the sport of NASCAR. 63 Cup Series wins, 102 Xfinity Series wins, 64 Craftsman Truck Series wins.
Two-time Cup Series champion, Xfinity Series champion, Coke 600, Southern 500, Brickyard 400. He’s won just about everything except that elusive Daytona 500.
Busch was leading at the end of 500 miles last year, but overtime didn’t go his way, and he finished seventh. He went on to win at Talladega later in the year.
February 18th is also a significant date for Richard Childress Racing. February 18th, 2001, was the date Dale Earnhardt was fatally lost in the Daytona 500. The Daytona 500 has been run on February 18th twice since that day. Kevin Harvick won for RCR in 2007, and Austin Dillion also won on that date in 2018. This year’s Daytona 500 is scheduled for February 18th.
Corey Lajoie to Win (+6500)
Just a couple of seasons ago, Lajoie was leading with two laps to go at Atlanta Motor Speedway, just two laps away from cashing a 250/1 to win a betting ticket for us. Times have changed, and now Corey is rolling off at 65/1, but it still offers incredible value.
Over the last four Daytona 500s, only last year’s champion Ryan Blaney (11.0) has a better average finish than Corey Lajoie (11.75). Lajoie has come close at Atlanta twice and scored a solid fourth-place finish at Talladega in the fall. Lajoie is due to hit on a superspeedway, and that might happen sooner rather than later.