2024 Daytona 500 Early Betting Odds
Date: Sunday February 18th, 2024
Location: Daytona International Speedway
Time: 2:30PM (EST)
TV: FOX
NASCAR is just over one week away from kicking off the 2024 season with the 66th running of the Daytona 500 at Daytona International Speedway. In recent years, the Daytona 500 has included multiple underdog victories with the likes of Michael McDowell, Austin Cindric, and Ricky Stenhouse Jr capturing the last 3 trophies in the Great American Race. On Sunday, February 18th, another name will be etched into the Harley J. Earl Trophy which is arguably the biggest prize in motorsports. While Daytona speedweeks has yet to begin, we wanted to take this time to discuss early betting odds for the 2024 Daytona 500!
While our official betting picks for NASCAR’s biggest race of the season will not be released until closer to race time after we have had the opportunity to analyze observations from Daytona Speedweeks, it’s never too early to share some preliminary thoughts related to current betting odds. As stated above, the last few Daytona 500 winners have been relatively surprising underdogs. While surprise winners at the superspeedways is not uncommon, history typically favors the top drivers in the sport from a holistic perspective. However, nothing is guaranteed especially in the Next Gen Car and that is reason to highlight some of those drivers that have appetizing betting value as things currently stand.
Betting Odds
| Driver | Odds |
|---|
| Ryan Blaney | +950 |
| Denny Hamlin | +1100 |
| Chase Elliott | +1200 |
| Brad Keselowski | +1200 |
| Kyle Busch | +1400 |
| Joey Logano | +1400 |
| Chris Buescher | +1400 |
| William Byron | +1600 |
| Kyle Larson | +1600 |
| Bubba Wallace | +1800 |
| Christopher Bell | +2000 |
| Ross Chastain | +2000 |
| Tyler Reddick | +2200 |
| Erik Jones | +2200 |
| Ricky Stenhouse Jr | +2200 |
| Martin Truex Jr | +2500 |
| Ty Gibbs | +2500 |
| Josh Berry | +2800 |
| Chase Briscoe | +2800 |
| Austin Dillon | +2800 |
| Alex Bowman | +3300 |
| Austin Cindric | +3300 |
| Daniel Suarez | +5000 |
| John Hunter Nemechek | +5000 |
| Ryan Preece | +5000 |
| Michael McDowell | +5000 |
| Corey Lajoie | +5000 |
| Jimmie Johnson | +5000 |
| Noah Gragson | +5000 |
| Daniel Hemric | +6600 |
| Justin Haley | +6600 |
| Carson Hocevar | +6600 |
| Todd Gilliland | +6600 |
| AJ Allmendinger | +6600 |
| Zane Smith | +8000 |
| Harrison Burton | +8000 |
| David Ragan | +8000 |
| Kaz Grala | +8000 |
| Riley Herbst | +8000 |
| Anthony Alfredo | +10000 |
| BJ McLeod | +20000 |
Early Betting Value
As I like to say often when NASCAR visits the superspeedways, bettors can make viable arguments for any driver in this year’s Daytona 500. Part of the reason these superspeedway races are so popular is because anyone can win just as we have witnessed in recent years. With that being said, bettors also must maintain an ROI efficient strategy that is suitable for short-term and long-term superspeedway racing. While we will not be discussing strategy at this juncture, I do believe there are a couple of drivers worthy of immediate betting consideration based on current betting odds.
Joey Logano +1400
In my humble opinion, Joey Logano has easily been the best driver at Daytona International Speedway since the Cup Series moved to the Next Gen Car. While Denny Hamlin’s resume at Daytona may be the best in the Cup Series, Logano’s recent statistics are far better than any competitor. Logano has amassed an incredible 96.6 average driver rating over the last 6 races at Daytona. During last year’s races at Daytona, Logano won the opening duel, finished runner-up in the 500, and then finished 5th in the regular season finale back in August. At current betting odds, we are getting a steal on Logano primarily because of the #22 team’s disappointing end to the 2023 season. However, that allows bettors to jump on the opportunity to get the best Daytona talent in the field at near 15-1 odds.
Martin Truex Jr +2500
I’ll admit that this may be a sentimental angle. After all, Truex has never won on a superspeedway despite going into his 19th year in full-time Cup Series competition. For a two-time champion and eventual Hall of Fame inductee, it is almost unimaginable that he has not won on the superspeedways and the window of opportunity is definitely closing. While Truex’s stats on the superspeedways are subpar, he has been really strong in recent years especially at Daytona. During 2022, Truex won both stages in the Daytona 500 before residing to a 13th place finish. In the most recent trip to Daytona last August, Truex won another stage and was in contention all afternoon. Needless to say, Truex is more than capable of ending this superspeedway winless streak and you will probably never see better odds (25-1) all season from the #19 team.
AJ Allmendinger +6600
With every trip to a superspeedway, bettors are always looking for a potential big underdog winner! While I believe we will get much better underdog odds closer to race time, I do believe AJ Allmendinger is among those drivers that deserves more respect. Allmendinger has performed very well at the superspeedway venues in recent years. In fact, Allmendinger has finished 6th, 10th, and 3rd in his last 3 starts in the Great American Race. While the “Dinger” will move back to full-time Xfinity Series competition in 2024, he will still get another opportunity to drive for Kaulig Racing in the Daytona 500. At near 66-1 odds, Allmendinger’s ceiling is far better than current betting odds would suggest!
