2024 NASCAR Daytona 500 Preview
Photo: Mark J. Rebilas/USA Today Sports
The 66th running of the Great American Race will kickoff the 2024 NASCAR Cup Series season this Sunday. Coverage for the DAYTONA 500 starts at 2:30 PM EST on FOX.
Last year’s DAYTONA 500 ended with a last lap crash, thus forcing NASCAR to throw the caution. For the third straight year, there was a driver claiming their first DAYTONA 500 victory, that being Ricky Stenhouse Jr. in the #47 entry for JTG Daughtery Racing.
Best Bets for the DAYTONA 500
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Best Bets for the DAYTONA 500 |
Joey Logano +900 | Top 3 +320 | Top 10 -160
The pole sitter for the DAYTONA 500 enters as the favorite to win it all. Joey Logano knows how to win the Great American Race, grabbing his first Harley J. Earl trophy back in 2015. He was close to winning his second DAYTONA 500 in 2021 and 2023, with last lap crashes thwarting his chances both times. Logano is known as one of the more aggressive drivers in the field, be prepared to watch him slam the door shut on anyone trying to pass him for the win.
Brad Keselowski +1100 | Top 3 +340 | Top 10 -150
Still searching for his first DAYTONA 500 win is Brad Keselowski, making this year his 15th attempt at winning the Great American Race. Since the switch to RFK Racing in 2022, he’s been a contender in three of four Daytona races, with his best finish being 2nd in last Summer’s Coke Zero Sugar 400 behind teammate Chris Buescher. Sunday could be a very good chance at watching Keselowski win his first race since leaving Penske.
Chase Elliott +1200 | Top 3 +410 | Top 10 -140
The 2020 Cup Series champion has yet to win the biggest race in NASCAR. His best finish in the DAYTONA 500 came back in 2021, when he finished runner up to Michael McDowell. After going winless in 2023, Elliott is more eager than ever to get his NAPA Chevrolet into victory lane for Hendrick Motorsports, who last won the DAYTONA 500 in 2014 with Dale Earnhardt Jr.
Kyle Busch +1200 | Top 3 +470 | Top 10 -125
Kyle Busch is starting to approach familiar territory as he makes his 19th DAYTONA 500 start...NASCAR legend and the winningest driver in RCR history, Dale Earnhardt Sr., won his only DAYTONA 500 in his 20th try. Busch was just three laps away from victory last year when a late race caution came out, spiraling into a 19th place finish. Kyle’s done it all in NASCAR but win a DAYTONA 500, that could change this year.
Bubba Wallace +1800 | Top 3 +500 | Top 10 -115
Two years ago, Bubba Wallace almost etched his name in the history books as a DAYTONA 500 winner, but had his chances blocked by Austin Cindric. Bubba has always had good runs at DAYTONA, his average finish being 12th. He’s been knocking at the door of winning at the World Center of Racing for awhile, and there’s a strong chance he’ll be able to accomplish that feat this Sunday.
Erik Jones +2200 | Top 3 +650 | Top 10 +115
One of the strongest cars in Speedweeks this year has been Erik Jones. Still early on in the season, but it seems like the switch from Chevy to Toyota in the offseason for Legacy Motor Club is already paying off. Jones is now back in the same manufactor stable as his former team, Joe Gibbs Racing, and hace 23XI Racing to rely on as well. Look for Jones to make some magic happen at Daytona.
Harrison Burton +5500 | Top 3 +2100 | Top 10 +250
His first DAYTONA 500 will forever be remembered as the first flip in the NextGen car, but Harrison Burton has a different mindset this year. In the second Duel race, Burton was in prime position to win, but Cindric had other plans as he went to pass him in turn three. The Wood Brothers are still looking for their 100th win in team history, and there’s a chance that it comes from Harrison Burton this Sunday.