NASCAR Daytona 500 2021: Predictions, Odds and Top Drivers for NASCAR Season Opener Maurice Bobb @. 2021 Daytona 500 odds, drivers, predictions: Surprising NASCAR picks from top model that called Hamlin's win Sunday's 2021 Daytona 500 promises plenty of excitement for NASCAR fans everywhere. There has been some movement in the odds for the 2020 Daytona 500, according to DraftKings. See where 2019 winner Denny Hamlin and other top drivers - plus some new ones who are moving up the. Denny Hamlin's win Saturday gave JGR wins in four of the past five Sprint Unlimited's, and his odds have gone from 15-to-1 to 10-to-1. However, JGR hasn't won the Daytona 500 since 1993 when Dale.

May 20, 2020, Darlington, SC, USA; NASCAR Cup Series driver Kyle Busch (18) during the Toyota 500. Mandatory Credit: Brynn Anderson/Pool Photo via USA TODAY Network

The 2021 Daytona 500 will kick off a new NASCAR season on Sunday, when 40 drivers will try to make history with a win at the 63rd running of The Great American Race. Chase Elliott is only 25 years old, but he's made the NASCAR playoffs in each of his first five seasons, won 11 times in the last three years, and is coming off his first Cup championship. Now, he'll try to add a Daytona 500 crown to an already impressive resume when the green flag drops on NASCAR at Daytona 2021 at 2:30 p.m. ET.

Elliott is 12th in the 2021 Daytona 500 starting lineup and listed at 10-1 in the 2021 Daytona 500 odds from William Hill Sportsbook. Two-time defending Daytona 500 champion Denny Hamlin will have a little more work to do since he's starting in 25th, but his superspeedway prowess means he's the 17-2 favorite in the 2021 NASCAR at Daytona odds. Before you scour the 2021 Daytona 500 starting lineup and make your NASCAR at Daytona predictions for the Great American Race, be sure to see the latest 2021 Daytona 500 picks from SportsLine's proven projection model.

Developed by daily Fantasy pro and SportsLine predictive data engineer Mike McClure, this proprietary NASCAR prediction computer model simulates every race 10,000 times, taking into account factors such as track history and recent results.

The model began the 2020 season paying out big by picking Denny Hamlin to win his second consecutive Daytona 500 at 10-1. The model also called Kevin Harvick's win at Atlanta and nailed a whopping nine top-10 finishers in that race. McClure then used the model to lock in a 10-1 bet on Hamlin for his win at Miami.

At The Brickyard, the model called Harvick's fourth victory of the season. Then during the 2020 NASCAR Playoffs, the model nailed its picks in back-to-back races, calling Denny Hamlin to win at 17-2 at Talladega and Chase Elliott to win at 7-2 at the Charlotte Roval. Anybody who has followed it has seen huge returns.

Now, his model simulated the 2021 NASCAR at Daytona race 10,000 times. Head to SportsLine to see the complete projected leaderboard for the 2021 Daytona 500.

Top 2021 Daytona 500 predictions

One surprise: the model is high on Aric Almirola, even though he's a 16-1 long shot in the latest NASCAR at Daytona odds 2021 from William Hill. He's a target for anyone looking for a huge payday. Almirola's confidence should be soaring after a win in the first 2021 Bluegreen Vacations Duel at Daytona, which resulted in a second-row starting spot with inside position.

The 36-year-old has made the playoffs the last three seasons, while superspeedways have been the site of both of his NASCAR Cup Series victories. Almirola won the 2018 1000bulbs.com 500 at Talladega and the 2014 Coke Zero 400 at Daytona. Stewart-Haas Racing also has Kevin Harvick starting inside the top 10 (eighth), so look for Almirola and Harvick to link up early and climb the 2021 Daytona 500 leaderboard.

And a massive shocker: Chase Elliott, one of the top Vegas favorites at 10-1, stumbles big-time and doesn't even crack the top five. There are far better values in this loaded 2021 Daytona 500 lineup. The 2020 NASCAR Cup Series champion is 12th in the 2021 Daytona 500 starting grid.

Elliott finished second at Daytona last August, but that was his first career top-10 finish in 10 starts at the track. In fact, he'd never finished higher than 14th at this iconic venue, and he's finished 17th or worse in his last three Daytona 500s. His low odds, combined with his lack of success at Daytona, make him one of the drivers to fade at the Daytona 500 2021.

How to make 2021 NASCAR at Daytona picks

The model is also targeting three other drivers with NASCAR at Daytona odds of 13-1 or longer to make a serious run at winning it all. Anyone who backs these drivers could hit it big. You can see all the NASCAR picks over at SportsLine.

So who wins the 2021 Daytona 500? And which long shots stun NASCAR? Check out the latest 2021 Daytona 500 odds below and then visit SportsLine now to see the full projected 2021 Daytona 500 leaderboard, all from the model that nailed Hamlin's win last season.

2021 Daytona 500 odds

Denny Hamlin 17-2

Chase Elliott 10-1

Joey Logano 11-1

Kyle Larson 11-1

Ryan Blaney 11-1

Brad Keselowski 12-1

William Byron 13-1

Video: NASCAR drivers return for 63rd Daytona 500 (NBC Sports)

Kevin Harvick 13-1

Alex Bowman 13-1

Kyle Busch 14-1

Martin Truex Jr. 15-1

Aric Almirola 16-1

Kurt Busch 22-1

Bubba Wallace 22-1

Ricky Stenhouse Jr. 25-1

Christopher Bell 28-1

Austin Dillon 30-1

Ross Chastain 35-1

Matt DiBenedetto 35-1

Ryan Newman 40-1

Tyler Reddick 55-1

Cole Custer 60-1

Austin Cindric 60-1

Jamie McMurray 60-1

Erik Jones 60-1

Chris Buescher 65-1

Chase Briscoe 70-1

Daniel Suarez 100-1

Michael McDowell 100-1

David Ragan 125-1

Corey Lajoie 125-1

Ryan Preece 200-1

Anthony Alfredo 250-1

Kaz Grala 250-1

BJ McLeod 1000-1

Cody Ware 1000-1

Quin Houff 1000-1

Joey Gase 1000-1

Josh Bilicki 1000-1

Derrike Cope 2000-1

How do you read the 2021 Daytona 500 odds and turn a profit? But better yet – what is Daytona 500? Put simply, it’s the most important and widely-recognized race by far on the NASCAR circuit. It has the best history, it has all the top drivers, and it has the biggest purse.

Today, we have put together for your reading pleasure the ultimate Daytona 500 betting guide. Our team has gone the full distance, from providing you with an up-to-date list of odds to carefully examining the competition’s recent history. We offer you a chance to get the latest insight and turn them into actionable wagers.

2021 Daytona 500 Betting Odds

Daytona 500 is a challenging race to all motorsports fans, drivers, and especially bettors. Yet, the oddsmakers always make sure to give us a fair estimate. The following table displays an updated list of odd to win Daytona 500:

The race is strategically placed early on the NASCAR Cup Series when drivers still haven’t had enough time to cut their teeth nor fans quite tell which driver is more likely to outrace another.

When and Where Is 2021 Daytona 500 Taking Place?

• Date: Sunday, February 14, 2021
• Time: 2:30pm ET
• Location: Daytona International Speedway, Florida
• Event:The Great American Race

2021 Daytona 500 will take place on February 14, 2021 at 2:30pm ET at the Daytona International Speedway, Daytona Beach, Florida, United States. The event features 32 drivers who come from all backgrounds to lay claim on one of the largest events in the NASCAR circuit. Daytona 500 is the first official race in the circuit which features 36 events in total for 2021.

Where to Watch 2021 Daytona 500?

• TV: FOX
• Radio: MRN

For those who prefer to watch from home, you will be thrilled to know that FOX is streaming the event at 1 PM. Radio coverage will be provided by the Motor Racing Network.

Who Are the Favorites?

Daytona 500 Odds And Predictions

Without a single race out yet, analyzing the 2021 NASCAR series is a bit of a mystery, and yet – we do have last year’s results to keep us fairly optimistic about our predictions. The Great American Race is back and with it so are a number of ambitious young and established drivers.

Today we will take a look at some of our personal favorites and see if we can make a bet on Daytona. The odds to win the event are likely to keep changing, but not the track record of the hand-picked favorites who the sportsbooks agree with us are poised to add yet another title to their name.

Joey Logano No. 22 Ford Mustang

Without any doubt, Joey Logano is one of the hottest picks this season and why wouldn’t he be? Team Penske’s driver is in a good shape and he has been at it for over a decade now. Besides, the 2019 season definitely paned out quite alright with two wins in Las Vegas Speedway and Michigan International Speedway. He also managed to finish top-five on five different occasions throughout the season, making him one of the best drivers still in the race.

Brad Keselowski No. 2 Ford

Team Penske will definitely have a strong lineup of drivers in the 2020 NASCAR Cup Series, and not least of all in Daytona 500. Brad Keselowski may not have won a title in a while, but his performance has always rivaled those of the best. In 2019, he managed to conclude 13 top-five finishes and 19 top-tens. You might call him a bit of a wild card as is, but Keselowski is definitely one of the drivers to watch out for in February. He may yet surprise us all and push to the top.

Who Is Favored To Win Daytona 500

Denny Hamlin Toyota No. 11

Team Penske won’t be taking the credit for Hamlin. Instead, we have Joe Gibbs Racing to thank for the talent of Hamlin. In fact, Denny is returning with one sole purpose – to defend his Daytona 500 title after winning in 2019. His feat was even more impressive given the fact that it had been his second win at Daytona in a three-year window. More importantly, he is the only driver after 2010 who has won the title twice, all the more reason to look forward a wacky return.

Chase Elliott No. 9

Chase Elliott is just as decent a driver as any of the contenders we have listed so far. His overall Cup Series standing last season was 10, but he did pull quite a few amazing drives. He finished top-five on 11 occasions and fell within the first ten finishers 15 times. True, Elliott has been susceptible to bad bouts here and there, but overall, he has done very well in keeping his career progressing. In fact, 2019 marked his best year to date. The big question is whether Elliott is going to build on that success or fall behind?

Kevin Harvick

Kevin Harvick is one of the biggest names that fans are looking forward to when it comes to Daytona. Harvick is a definitely a legend, bringing four wins in 2019. Even more impressively, he managed to pull off 362 top 10 finishes in 26 years on the race track and by this criterion alone, he’s almost at the top, second only to Jimmie Johnson. He won top-ten finishes in 20 races in 2019. He sealed New Hampshire Motor Speedway win, a speedway that is historically one of his personal favorites.

Kyle Busch

Kyle Busch is another fan and oddsmakers’ favorite. To not consider Busch as a decent bet for Daytona is to not consider all your options at all. 2019 was particularly kind to him with Busch winning his second Cup Series title and he came very close to sealing Daytona 2019, coming second. Busch further won at Phoenix and Auto Club and managed to pull off 11 consecutive top 11 finishes, pointing to a driver who knows what he is doing. He blasted his way in the playoffs and kept steady at the top of the leaderboard throughout Round of 16, eventually pulling 15 points ahead of Denny Hamlin to seal the championship.

Ryan Blaney

For Ryan Blaney, an off-season just doesn’t seem an option. In 2019, the talented driver pulled off quite a few personal records and posted one of his strongest years in the Cup Series by far. Blaney quickly claimed 11 top fives and 18 top 10 finishers, with an average performance spread across the season at 13.7. He also managed to make it in the top 10 of each individual driver category, a recognition that truly highlights his talent.

He also started strongly early in the year, winning the Busch Pole Award, among other distinctions. During Round of 12 at Talladega, Blaney managed to outpace Ryan Newman by a hair-thin .007 seconds to the dismay of the audience. Just one of the many good performances of the year for sure. Blaney is without a doubt someone you will want to keep your eyes peeled for.

Alex Bowman

Alex Bowman is another name up high in the overall NASCAR standing, and there is a good reason for that. He finished 12^th and added a career-best year. He managed 12 top tens and proved that he can be consistent year in and year out, continuing to improve his standing and performance. Furthermore, he sealed seven top fives placing him on our list of strong picks for the upcoming Daytona 500 and Cup Series in general.

How Difficult Is It to Win the Great American Race?

The format of the race is very grueling to experienced and new drivers together. A lot of factors come into play in determining who wins the 500-mile race and who even manages to cross the finishing line.

Drivers are expected to clock 200 laps and moderate their gas expenditure, keep car in a working condition all while trying to keep pace with other drivers equally decided to claim the $1.5 million prize purse for the first-place finisher. To put the challenges of the event in perspective, here are a few facts. Through 2015:

• Only 11 drivers have won 2 or more Daytona 500s
• Only 5 drivers have won 3 or more Daytona 500s
• Only 2 drivers have won 4 Daytona races
• Only 3 drivers have won 3 consecutive Daytona 500s

To put another way – Daytona 500 is pretty difficult to win because no matter how good the driver, there are technical hiccups to prepare for, and no matter how good the car, a driver could only go that far.

Daytona 500 Winners in the Last 10 Years

The most notable name in the past ten years is that of Denny Hamlin who has won twice and is by virtue of this feat and therefore perhaps capable of repeating his success for a third time. If he does, he will certainly make history. Here is a quick list of the last ten years’ winners:

About the Event

We have brushed a few strokes at the beginning explaining the magnitude of the event and further providing you with the data you would need to make an informed bet. Now, though, we are here to explain a little more, a little better.

Daytona 500 isn’t just another race on the circuit – it isn’t even treated as an inaugural race to get things started. It’s a ‘rude awakening’ to drivers and a challenge to anyone racing to shift into gear right away.

Compared to the Super Bowl, and rightly so, Daytona hold fascination upon fans. Some 170,000 fans flock to watch the event live over at Daytona Beach with tickets prices starting at $95. That is nothing, though, because viewership numbers see-saw between 9 and 12 million people.

For all intents and purposes, Daytona 500 has gravity, it has pull, it has a legacy. It’s also the perfect testing ground for newcomers. Will the sons of their fathers make old-timers proud? Chase Elliott has certainly done his father, Bill Elliot, justice and has carried the family name with dignity and an evident talent for racing.

The race is important, as mentioned before, for its curious approach towards the overall racing format. While most other sports give participants time to adapt, the NASCAR Cup Series puts an immediate importance on Daytona.

For all drivers out there still trying to make a name for themselves, the importance of shining in that third week of February is crucial.

Daytona’s Looking Good

Daytona 500 is indeed looking good this year. It’s true that viewership has slumped a little in recent years, but this is no reason for concern whatsoever. With Denny Hamlin looking at a third title since 2010, a lot of eyeballs will be fixed on him. NASCAR has undertaken some changes to the scheduling and tracks to make sure that fans feel more engaged. This year’s Daytona 500 is the beginning of what organization sees as a long-term transition.

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