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- What: 2024 Daytona 500
- Date: Sunday, February 18, 2024
- Location: Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Florida
- Time: 2:30 p.m. ET
- How to Watch: FOX
The 2024 NASCAR Cup Series season-opener takes place on Sunday. The Daytona 500 has been the first race of the NASCAR season since 1982. Last year, Ricky Stenhouse Jr. won the race after starting in the 31st spot. Alex Bowman started on the pole in 2023 and finished in fifth place. Brad Keselowski, who began the race in the 10th spot, led the most laps at the 2023 Daytona 500 with 42. Here is some additional background on the race before we look at the betting breakdown for the 2024 Daytona 500.
The Daytona 500 has not seen a repeat winner since Denny Hamlin won back-to-back races in 2019 and 2020. Of the active drivers participating in the 2024 Daytona 500, Hamlin is the only driver with multiple victories. He also got the checkered flag in 2016. Richard Petty has the most wins in Daytona 500 history with seven. Cale Yarborough is second with four triumphs.
Before we look at the odds, betting picks, and predictions for the 2024 Daytona 500, check out the best betting sites for NASCAR, as well as our betting pick to win the 2024 NASCAR Cup Series Championship.
2024 Daytona 500 betting picks
Ryan Blaney
Several betting sites have Ryan Blaney listed as the betting favorite to win the 2024 Daytona 500. The 30-year-old Blaney drives the No. 12 Ford for Team Penske. He performed well at the Daytona 500 but has yet to pick up a victory in his nine starts in the race. Blaney’s best finishes came in 2017 and 2020, when he placed second. Blaney finished fourth in 2022; last year, he came in eighth. He has a first-place finish on this track, taking the checkered flag in the fall race in 2021.
Blaney is the reigning NASCAR Cup Series champion. He wrapped up the 2023 season very strong, with four top-two finishes in the final six races of the year. With how he performed during the playoffs last year, look for Blaney to be one of the most confident drivers to open the 2024 NASCAR Cup Series season.
Denny Hamlin
Denny Hamlin had a great run at the Daytona International Speedway between 2014 and 2021. Over that time he won the Daytona 500 three times, and placed inside the top-five five more times. Hamlin has not had great success over the past two years, when he placed 37th and 17th. However, with his history at this race, the driver of the No. 11 Toyota for Joe Gibbs Racing is worth considering as the betting pick to win the 2024 Daytona 500.
The 43-year-old Hamlin finished the 2024 NASCAR Cup Series Championship in fifth place. He won three races in 2023.
Brad Keselowski
Brad Keselowski has not finished inside the top eight in the Daytona 500 since he placed third in 2014. However, he was in the mix to win last year before a yellow flag forced him to pit for fuel, and a crash on the race’s final lap saw him finish in 22nd place. Keselowski came back in the fall race to finish in second place. He also had a good Daytona 500 in 2022, when he led 67 laps before finishing in ninth place.
Keselowski is a good driver on superspeedway tracks. However, he has not won a NASCAR Cup Series race since he got the checkered flag in Talladega in the spring of 2021.
The 40-year-old Keselowski drives the No. 6 Ford for RFK Racing, a team he co-owns.
Best bets for 2024 Daytona 500
Brad Keselowski has not had the best luck at the Daytona 500, something he discussed in a recent interview when he told Fox Sports’ Bob Pockrass, “The Daytona 500 just feels like a race you don’t win, you get chosen to win. So, all you can really do is put yourself in the best position and hope you’re chosen.” But this year, which marks his 15th start at the Daytona 500, could be his year to breakthrough and win. The betting pick for the 2024 Daytona 500 is for Brad Keselowski to win.
See below a list of reliable sportsbooks and choose the best one for you.
