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It didn’t take long for sportsbooks to release the 2026 NASCAR Daytona 500 odds following the conclusion of the 2025 NASCAR Cup Series season at Phoenix Raceway. The year wrapped up with Hendrick Motorsports star Kyle Larson claiming the championship after a dramatic late caution and restart crushed Denny Hamlin’s hopes of finally securing his first title with Joe Gibbs Racing.
As attention shifts toward next season’s opener, the best sports betting sites have already identified the early frontrunners. Interestingly, the top two drivers sharing favorite status both represent Team Penske, setting the stage for what could be another thrilling start to the new campaign.
- What? 2026 NASCAR Daytona 500
- Where? Daytona International Speedway
- When? Sunday, February 15, 2026
2026 Daytona 500 Odds
Below are the odds for the Daytona 500 from some of the best NASCAR betting sites.
| NASCAR |  |  |  |
| Joey Logano | +1000 | +1000 | TBA |
| Ryan Blaney | +1000 | +1000 | TBA |
| Austin Cindric | +1200 | +1200 | TBA |
| William Byron | +1200 | +1200 | TBA |
| Brad Keselowski | +1400 | +1400 | TBA |
| Chase Elliott | +1600 | +1600 | TBA |
| Kyle Larson | +1600 | +1600 | TBA |
| Denny Hamlin | +1800 | +1800 | TBA |
| Kyle Busch | +1800 | +1800 | TBA |
Ryan Blaney and Joey Logano open as co-favorites at +1000, which comes as little surprise given their consistent performances at Daytona International Speedway and other superspeedways. Still, Blaney continues to chase his first Daytona 500 victory, while Logano hasn’t captured the checkered flag in this event since 2015.
Team Penske’s third driver, Austin Cindric, follows closely at +1200 after his breakthrough win in 2022. Also at +1200 is William Byron of Hendrick Motorsports, the back-to-back Daytona 500 champion in 2024 and 2025 who will attempt to make history as the first driver ever to win three straight editions of the race.
RFK Racing’s Brad Keselowski, long known for his superspeedway prowess but still missing that elusive Daytona 500 triumph, sits at +1400—just ahead of reigning Cup Series champion Kyle Larson, who remains winless on superspeedways, at +1600. Larson’s Hendrick teammate, Chase Elliott, is also at +1600.
Rounding out the top contenders, Denny Hamlin—already a three-time Daytona 500 winner whose own three-peat attempt in 2021 narrowly failed—is listed at +1800. He shares that line with Richard Childress Racing’s Kyle Busch, a future Hall of Famer still searching for his first Daytona 500 victory after 20 attempts.
2026 Daytona 500 Betting Pick
With the odds so tightly packed among the top contenders, William Byron looks like the most compelling pick to win the 2026 Daytona 500. The Hendrick Motorsports driver has mastered the art of pack racing, winning back-to-back Daytona 500s in 2024 and 2025. His combination of drafting skill, team strength, and momentum entering the new season makes him a strong value play at +1200 as he aims to become the first driver in NASCAR history to capture three consecutive Daytona 500 victories.
2026 NASCAR Cup Series Championship
Elsewhere in NASCAR betting, Kyle Larson and Denny Hamlin are favored to win the 2026 NASCAR Cup Series Championship.
Kyle Larson and Denny Hamlin open as co-favorites at +500, a fitting reflection of how the 2025 NASCAR Cup Series season ended. Larson capitalized on a late caution at Phoenix Raceway to claim the championship, while Hamlin appeared to have the title in hand before the restart changed everything. Given their elite form and dramatic season finale, it’s no surprise to see both drivers atop the early odds board.
Just behind them, Ryan Blaney sits in a three-way tie at +600 alongside William Byron of Hendrick Motorsports and Joe Gibbs Racing’s Christopher Bell. Byron nearly led the series in total points last year before a late tire issue at Phoenix derailed his effort, while Bell actually topped all drivers in race-only points—excluding stage results—showcasing his remarkable consistency throughout 2025.
A bit further down the list, Trackhouse Racing rookie Connor Zilisch makes a surprising appearance at +1000, sharing those odds with Hendrick’s Chase Elliott and Joe Gibbs Racing’s Chase Briscoe. Elliott was one of the steadiest performers of the past season, while Briscoe impressed by reaching the Championship 4 in his debut year with Gibbs, cementing his status as one of NASCAR’s fastest-rising stars.
Below are some of the best options for your Daytona 500 bets.
Sports Betting Sites 