Daytona 500 Favorites and Top Value Pick
Kurt Busch looks to defend is 2017 Daytona 500 title while Martin Truex Jr. begins, what he hopes to be, another run to the Monster Energy Cup Series racing title after winning it all last year. These are just two of the storylines surrounding Sunday’s Great American Race.
The following is a look at a trio of the top favorites to win this Sunday’s Daytona 500 along with my top-valued pick at longer odds as provided by Bookmaker.
Dayton 500 Favorites
Brad Keselowski +700
With a victory in last Sunday’s Clash at Daytona, Keselowski has helped put the No. 2 Ford in the driver seat this Speed Week for Thursday’s Can-Am Duel #1 as well as Sunday’s main event as the clear favorite. You know that the burning motivation is there given that he has never won a Daytona 500 in his eight previous seasons racing full time in the Cup Series. He did win the second race here in 2016, but a major drain on the value in his odds is a dismal 21.7 average finishing position at this track
Denny Hamlin +1000
Hamlin squeaked out the tightest margin of victory ever in a Daytona 500 with his victory in this race in 2016. This was his first and only win in NASCAR’s biggest and most prestigious event over the course of his 12-year Cup Series career. Betting on the No. 11 Toyota to make its way to the Winner’s Circle this Sunday at Daytona also comes with some risk given Hamlin’s spotty racing resume at this track. From 2014 through 2016, he finished sixth or better in five of six events, but his average finishing position here over the course of his entire career is 17.4.
Kyle Busch +1200
Busch joins Keselowski as another highly successful Cup Series driver with a racing title under his belt (2015), but still in search for his first Daytona 500 victory. The No. 18 Toyota has been one of the most dominant and consistent teams over the past three seasons with Busch following up that racing title with a third-place finish in the final standings in 2016 and a second-place finish last season. His track record at Daytona over the past 13 seasons has resulted in an 18.4 average finishing position, but he did have some success two years ago with a third-place finish in the 2016 Daytona 500 followed by a second-place finish in the second event here that season.
