Daytona 500 Odds 2026: Updated Lines, Favorites & Best Value Bets

Daytona 500 odds are on the move as we close in on the start of the 2026 NASCAR season.

The "Great American Race" sees a wide-open betting board, with Denny Hamlin among the more popular choices.

Let's take a look at the latest NASCAR Cup Series odds to win the Daytona 500, with the green flag set to drop at 3:13 p.m. ET on Sunday, February 15.

Daytona 500 odds

Odds as of 2-14.

Daytona 500 best value bets

Carson Hocevar to win (+2500)
Carson Hocevar's aggression can be a blessing and a curse, but he's hit the Top 10 in four of his last five races on drafting tracks. There's no doubt he has the guts to make a decisive last-lap pass in the Daytona 500, which it always seems to come down to, and this is a nice price.

William Byron to record a Top 5 (+275)
William Byron boasts an elite 9.38 average finish across restrictor-plate tracks entering 2026, with some of the industry-leading top projections ranking him No. 3 at Daytona due to his improving six-year trend there.

Daytona 500 odds movement

Ryan Blaney was favored in the early-week wagering for the Daytona 500, but with Denny Hamlin holding as the sentimental favorite following the loss of his father in a house fire just after Christmas, coupled with his three previous Harley J. Earl Trophies, the No. 11 driver is now at the top of the board.

Kyle Busch dropped from +1800 to +1000 after winning his first career Daytona 500 pole on Wednesday night. 

Drivers who have seen their odds drift up during the week include Austin Cindric (+1100 to +1800) and Tyler Reddick (+2800 to +4000).

Daytona 500 weather

Daytona Beach is forecast to be warm and mostly cloudy for Sunday’s Daytona 500, with temperatures climbing from the low 60s in the morning to around 79°F (26°C) by mid-afternoon.

The key weather watch item is thunderstorms slated for around 9:00 a.m. ET and again near 3:00 p.m. ET, with otherwise mostly cloudy conditions through the race window. If those cells develop near the speedway, NASCAR could face delays, and race strategy can change quickly around caution timing, pit windows, and even possible red-flag periods.

From a track-conditions standpoint, warm air and a hotter racing surface generally reduce grip and increase tire slip, especially in traffic, which can make cars feel looser on corner entry/exit and increase handling sensitivity through longer green-flag runs.

If rain passes through before or during race activity, Daytona’s asphalt can transition rapidly from “green” (low rubber) to progressively faster as it dries and rubber lays back in, creating shifting balance conditions and a premium on in-race adjustments. Cloud cover may moderate peak surface temperatures somewhat, but any nearby thunderstorm threat remains the biggest performance variable because even brief rain can reset the track and compress strategic differences.

Daytona International Speedway fast facts

• Banking: 31° (turns), 18° (tri-oval), 2° (straightaways)
• Lap length: 2.5 miles
• Pit stall size: 28 ft long x 16 ft wide
• Drafting speed: Generally tops out around 195–200 mph in the pack

Did you know the track contains a man-made lake in the center that was originally stocked with over 65,000 fish?

How to bet on NASCAR

The most popular way to bet on NASCAR is by simply picking the winner of a race, which is also referred to as an outright. There are plenty of other ways to wager, including betting on whether or not a driver will finish in the Top 3 or Top 10 of a race.

Another popular betting option is head-to-head matchup betting, where sportsbooks pair up two drivers and you choose who you think will finish better in the race, which is far easier than trying to select someone to win out of a field of 36-40 drivers. For tips on NASCAR betting check out our How to Bet NASCAR page.

Past Daytona 500 winners

Back-to-back Daytona 500 champ William Byron is one of five drivers with multiple victories in the race. Richard Petty leads the way with seven wins from 1964 to 1981. 

How to watch the Daytona 500

This article originally appeared on Covers.com, read the full article here