The 2026 NASCAR Cup Series season is set to launch in just a few days, with the 68th Daytona 500 scheduled to kick off the 36-race calendar at Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Florida. Amid the anticipation, attention centers on the changing odds, with William Byron no longer the favorite among bettors to win the iconic Great American Race.
Denny Hamlin Surpasses William Byron in Betting Odds
William Byron, who is striving to become the first driver to claim three consecutive Daytona 500 victories after his back-to-back wins, now shares second place odds at +1000. Team Penske drivers Ryan Blaney and Hendrick Motorsports’ Kyle Larson also hold matching odds, while Joey Logano’s chances are listed slightly lower at +1200. Austin Cindric, the 2022 winner, has seen his odds slip further to +1600.
The new frontrunner at DraftKings Sportsbook is Denny Hamlin, a three-time Daytona 500 champion with victories in 2016, 2019, and 2020. Should Hamlin secure another win, he would join racing legends Richard Petty and Cale Yarborough as drivers with more than three Daytona 500 victories. Hamlin’s attempt at a three-peat was interrupted with a fifth-place finish in 2021—the best result ever recorded by a driver following consecutive Daytona 500 wins.
Hamlin’s Quest to Reclaim Glory amid Challenges
Despite holding the lead in betting odds, Hamlin has struggled at the Daytona 500 over the past five years, failing to finish higher than 17th since that fifth-place effort. His turbulent offseason makes a potential fourth Daytona 500 victory an especially meaningful way to start the season.
Meanwhile, other former winners like Hyak Motorsport’s Ricky Stenhouse Jr., the 2023 champion, remain underappreciated in current betting markets. Stenhouse Jr. is listed at +3500, joining three other former winners who are not being heavily favored as the race approaches.
What To Expect from This Season’s Daytona 500
Fans and analysts alike remain anxious yet hopeful as the Daytona 500 approaches, with many eager to see if Hamlin can extend his legacy or if Byron will defy the odds to secure an unprecedented third straight victory. The dynamics of the offseason and shifting betting patterns add layers of suspense to the event.
The race will be broadcast live on Fox at 2:00 p.m. ET on Sunday, February 15. Viewers can also start a free trial of FuboTV to catch all the on-track action from the World Center of Racing at Daytona International Speedway.
