A week after the NFL’s biggest game, the green flag will drop on NASCAR’s Super Bowl.
That’s right, the Daytona 500 is set for Sunday at Daytona International Speedway, kicking off the 2023 NASCAR Cup Series season. It’s the 65th edition of the Great American Race on the 2.5-mile superspeedway tri-oval.
Alex Bowman, driver of the Hendrick Motorsports No. 48 Chevrolet, won his third Daytona 500 pole Wednesday with a qualifying speed of 181.686 mph, which is the fastest pole-setting speed of the Next Gen Cup Series car.
It’s the sixth time Bowman will start on the front row for a Daytona 500, which is a record.
But just because you start at the front, doesn’t mean you’ll finish there, as Bowman knows all too well. He’s never won the race. In fact, only seven drivers have won the pole and gone on to win the Daytona 500 in the race’s history.
This Sunday, Bowman sits at 20-1 odds to win, which is outside the top 10 on the DraftKings odds board.
The favorite is Kyle Larson, Bowman’s teammate and driver of the No. 5 Chevy, who qualified second. Larson sits at +1000 odds, and is looking for his first Daytona 500 win.
FrontPageBets takes a look at some best bets for the Great American Race.
(All odds courtesy of DraftKings and are subject to change)
The pick: Denny Hamlin (+1300)
Hamlin, driver of the No. 11 Toyota, is looking for his fourth Daytona 500 victory. He would join a very short list if he accomplishes that feat as only two other drivers have won more than three: Richard Petty (7) and Cale Yarborough (4).
Hamlin’s first Daytona 500 victory came in 2016. Then he won back-to-back races in 2019 and 2020.
Oh, and he’s also got five other top-five finishes at the superspeedway.
Top-5 pick: Joey Logano (+250)
Logano is the defending Cup Series champion. He turned in the fifth-fastest qualifying time of 180.712 mph on Wednesday.
Logano, driver of the No. 22 Ford, won the Daytona 500 in 2015, and has six top-10 finishes, including three top-5s.
He'll start third in Sunday's race.
The longshot: Jimmie Johnson (+4000)
Johnson, a seven-time Cup Series champion, is back behind the wheel this weekend, driving for the Legacy Motor Club, of which he’s part owner.
Johnson, who retired two years ago, will drive the No. 84 Chevy. He turned in the 23rd fastest qualifying time on Wednesday at 170.276 mph.
Johnson is a two-time Daytona 500 champion, winning it in 2006 and 2013.
Odds to win
Kyle Larson +1000
Ryan Blaney +1200
Chase Elliott +1200
Joey Logano +1200
Denny Hamlin +1300
Kyle Busch +1400
William Byron +1400
Ross Chastain +1600
Bubba Wallace +1800
Brad Keselowski +1800
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Mike Szvetitz is the General Manager and Content Director for FrontPageBets.com. Szvetitz is a 22-year veteran reporter and editor, including serving 17 years as a sports editor in Florida, Alabama and Virginia, covering everything from preps to pros. His "View From The Lazy Boy" column won multiple state and national awards. He can be reached at mszvetitz@timesdispatch.com.
