Daytona 500 Odds & Betting Favorites 2026: Can William Byron Win 3rd Straight?

It's been nearly 12 months since William Byron won the Great American Race for a second straight season, but the latest Daytona 500 odds and betting favorites expect a new winner this year when the green flag drops on Sunday, Feb. 16 (2:30 p.m. ET, FOX) at Daytona International Speedway.

Teammates Joey Logano and Ryan Blaney are the betting favorites to win the 68th running of this famous race in Daytona Beach, Fla., while fellow Team Penske driver Austin Cindric is listed as a co-favorite at some shops ahead of the NASCAR season opener.

Those three are listed ahead of a crowded tier with Byron, Chase Elliott, Kyle Larson, and Denny Hamlin. Below, we break down the betting favorites and everything you need to know ahead of betting on the Daytona 500.

📊 Daytona 500 odds 2026

Here's a look at the latest odds via Caesars ahead of the 2026 Daytona 500:

🏁 Who is the Daytona 500 favorite?

While there is no consensus favorite across the best sports betting sites - which is typical for a race as hard to predict as the Daytona 500 - Blaney and Logano have the shortest odds at most shops as the flagship drivers for Team Penske.

That may come as a surprise with Blaney having never won the Daytona 500 and Logano more than a decade removed from his last win, but Cindric won this race as a rookie in 2022, which speaks to Team Penske's ability to compete at this superspeedway.

If you're looking for a compelling dark-hore candidate outside of the favorites, consider a bet on Kyle Busch, who was the favorite for last season's race and the early front-runner for this year's race when the market opened at this time last year. Yes, he's coming off a pretty miserable 2025 season, but his shop should be extra motivated to pull out all the stops to help Busch complete his crown-jewel sweep with his first Daytona 500 win.

📅 Daytona 500 race schedule: How to watch NASCAR season opener

Here's a look at the full race schedule for the Daytona 500 this year:

When is the Daytona 500?

• Date: Sunday, Feb. 15, 2026
• Time: 2:30 p.m. ET
• Location: Daytona International Speedway (Daytona Beach, Fla.)
• TV: FOX

Full Daytona 500 schedule

• Wednesday, Feb. 11 - Daytona 500 practice 1 (10 a.m. ET, FS1)
• Wednesday, Feb. 11 - Daytona 500 qualifying (8:15 p.m. ET, FS1)
• Thursday, Feb. 12 - Daytona Duels Qualifying Race 1 (7 p.m. ET, FS1)
• Thursday, Feb. 12 - Daytona Duels Qualifying Race 2 (8:45 p.m. ET, FS1)
• Friday, Feb. 13 - Daytona 500 practice 2 (5:35 p.m. ET, FS1)
• Saturday, Feb. 14 - Daytona 500 practice 3 (3 p.m. ET, FS1)
• Sunday, Feb. 15 - 2025 Daytona 500 (2:30 p.m. ET, FOX)

💡 How to bet on the Daytona 500

The Daytona 500 is not only the most popular race of the year but also the most treacherous, as drivers compete in a spectacle known for its high speeds and big crashes.

That can lead to some unpredictable results as the "big one" takes out multiple competitors seemingly every year. Other drivers can exceed expectations by taking advantage of the pack racing nature of this superspeedway race, riding the momentum from the field before pulling away late.

That's why long shots tend to do so well at this race with three of the last four winners opening with +3300 odds or longer to win the Great American Race. We'd recommend betting smaller amounts and targeting a handful of drivers to avoid staking too much on any one competitor and stay invested through the end of the race.

🏆 Daytona 500 past winners

Here is a look at the last 10 winners of the Daytona 500:

❓ Daytona 500 FAQs

Who is favored to win the Daytona 500?

Ryan Blaney is the betting favorite to win the Daytona 500 with odds between +900 and +1000 across the best sports betting apps ahead of this year's race.

What time is the 2026 Daytona 500?

The 2026 Daytona 500 will begin at 2:30 p.m. ET from Daytona International Speedway.

How to watch the 2026 Daytona 500

You can watch the 2026 Daytona 500 on FOX at 2:30 p.m. ET.

Who has won the most Daytona 500s?

Richard Petty won the Daytona 500 seven times, which remains the all-time record. Denny Hamlin's three wins are the most by any active driver.

Has anyone ever won three straight Daytona 500s?

No driver has ever won the Daytona 500 in three consecutive years. William Byron has a chnace to become the first driver to win three straight Daytona 500s this year.