How to Bet Daytona Duels 2026: Latest Odds, NASCAR Picks & Long Shots Tonight

All eyes are on the Daytona 500 this weekend, but the 2026 NASCAR season officially begins tonight with the Daytona Duels - two 150-mile qualifying races that set the starting grid for Sunday's Great American Race.

We're breaking down the latest Daytona Duels odds and predictions for both races tonight, including our favorite picks and long-shot sleepers. We also broke down the latest Daytona 500 odds and betting favorites ahead of the biggest race of the year.

🤔 How do the Daytona Duels work?

The Daytona Duels are two 60-lap races around the 2.5-mile superspeedway that determine starting positions 3 through 41 for Sunday's Daytona 500. The front row is already locked in: pole-sitter Kyle Busch and Chase Briscoe earned those spots in Wednesday's single-car qualifying and will start first in tonight's Duels.

The 45-car entry list gets split in half based on qualifying order. Duel 1 finishers fill the inside rows for Sunday's grid, and Duel 2 finishers fill the outside rows. The top 10 in each Duel also earn regular-season points (the winner gets 10 points, second place earns 9 points, and so on), so these races hold even greater stakes than typical qualifying runs.

You can read more about the official rules for the Daytona Duels ahead of tonight's races.

🏁 Daytona Duel 1 odds, picks, long shots (7 p.m. ET)

If you're a fan of Ford, you'll love the lineup for the first Daytona Duel with five of the top eight betting favorites racing for the blue ovals. That matters at a drafting track like this one, even if the field is cut in half, and should benefit Ford drivers in the opening Duel.

Here are the latest odds for the first Daytona Duel via BetMGM, which is typically my go-to book for NASCAR betting, though you can bet on the Daytona Duels across any of the best sports betting sites with similar prices.

Daytona Duel 1 odds

Daytona Duel 1 pick to win

I highlighted Joey Logano (+700) as my best bet to win Sunday in my early Daytona 500 predictions, so I have no qualms betting him at slightly shorter odds to win a race with half the competitors. The math here is simple: Logano leads all full-time drivers in average rating at drafting tracks over the last three seasons and is a three-time Duel winner. He also benefits from having Team Penske teammate Ryan Blaney plus three RFK Fords to help push him to the front in the closing laps. That kind of manufacturer support is the single biggest edge you can have in a Duel race.

Daytona Duel 1 long shots

Ryan Preece (+1000) - One of the most underrated (and daring) drivers in the field, Preece is coming off a win in the Clash and has shown success at this track in the past, finishing in the top eight three times for JTG Daugherty Racing early in his career. If the Ford driver can avoid another terrifying flip at Daytona, he's live to win tonight.

Bubba Wallace (+1400) - Wallace won one of the Duels last year and boasts seven top-10 finishes in his last 12 races at drafting tracks. Toyota is thin in this Duel, but the No. 23 car is one of the more aggressive pack racers in the field and doesn't need a manufacturer convoy to find the front. At this price, he's well worth the wager.

🏁 Daytona Duel 2 odds, picks, long shots (8:45 p.m. ET)

While the first Duel is a Ford fiesta, the second Duel is a Toyota reunion with four drivers from Joe Gibbs Racing - the manufacturer's flagship racing team - among the seven betting favorites. That's good news for Denny Hamlin and friends but throws a wrench in the potential plans for Kyle Larson, Chase Elliott, and other top Chevys and Fords.

Daytona Duel 2 odds

Daytona Duel 2 pick to win

It's been a while since Denny Hamlin (+500) took first place in a Daytona Duel, but he's won this race three times while boasting another three wins in the Daytona 500. The No. 11 car is arguably the best in the field at restrictor plate driving while doubling as the preemiment driver for the most stocked manufacturer in the field for the second Duel. After a devastating end to last season and a personally challenging offseason, I expect Hamlin to showcase his aggressive nature on the track from the opening lap.

Daytona Duel 2 long shots

Carson Hocevar (+1600) - If anyone is going to bust up the Toyota party, I see no better candidate than Hocevar, who is arguably the most reckless driver in the field with a penchant for shipping his way into narrow gaps on the track - a surefire way to cause chaos but a great way to work your way to the front in pack racing, too. That's one reason he's logged three top-six finishes at his last five drafting tracks.

Connor Zilisch (+2000) - Expectations are high for the rookie Zilisch in his first official season with Trackhouse Racing at the Cup Series level. He's already one of the most talented drivers in the field outside of the very top tier, so while experience will work against him at this track, he's still worth a shot in a small field at these 20/1 odds.

💡 How to bet on Daytona Duels

Unlike betting on the Daytona 500, which is the most important race of the year, the Daytona Duels are functionally qualifying races - all 36 chartered drivers are already locked into Sunday's race, and the final starting order means less here than it does at just about any other track in America given how volatile pack racing can be.

That means the Duel are best for smaller wagers to enjoy the race or take advantage of a minor edge, as opposed to dumping your full weekend bankroll on two qualifiers. That's especially true when betting on the top drivers, who aren't incentivized to give their all tonight in case they wreck their car ahead of the main event on Sunday.

All of that said, the Duels feature a field half the size of the Daytona 500, which means less chance for "The Big One" wiping out the field and fewer competitors to battle for each individual driver. There's both value and entertainment to be found when betting on this race - just be sure to wager in moderation and save your biggest bets for Sunday.

If you're looking for more NASCAR bets, check out my breakdown of the NASCAR Cup Series championship odds with my preseason picks for every futures market entering this weekend.

📺 How to watch Daytona Duels 2026

❓ 2026 Daytona Duels FAQs

What are the Daytona Duels?

The Daytona Duels are two 60-lap, 150-mile qualifying races that determine starting positions 3-41 for the Daytona 500. Duel 1 results set the inside rows, while Duel 2 sets the outside rows.

When are the 2026 Daytona Duels?

The 2026 Daytona Duels are tonight with the first Duel starting at 7 p.m. ET and the second Duel starting at 8:45 p.m. ET or after the first Duel, whichever is later. Both will be televised on FS1.

Do the Daytona Duels count for points?

Yes, the top 10 finishers in each Duel earn regular-season points. The winner will earn 10 points, second place earns 9 points, and so on.

Can you bet on the Daytona Duels?

Yes, all of the best sports betting apps offer outright winner odds for each Duel, and some also offer head-to-head matchups and top-finish props.

Can drivers get eliminated from the Daytona 500?

Chartered teams are locked into the Daytona 500 field regardless of the outcome of the Daytona Duels. Non-chartered "Open" teams that didn't lock in through qualifying speed must finish as the top Open car in their Duel to make Sunday's field.

Who won the 2026 Daytona 500 pole?

Kyle Busch won the Daytona 500 pole for the first time in 21 attempts. Chase Briscoe qualified second and will start on the front row alongside Busch.