Coke Zero Sugar 400 Predictions & Odds 2026: NASCAR Picks, Props, Best Bets at Daytona
The NASCAR playoffs are around the corner, and much of the field is still jockeying for seeding – or a spot in the postseason at all. Ryan Preece made a strong case at New Hampshire last weekend, cashing a +380 top 10 slip for us in the process. Let's dive into my NASCAR predictions at Daytona for the 2026 Coke Zero Sugar 400 as the postseason awaits.
The action is scheduled for Saturday, August 29, at 7:30 p.m. ET (NBC) from Daytona International Speedway. Qualifying will get underway on Friday, August 28, at 5 p.m. ET (truTV).
📈 NASCAR odds at Dayton: Coke Zero 400
Latest NASCAR odds at BetMGM as of Friday, Aug. 28; subject to change.
| Driver | Odds |
|---|---|
| Ryan Blaney | +1000 |
| Joey Logano | +1200 |
| William Byron | +1400 |
| Austin Cindric | +1600 |
| Denny Hamlin | +1600 |
| Brad Keselowski | +1600 |
| Tyler Reddick | +1600 |
| Chris Buescher | +1600 |
| Carson Hocevar | +1600 |
| Chase Elliott | +1800 |
| Bubba Wallace | +1800 |
| Kyle Larson | +2000 |
| Christopher Bell | +2000 |
| Chase Briscoe | +2200 |
| Ty Gibbs | +2200 |
| Alex Bowman | +2200 |
| Ryan Preece | +3000 |
| Ross Chastain | +3000 |
| Josh Berry | +3000 |
| Ricky Stenhouse Jr. | +3000 |
| Todd Gilliland | +3000 |
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💡 How to bet NASCAR at Daytona International Speedway
When handicapping Daytona, focus on drafting track results. Fords dominated them from 2023 to 2025, leading 2,306 of 3,745 laps (61.5%). But such dominance seemed to have evaporated earlier this season – the manufacturer led just 150 of 659 (22.8%) laps in the first Daytona, Atlanta, and Talladega races this year as Toyota drivers combined for 332 (50.4%) laps led and two wins.
But then the second Atlanta race happened. Ryan Blaney paced the field by leading 171 of 263 (65%) laps by himself, thwarting strong runs from Toyota drivers Christopher Bell, Bubba Wallace, Ty Gibbs, and Tyler Reddick – as well as Chevrolet driver Carson Hocevar. While it’s unclear if Blaney’s strong run at Atlanta is a signal or an outlier, he is this weekend’s favorite at +1000.
We’ll be focusing on Ford and Toyota drivers as a result of the above. That said, all past data must be weighed against the new drafting package that will debut this weekend. The new package features a smaller, four-inch spoiler and reduced horsepower, steps intended to produce more passing throughout the field.
🏆 Best bet to win Coke Zero Sugar 400
Denny Hamlin, Joe Gibbs Racing (No. 11)
- Denny Hamlin to win: +2000 via DraftKings (0.25u)
- Denny Hamlin vs. William Byron: -115 via bet365 (1.5u)
Some drivers have to worry about their playoff seeding, while others have to worry about whether they’ll make the playoffs at all. Denny Hamlin doesn’t have to worry about either – he is locked into the postseason as the regular season champion.
Hamlin, now 45 years old and a 22-year veteran of the Cup Series, has seen many iterations of drafting packages. Although he was one of many Toyota drivers to struggle early in the Next Gen era, he is still a three-time Daytona winner (and two-time Talladega winner).
Other drivers may struggle with the new drafting package and the pressure of the postseason, but Hamlin will be out for a nice Saturday night drive. With absolutely nothing to lose but plenty to learn and a possible checkered flag to win, Hamlin is a smash play at the bargain-bin price of +2000 (4.7%).
📡 SBR Edge
While Hamlin is safe, drivers on or near the playoff cut line (Bubba Wallace, Austin Cindric, and Shane Van Gisbergen) may race conservatively to protect themselves. Conversely, drivers below the cut line (Ryan Preece and Brad Keselowski) may take more risks this weekend. A similar logic will apply for drivers like William Byron, who have yet to lock up their playoff seeding)
🔥 More NASCAR picks & prop bets
Brad Keselowski, RFK Racing (No. 6)
- Brad Keselowski to win: +2200 via DraftKings (0.25u)
- Brad Keselowski vs. Carson Hocevar: +115 via bet365 (1.5u)
Keselowski, like Hamlin, is a veteran of the sport with plenty of experience in older drafting packages. Like Hamlin, Keselowski has proven himself on these tracks as a six-time Talladega winner (and a one-time Daytona winner). He needs a dominant performance to squeeze himself into the playoffs and, by the end of the race, could just be shooting to end a winless streak that dates back to 2024. I also like betting on Keselowski to finish ahead of the notoriously aggressive Carson Hocevar, who could find himself without drafting help – or in the wall – during Saturday night’s race.
Casey Mears, Beard Motorsports (No. 62)
- Casey Mears to win: +25000 via Caesars (0.1u)
- Casey Mears top 10: +1200 via bet365 (0.4u)
We’ll continue with our theme of veteran drivers by betting on Casey Mears. Mears made his first Cup Series start here in 2003, and he has racked up six top 10s over 28 career starts here (along with five in 28 at Talladega). He’ll pilot the No. 62 Chevrolet for Beard Motorsports this weekend, giving him equipment that has a pair of top 10s at Daytona (and another at Talladega) in the NextGen Era. If Saturday’s race turns into a wreck-fest at the front, Mears should be able to stay out of trouble, and I love him at outright odds of +25000 (0.4%) and top 10 odds of +1200 (7.7%).
💰 My NASCAR bets at Daytona
Here are the actual NASCAR bets I'm making for the Coke Zero Sugar 400, with the best odds from our best sports betting sites for Saturday's race at Daytona International Speedway.
| Best bets | Best odds | Units → profit |
|---|---|---|
| Denny Hamlin to win | +2000 via DraftKings | 0.25u → 5u |
| Denny Hamlin vs. William Byron | -115 via bet365 | 1.5u → 1.3u |
| Brad Keselowski to win | +2200 via DraftKings | 0.25u → 5.5u |
| Brad Keselowski vs. Carson Hocevar | +115 via bet365 | 1.5u → 1.73u |
| Casey Mears to win | +25000 via Caesars | 0.1u → 25u |
| Casey Mears top 10 | +1200 via bet365 | 0.4u → 4.8u |
Total wagered: 4 units | Max profit: 32.82 units (with Mears win)
🏆 Past NASCAR winners at New Hampshire
Here is a list of every NASCAR race winner at Daytona International Speedway in the Next Gen era:
| Race | Winner | Team | Laps led |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 Daytona 500 | Tyler Reddick | 23XI Racing | 1 |
| Summer 2025 | Ryan Blaney | Team Penske | 27 |
| 2025 Daytona 500 | William Byron | Hendrick Motorsports | 10 |
| Summer 2024 | Harrison Burton | Wood Brothers Racing | 1 |
| 2024 Daytona 500 | William Byron | Hendrick Motorsports | 4 |
| Summer 2023 | Chris Buescher | RFK Racing | 2 |
| 2023 Daytona 500 | Ricky Stenhouse Jr. | Hyak Motorsports | 10 |
| Summer 2022 | Austin Dillon | Richard Childress Racing | 10 |
| 2022 Daytona 500 | Austin Cindric | Team Penske | 21 |
Only one driver who led the most laps has managed to win a race at Daytona in the NextGen Era: Ryan Blaney in the summer of 2025, who, with 27 laps led, paced the field just as many times as teammate Joey Logano.
📺 How to watch NASCAR at New Hampshire: 2026 Coke Zero Sugar 400
- Date: Saturday, Aug. 29
- Time: 7:30 p.m. ET
- Location: Dayton International Speedway (Daytona, Fla.)
- TV: NBC
- Track: 2.5-mile drafting track (160 laps, 400 miles)
- Stages: Stage 1 (35 laps), Stage 2 (60 laps), final stage (65 laps)
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