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Kurt Busch, in just his fifth year on the NASCAR circuit, is the favorite to win the 51st running of the Daytona 500. "The Great American Race" is set to get under way at 2:00pm ET on Sunday at Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Florida. The 200 lap event will be broadcast live on FOX.

Daytona 500 odds at Sportsbook.com have the brash 23 year old listed at +450 on the moneyline to be the first to take the checkered flag. His last victory occurred in August of 2008 at Watkins Glen.

Busch, in his second year with Joe Gibbs Racing, is looking to correct the issues that plagued him toward the end of last season.  He started 2008 absolutely on fire, winning eight races by August 11th but his momentum fizzled down the stretch as he placed in the top 10 just four times in his last 11 races (average finish 18.7). 

Despite the poor wrap up to the season, Busch finished 10th in points and had 17 top fives and 21 top 10 finishes. He also led 1692 laps in 36 starts.

The Las Vegas native, who drives the number 18 M&M's Toyota, has fared well at Daytona International in his brief career. In eight starts at the track, Busch has one win, four top five and four top 10 finishes. Last year he looked to have the race wrapped up, leading 86 laps after starting in the 24th position; however, he eventually garnered a highly respectable fourth place finish.

Busch continued his success at Daytona on Thursday when he won the Gatorade Duel 2. He reflected on the victory by casting it in the light of last year's dismal conclusion.

"It was a disappointing [2008] season toward the end," Busch said, "so that was a great way to start [2009] off."

In his 150 career starts, Busch has won 12 races (8 percent), placed in the top five 47 times (31 percent), and finished in the top ten 72 times (48 percent). He has earned a total of $20,703,929 since joining the circuit in March of 2004.

Sportsbook.com's Kyle Busch Favorite to Win Daytona 500 odds:

To Win +450

Top Three Finish +130 (Busch had 13 top three finishes in the 2008 season) 

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