The 51st running of the Daytona 500 will take place Sunday, February 15th at Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Florida. The big race is scheduled to begin at 2:00pm ET and it will broadcast live on FOX. Daytona 500 odds at Sportsbook.com are favoring Kyle Busch at +450 to bring home first place in NASCAR's biggest race.
Daytona International Speedway, a 2.5 mile tri-oval track, is one of four restrictor plate races in the Sprint Cup Series. As such, it provides an advantage for those driver's who are adept at running in traffic and making good use of the draft. More then a few drivers have shown a consistent ability to navigate restrictor plate speedways with success. Here is a list of some of the favorites to win "The Great American Race":
The aforementioned Kyle Busch, a twenty-three year old Las Vegas native, finished fourth in last year's running after starting in the 24th position. He led the most laps in the competition and in eight career races at Daytona International, Busch has one win, four top five and four top 10 finishes. Kyle, who is again starting in the fourth poistion, drives the M&M's Toyota for Joe Gibbs Racing.
Jeff Gordon, a three time Daytona winner, is currently listed at +600 on the moneyline to be the first to take the checkered flag. Gordon last won the race in 2005 when he led 28 laps and finished with an average speed of 135.1 miles per hour. The California native also took first place in 1997 and 1999. Gordon drives the Dupont Chevrolet for Hendrick Motorsports and he his starting this year's Daytona 500 in the third position. In 32 races at Daytona, the thirty-seven year old has recorded six wins, 11 top five finishes, and 17 top 10 finishes.
Dale Earnhardt, Jr., like his father, has shown a penchant for restrictor plate racing. Despite having just one Daytona 500 win in his venerable career, Dale Sr. dominated the speedway, often finishing near the top in the big race as well as recording several wins at the track in other events. Junior learned well, and he captured his first, and only, Daytona 500 win in 2004. Little E led 59 of the 200 laps in that race and he averaged 156.3 miles per hour. In 18 races at Daytona International, Earnhardt, Jr. has two wins, six top fives, and 11 top 10 finishes. Junior, who is starting this year's race in the 14th position, is listed at +700 moneyline odds.
Jimmie Johnson, last year's Sprint Cup winner and three time Sprint Cup Champion, is another one of the favorites at +800 moneyline odds. Johnson has one Daytona 500 win under his belt, having won the prestigious event in 2006 after starting in the ninth position. The California native led 28 laps in his victory while averaging 142.7 miles per hour. Jimmie, also a member of Hendrick Motorsports, has driven his Lowe's Chevrolet to one win, five top fives, and eight top 10 finishes in 14 career starts at Daytona.
Rounding out the top five favorites is veteran driver Mark Martin. Not surprisingly, the Arkansas native is also a Hendrick driver, manning the wheel of the number 5 Kellogg's Chevrolet. The coveted Daytona 500 win has remained elusive to the 50 year old Martin, but he has displayed his esteemed racing chops at the great speedway on numerous occasions. Just two years ago he finished second in the race after starting in the 26th position. In 24 starts last year, he recorded four top five finishes and 10 top 10 finishes, proving he still has a lot left in the tank. Martin, who is starting this year's race in the 2nd position, is listed at +600 moneyline odds to garner his first Daytona 500 win.
Sportsbook.com's Daytona 500 Odds:
Kyle Busch +450
Jeff Gordon +600
Mark Martin +600
Dale Earnhard, Jr. +700
Jimmie Johnson +800
Tony Stewart +800
Carl Edwards +1500
Kevin Harvick +1500
Denny Hamlin +1500
Kurt Busch +2000
