Following a disappointing 2025 season marked by declining TV ratings, NASCAR is determined to drive a resurgence in 2026. On Sunday, NASCAR will open the new campaign in its biggest and most important race of the year. The 2026 Daytona 500, the 68th running of NASCAR’s “Great American Race” and the season-opening points event for the NASCAR Cup Series, is set for Sunday, February 15, 2026, at Daytona International Speedway. This iconic 500-mile superspeedway race kicks off the 2026 season with high drama, pack racing, and potential chaos on the 2.5-mile tri-oval.
As always, this year’s race features full drama with superspeedway pack racing, where drafting, pushes, and big wrecks (“The Big One”) are common. Correlate that it’s the traditional Presidents’ Day weekend opener, drawing massive crowds and TV viewership. William Byron (Hendrick Motorsports) enters as the two-time defending Daytona 500 betting odds winner (2024–2025), chasing a historic three-peat—the first driver ever to win three straight Daytona 500s.
Certainly, the Daytona 500 is NASCAR’s biggest spectacle—expect crashes, strategy, and a photo finish. The Great American Race consistently attracts the largest viewership and betting handle of the NASCAR season. Many gamblers who ignore NASCAR will bet once a year on the Daytona 500.
2026 Daytona 500 Odds at SBG
Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, FL, is the venue for the 2026 Daytona 500. The race is scheduled for Sunday, February 15, 2026, with a 2:30 p.m. ET start, and will be televised on FOX.
2026 Daytona 500 SBG Odds to Win
| Driver | Odds |
|---|---|
| Joey Logano | +1200 |
| Ryan Blaney | +1200 |
| Kyle Busch | +1400 |
| Denny Hamlin | +1900 |
| Chase Elliott | +1500 |
| Austin Cendric | +1600 |
| Kyle Larson | +1800 |
| William Byron | +1800 |
| Chase Briscoe | +1900 |
| All Other Drivers | +2000 or higher |
Overall, NASCAR sharps expect strong runs from Team Penske (Blaney, Logano, Austin Cindric—2022 winner), Hendrick stars (Larson, Byron, Chase Elliott), and veterans like Hamlin.
2026 Daytona 500 Top Contenders
Joey Logano
Joey Logano is a prominent NASCAR Cup Series driver for Team Penske, driving the No. 22 Ford. Previously, he was a three-time Cup Series champion (2018, 2022, 2024) with over 30 career wins. Logano won the 2015 Daytona 500. He has come close in other years but hasn’t won it again. For example, in 2023, he finished 2nd. In 2025’s Daytona 500 (the 67th running), he started 10th, won Stage 1 (leading many laps), but a late-race incident dropped him to 35th despite leading 43 laps total.
Ryan Blaney
Ryan Blaney is also a top driver for Team Penske, piloting the No. 12 Ford Mustang. He’s the 2023 Cup Series champion and has multiple wins (including recent ones). Specifically, he is known for strong performances on superspeedways like Daytona. Blaney has not won the Daytona 500 yet in his career. He’s come very close several times and is often a strong contender due to his drafting skills and speed at Daytona International Speedway.
William Byron
William Byron is a top driver for Hendrick Motorsports, driving the No. 24 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1. In turn, he’s widely regarded as one of the sport’s elite talents, with exceptional consistency, strong superspeedway skills, and a knack for capitalizing on late-race chaos at Daytona. Byron has won the Daytona 500 twice—in 2024 and 2025—becoming only the fifth driver in history to achieve back-to-back victories.
Kyle Larson
Kyle Larson is a two-time NASCAR Cup Series champion (2021 and 2025), driving the No. 5 Chevrolet for Hendrick Motorsports. He’s widely regarded as one of the top drivers in the sport, with over 30 Cup wins. Including crown-jewel victories like the Coca-Cola 600, Southern 500, and Brickyard 400. However, the Daytona 500—NASCAR’s most prestigious race—remains the notable missing piece from his resume.
Chase Elliott
Chase Elliott is the 2020 NASCAR Cup Series champion, driving the No. 9 Chevrolet for Hendrick Motorsports. He’s one of the sport’s most popular drivers with 21 Cup wins (including road courses like Watkins Glen and superspeedways like Talladega). Still, like Kyle Larson, the Daytona 500 remains elusive—he has never won NASCAR’s biggest race despite strong performances and close calls.
Austin Cindric
Austin Cindric is a versatile NASCAR driver for Team Penske, piloting the No. 2 Ford Mustang Dark Horse in the Cup Series. He was the 2022 Daytona 500 Winner. To illuminate, in his rookie full-time Cup season, Cindric won NASCAR’s biggest race in overtime, edging Bubba Wallace. It was a narrow margin in a photo finish. This was his first Cup victory and remains his signature achievement. He’s competitive at Daytona overall, with solid starts and laps led in various years.
Denny Hamlin
Denny Hamlin is a veteran NASCAR Cup Series driver for Joe Gibbs Racing, piloting the No. 11 Toyota Camry. He’s one of the most accomplished active drivers, with 60 Cup wins (as of early 2026). Including multiple crown-jewel victories such as the Coca-Cola 600 (2022) and the Southern 500 (three times). He’s a perennial championship contender, though he has yet to win a Cup title.
Hamlin has 3 Daytona 500 victories, tying him with legends like Bobby Allison, Dale Jarrett, and Jeff Gordon for third-most all-time. In sum, he’s the active leader in Daytona 500 wins.
2026 Daytona 500 SBG Best Bets
Denny Hamlin stands out as the top value play. He’s the most successful active driver in the Daytona 500, with three victories, demonstrating mastery of drafting and late-race execution this race demands.
Daytona 500 SBG Best Bet: Denny Hamlin.