When it comes to NASCAR betting, there’s no substitute for experience. That goes beyond bettors’ familiarity with motorsports markets, applying to drivers as well.
The 2021 Daytona 500 odds are proof of that.
Denny Hamlin, who has won the past two Daytona 500 races, is the consensus favorite to do it again this year. Iowa sportsbooks have a lot of different ways to bet the unofficial start to the NASCAR Cup race this year, though.
Breaking down Daytona 500 odds at Iowa sportsbooks
Most online sportsbooks in IA already have their markets for Sunday’s race live. The green flag should drop on the 63rd iteration of “The Great American Race” at 12:30 p.m. CST. The field contains 40 drivers this year, headlined by Hamlin.
If he can replicate that feat again in 2021, he will become the first driver to win this event three years in a row. He has already won three of the past five. Despite how unprecedented what Hamlin is attempting is, IA sportsbooks predict him to make history.
Hamlin has the shortest odds to win the race, ranging from +700 to +800 depending on the sportsbook. Among contenders with the second-shortest odds on IA sports betting apps are:
- Ryan Blaney
- Chase Elliott
- Brad Keselowski
- Joey Logano
Among those four drivers, Elliott and Keselowski both have multiple finishes in the Daytona 500. Elliott has completed this race six times, while Keselowski has 36 finishes. Neither of them has any wins, however. Blaney has never won this race, either.
Logano has finished in the top five twice and the top 10 twice. He won this event in 2015. The weather shouldn’t play a factor in this year’s race. The latest forecast shows an 18% chance of rain on Sunday, with 10 mph winds out of the east.
You don’t have to pick a winner to bet the Daytona 500 in Iowa, though. DraftKings has other futures and props to diversify your plays.
Other ways to bet on Daytona at DraftKings
If you’re not keen to take Hamlin or another racer to win the race, you can stake your driver of choice to finish in the top three or top 10. Hamlin is +230 at DraftKings to finish in the top three. A bet on Kyle Busch to finish in the top 10 will double your money if he follows through.
You can also bet matchups in Sunday’s race, choosing one driver to finish higher than another. DraftKings currently offers seven pairings for Sunday, like Blaney vs. Keselowski, with -115 odds on both sides of the market. Another available prop bet is the manufacturer of the winning car.
As the calendar moves closer to Sunday, expect to see similar props at other books. This week also boasts a great opportunity to do some handicapping, as the Busch Clash at 6 p.m. Tuesday will feature many of the Daytona 500 contenders in action.
For NASCAR bettors, this Sunday is a bigger holiday than just Valentine’s Day. IA motorsports fans may deepen their love for Hamlin if he’s able to make history and their bets on him pay off.
