Daytona 500 Predictions, Picks and Betting Odds – NASCAR Betting Preview February 18

Daytona 500 Betting Preview

The NASCAR season kicks off with the Daytona 500 as drivers start their engines on February 18th for the huge event! WagerTalk NASCAR handicapper Andy Lang gives his Daytona 500 predictions and picks before the race starts up at 2:30pm ET!

Love This Prediction? Get $15 FREE towards all NASCAR expert picks – sign up now!

WagerTalk is the best website for Free Sports Picks from expert sports handicappers!  Every day you can get free picks on all major sports – check them out:

• Best College Basketball Bets Today
• Best NFL Bets Today
• Guaranteed NBA Picks for Tonight
• Best College Football Bets Today
• NHL Picks Today
• Free Soccer Betting Picks

Daytona 500 Betting Odds

Sunday, February 18	Daytona 500 Notes (Courtesy of Caesars)
Date:	February 18, 2024
Time:	2:30pm ET / 11:30am PT
Location:	Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, FL
Favorite to Win:	Joey Logano (+900)
TV:	FOX

Daytona 500 Betting Analysis

The Daytona 500 always offers up an exciting start at the beginning of NASCAR season, and this year should be no different.

Daytona is famous for tight pack racing, wrecks that take out lots of cars at one time, and exciting finishes.

It also makes for a tough race to bet on as one wreck can take out guys you bet on, but at the same time it can take out guys you bet against. We’ll look at the storylines and betting opportunities for this years race.

Daytona 500 Qualifying and Lineup

The Fords and Toyotas came into the year with a new look to the cars, but the Toyotas showed nothing in qualifying as the top qualifying Toyota was 22nd.

Qualifying doesn’t tell us how the cars will be during the race, and wrecks change everything, but Fords and Chevy’s have to feel more confident.

Logano and McDowell will be on the front row, and that’s not a surprised as both guys love this race. Over the last five Daytona 500’s, Michael McDwell has the best average finish at 11th, and Logano is 3rd best with 13th.

Daytona 500 Betting Opportunities

Michael McDowell +100 v Ricky Stenhouse Jr (Draftkings)

Getting even money on McDowell is too good to pass up. Both guys have won this race, and both will be contenders if they keep their cars clean, but we get the guy with the #1 finishing position over the last 5 years at this track at +100 where anything can happen.

Stenhouse will be starting in the back so he has more traffic to deal with at the beginning of the race so this is a great head to head matchup.

Daytona 500 Top 10 Picks

I’m only interested in top 10 plays that are plus money at this race. I’ll sprinkle a bit on both and hope to go 1-1 and turn a profit, and if the Gambling Gods are feeling generous, maybe 2-0 for a nice return.

Ryan Preece (+140)

He has two Top 10s at this race, and in 2021 he finished 6th and 4th in the two Daytona races. He had nice speed in qualifying as he’s starting 13th so +140 is a solid price.

Corey Lajoie (+160)

He finished 10th at Daytona in August, and this is the kind of race that he can compete in as the cars are going to be going the same speed. He didn’t race the Daytona 500 the last couple years, but in 2021 he finished 9th so he’s shown he can stay out of trouble and finish up front at this track.

Daytona 500 Best Prediction: Manufacturer Winner, Ford (+140)

I’ll take a shot with Ford at +140. There are great drivers behind the wheel of all three manufacturers, but with Ford I get Blaney, Cindric and Logano in the Penske cars which are always strong here along with McDowell, Keselowski. The Toyotas didn’t look great

Get $15 FREE towards all expert picks – including NASCAR Picks

**************************************************

Looking for more free sports picks and sports betting tips?

• Latest Betting Odds and Public Action: Vegas lines updated in real time, including who the public is betting on.
• Last Minute Handicapping Advice: Check out our extensive library of handicapping tips and advice from professional Vegas handicappers (we also recommend taking the time to look over our sports betting tips video library)
• Want an expert opinion? Check out the latest Free Sports Picks and Best Bets from our team of expert sports handicappers.

Make sure to bookmark all the above!