Don’t feel sad that the NFL season has come to an end. Instead, be excited for the upcoming 2021 NASCAR Cup Series season, which will kick off on Valentine’s Day at the Daytona International Speedway. Let’s take a look at which drivers some of the experts think will win it all on Feb. 14.
Bowman isn’t considered a favorite, as he’s labeled with a price of +1800 to win the 2021 Daytona 500, but for Mike McClure of SportsLine, he’s a huge payday waiting to happen. As mentioned by McClure, Bowman has won a front-row starting position in each of the last three editions of the Daytona 500. Last year, he started second and finished 24th. At the Coke Zero Sugar 400 in August of 2020, Bowman started eighth and finished seventh overall. In nine career races at the Daytona International Speedway, Bowman has accumulated an average finish of 14.82.
FOX Sports
Expert
Top-ranked driver
Bob Pockrass
Denny Hamlin
Bob Pockrass of Fox Sports ranked drivers for the 2021 Daytona 500 and unsurprisingly has Denny Hamlin on top of his list. After all, Hamlin won the Daytona 500 last year and is the favorite to win it again this February with odds of +800 to repeat. Hamlin won two races at superspeedways last year, proving he’s got the skills to dominate unpredictable tracks. Apart from winning the Daytona 500 in 2020, Hamlin also took the checkered flag at the YellaWood 500.
Action Network
Expert
High on
PJ Walsh
Denny Hamlin
Hamlin is also a favorite to win the Great American Race by PJ Walsh of The Action Network, who says he’s not going to wait on making a bet on the team Joe Gibbs driver. Hamlin has always been competitive at the Daytona International Speedway. In 30 career appearances there, Hamlin has racked up three wins, 10 top 5s, and 11 top 10s. Since 2018, Hamlin has won two races at the Daytona International Speedway and finished inside the top 5 four times.
TopBet Editor – Ryan Simpson
Expert
Pick
Ryan Simpson, TB News Editor
Joey Logano
Among drivers who appeared in four superspeedway races last year, Joey Logano had the highest driver rating (98.4), edging Denny Hamlin (98.3) by the closes of margins. Logano has won the Daytona 500 before back in 2015. Since then, he’s finished inside the top 10 in 11 races at the Daytona International Speedway. Logano is priced +1000 to win his second Daytona 500 this year. View Ryan’s complete betting previewhere.
