We’re just a few days away from the highly anticipated 2021 Daytona 500, which would kick off the new NASCAR Cup Series. Have you made your picks yet? If you’re into hunting for sleepers, you’ve come at the right place as we have listed below three drivers with longer odds, but have some intriguing qualities of a possible winner at the Daytona International Speedway.
It wasn’t that long ago when Austin Dillon reigned supreme at the Daytona International Speedway as the winner of the 2018 Daytona 500. On such an unpredictable track, Dillon has managed to find some sort of penchant for decent finishes in Daytona Beach. In 15 career starts at the Daytona International Speedway, Dillon has collected a pair of top 5s, seven top 10s, and 11 top 20s. At the 2020 Daytona 500, Dillon placed 12th, which was just around his career average finish there, which is currently at 12.24. Dillon had four top 5s and nine top 10s in 35 races last year. During Tuesday’s 2021 Busch Clash at Daytona, Dillon showed out with an 11th-place effort.
Christopher Bell (+3300)
Bell made his Daytona International Speedway debut in last year’s Daytona 500. He finished just 21st overall, but he showed great improvement the next time he revved his machine’s engine there, as he finished 13th overall at the Coke Zero Sugar 400 in August 2020. What makes Bell an enticing sleeper pick for the upcoming Great American Race is that he’s now with a new (and more accomplished) team in Joe Gibbs Racing. This team has produced a Daytona 500 winner in Denny Hamlin and other strong contenders like Martin Truex Jr. and Kyle Busch. Bell had two top 5s in 20 starts in 2020.
Cole Custer (+4000)
Cole Custer made his Great American Race last year and was just 37th overall. He went back to the Daytona International Speedway months later but managed just a 30th-place placing during the 2020 Coke Zero Sugar 400. Context is needed to explain those underwhelming performances, though. At the 2020 Daytona 500, Custer, last season’s Rookie of the Year winner, started 12th and wasn’t able to finish the race due to mechanical problems. At the Coke Zero Sugar 400, he was forced to prematurely end his participation after getting involved in an accident with just three laps remaining. He likely would have finished inside the top 10 if not for that ill-timed collision. Custer had a win last season (Quaker State 400 Presented by Walmart) and seven top 10s in 16 starts.
