Some call it the Great American Race (not to be confused with the “Great Race”) while others deem it the Super Bowl of the NASCAR circuit. Whatever you want to call it, it’s up on us. That’s right, the Daytona 500 arrives at Daytona International Speedway this Sunday February 16. The best NASCAR drivers in the world will burn rubber and try to kick off the new season with a huge victory down in Florida. Read on for our picks for the favorites, sleepers, and a long shot.
Hamlin has always been a terrific driver whenever he’s in Daytona Beach. Maybe, aside from being just a skilled driver, Hamlin just loves the atmosphere down in that part of Florida, as he’s got a pair of wins at the Daytona International Speedway in 28 races there prior to 2020. He’s also got eight top 5s there and nine top 10s. He’s made the top 20 (16) on that track more than he’s failed to so, which is saying a lot about why Hamlin is a favorite to win the 2020 Daytona 500.
Elliott is listed tied with the best odds to win the Daytona 500 with Hamlin, but a glance at his career performance at the Daytona International Speedway could leave you scratching your head. Elliott has had eight races at the said track prior to 2020. Last year, he placed 35th there during the Coke Zero 400 race, though, he figured in an accident. Elliott has never finished better than 17th in eight career appearances at the Daytona International Speedway, but it’s still hard to count out a driver who won three races in 36 starts in 2019.
Sure, Kurt’s younger brother Kyle (who is listed at +1400 to win Daytona) is going to get most of the attention between the siblings this coming weekend, but don’t forget that the 41-year-old who is now racing with Chip Ganassi Racing has won the Great American Race not too long ago. Busch topped the field at the Daytona International Speedway back in 2017. Busch is a solid veteran who should be able to handle the pressure this weekend better than most other younger drivers.
So far in his relatively young career, it’s hard to know what exactly you are going to see from Jones when he’s at the Daytona International Speedway. It’s either he’s not going to do well or he’s going to perform at a high level. In six career races there, Jones has had three top 10 finishes, which, of course, includes his win at the The Coke Zero Sugar 400 back in 2018. Last year, he placed 23rd at the same race, but had a third-place finish at the 2019 Daytona 500.
Dillon owns among the longest odds to win the 2020 Daytona 500, but if you need reasons to believe in him to shock the field, here’s one: he’s made it to the top 20 in four of eight appearances at the Daytona International Speedway entering this year. Dillon, along with and Ricky Stenhouse Jr. (+2800) recorded the fastest in the first of two NASCAR Cup practice sessions for the Daytona 500 on Saturday February 8, hitting an impressive 203 mph and sending a message that he may be more than a long shot, but a serious contender.
