StatFox.com - Sports Handicapping Community

The Leader In Sports Handicapping

NASCAR season begins Sunday at Daytona
By: Zach Cohen - StatFox
Published: 2/22/2015  at  6:54:00 AM
  Print This Article    

NASCAR Sprint Cup Series
Daytona 500

Sunday, February 22 – 1:00 p.m. EDT
Daytona International Speedway – Daytona Beach, FL

Another NASCAR season gets underway with the historic Daytona 500 on Sunday afternoon. Daytona International Speedway, completed in 1959, is a 2.5-mile, tri-oval track with huge bankings (31-degree turns, 18-degree tri-oval banking). The frontstretch measures 3,800 feet with the backstretch coming in at 3,000 feet. Dale Earnhardt Jr., who won this race last year, is the favorite to repeat his Daytona 500 victory (9-to-1).

Here is the BetDSI Sportsbook betting preview for the Daytona 500:

Odds to Win Race

DriverOdds
Dale Earnhardt Jr.9-to-1
Denny Hamlin10-to-1
Jimmie Johnson10-to-1
Kyle Busch10-to-1
Matt Kenseth10-to-1
Brad Keselowski12-to-1
Carl Edwards12-to-1
Jeff Gordon12-to-1
Joey Logano12-to-1
Kevin Harvick12-to-1
Tony Stewart15-to-1
Jamie McMurray20-to-1
Clint Bowyer25-to-1
Kasey Kahne25-to-1
Kurt Busch25-to-1
Kyle Larson25-to-1
FIELD (Any other driver)25-to-1
Austin Dillon30-to-1
Greg Biffle30-to-1
Martin Truex Jr.30-to-1
Ryan Newman35-to-1
Paul Menard40-to-1
Aric Almirola50-to-1
Ricky Stenhouse50-to-1
Ryan Blaney50-to-1
Casey Mears60-to-1
Danica Patrick60-to-1
Michael Waltrip60-to-1
AJ Allmendinger75-to-1
David Ragan100-to-1
Justin Allgaier100-to-1
Sam Hornish Jr100-to-1
Trevor Bayne100-to-1

Drivers to Watch

Jeff Gordon (12/1) - Gordon won the pole for this race and it will be the last Daytona 500 of his career. He’s had success here in the past, winning the Daytona 500 in 1997, 1999 and 2005. He finished 4th here last year, his best finish at the track since winning 10 years ago. At 12-to-1, Gordon is an excellent value and is worth making a small-to-medium play on in the last chance you’ll ever get to pick him at this historic track.

Denny Hamlin (10/1) - Hamlin has never won the Dayton 500, but he has come extremely close to doing so. Hamlin had a 3rd-place showing back in 2009, placed 4th in the crazy 2012 Daytona 500 won by Matt Kenseth and finished in second a year ago, after leading for 16 laps. Hamlin finished the 2014 season with four top-10 finishes in a row and is one of the most consistent drivers there is. He’s a great play at 10-to-1, and it wouldn’t surprise anybody if he finally broke through and won this event.

Kevin Harvick (12/1) - Harvick won the Dayton 500 back in 2007 and has historically driven well at this track. He placed 2nd back in 2009 and has seven total top-10 finishes in this race. Harvick had an excellent 2014 season, winning five races and finishing in the top-5 an outstanding 14 times. He was the #1 ranked driver when the season ended and is getting some pretty excellent odds for somebody who would have surprised nobody if he was listed as the favorite to win.

Sam Hornish Jr. (100/1) - Hornish Jr. was only a part-timer in the Sprint Cup a year ago, but could be heading towards a breakout 2015 season. He’s going to be driving full-time with Richard Petty Motorsports and is feeling very confident about a big year ahead. Hornish Jr.’s best finish at the Daytona 500 was 15th back in 2008, but he’s capable of much more. Although he’s new to being a full-timer in the Sprint Cup, Hornish Jr. has a championship pedigree when it comes to racing and nothing will change that. At 100-to-1, his potential alone makes him worthy of a small wager.

Tony Stewart (15/1) - Stewart is getting some very favorable odds this Sunday and a lot of that has to do with the fact that he’s starting in the 29th position. Stewart is widely considered to be the best active driver who has never entered victory lane at the Daytona 500 and he will be eager to change that this weekend. It’s going to be tough to overcome his position, but he’s finished in the top-10 of this race six times and knows how to operate this track. Stewart’s desire to finally win this race is reason enough to throw a small wager on him at 15-to-1.


FoxSheets.com
The FoxSheets - the most advanced sports handicapping information available on the internet.
Sign up for professional sports betting information including fantastic trends, and Free FoxSheets.
E-mail: