Daytona 500 preview and pick

The moment NASCAR fans around the world have been waiting for is nearly here! The world's greatest stock car racers will converge on Daytona this Sunday for the 62nd running of the Great American Race.

The Daytona 500 is the race every driver dreams of winning. For a handicapper, it’s also special. Picking the winner of this race is like a horseplayer picking the winner of the Kentucky Derby.

Teams spend months preparing for this race, and if you want to win it, you need to be good and a little lucky. Here are the drivers with the best chance to win.

Chase Elliott (+1100)

The best Daytona 500 finish in Chase Elliott’s career was a middle-of-the-pack 14th in 2017. Elliott has not had luck on his side in his career at Daytona. In the last four races at Daytona he’s been in a wreck.

However, the combination of spotter Eddie D’Hondt and crew chief Alan Gustafson gives Elliott a nice core that works well with the driver's skill set.

Elliott has shown flashes of brilliance at Talladega, a track that similar to Daytona. If he can get the bad mojo off his back at Daytona, he is going to be tough to beat.

Elliott’s demeanor is also great for this type of racing. He’ll keep his cool under pressure, but will he get the luck?

Ryan Blaney (+1400)

Blaney is another who has not had much luck at Daytona. Like Elliott a year ago, Blaney was able to win a race at Talladega, but he has been plagued with racing accidents at Daytona. Can he get some luck Sunday?

Blaney will be in a very fast Penske car, and Team Penske might be the class of the field. If that’s the case, you’ll want the car with the best odds, and that’s Blaney. Teammates Joey Logano and Brad Keselowski will be among the favorites.

If Blaney can be there at the end, he is good enough to win. The odds are a great value for any handicapper wagering on this race. We firmly believe he’s just as good as his teammates, who are considered the favorites.

William Byron (+2200)

William Byron is a must play this Sunday. Byron led 44 laps during last year's Daytona 500 and started the race from the pole. He was able to maintain a top-five position most of the race.

But late in the race, Erik Jones lost fuel pressure in front of Byron’s car, which made Byron lose valuable track position and cost him. It put him into a position of getting caught up in the “big one” that day.

We believe the Hendrick Chevys will be fast Sunday. Byron has only raced in two Daytona 500s, so the sample size is small, but this is the breakout year for Byron.

Was last year the year he supposed to win it before the misfortune? This type of racing also produces first-time winners. If we see a first-time winner Sunday, it will be this guy.

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