The 2026 NASCAR Cup Series season is about to kick off, with the 68th Daytona 500 set to launch the 36-race schedule at Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Florida. As the event approaches, William Byron’s position as the top favorite to win has been overtaken, marking a significant shift in betting odds and expectations.
Denny Hamlin Emerges as the New Front-Runner
Denny Hamlin, a three-time winner of the Daytona 500, has taken the lead at DraftKings Sportsbook as the favorite to claim victory in the upcoming 200-lap Great American Race. Hamlin’s victories came in 2016, 2019, and 2020, and he now aims to join an elite group alongside Richard Petty and Cale Yarborough, who are the only drivers to have won the race more than three times. Despite his strong history, Hamlin’s performances in recent years have been inconsistent, with his best finish since 2021 only reaching 17th place.
Hamlin’s bid for a fourth Daytona 500 win comes after a challenging offseason, making this season opener particularly meaningful for the driver hoping to regain top form. His previous fifth-place finish in 2021 remains the highest ever achieved after back-to-back wins, highlighting the challenge of maintaining such success.
William Byron and Other Contenders Remain in the Hunt
William Byron, who won consecutive Daytona 500 races and was on track to become the first driver to win three years in a row, now shares the second-favorite spot at +1000 odds along with Ryan Blaney and Kyle Larson from Hendrick Motorsports. Byron’s recent dominance at Daytona had positioned him as a leading contender throughout the offseason, but recent updates show a shift in confidence from oddsmakers.
Joey Logano, the 2015 Daytona 500 winner from Team Penske, now holds odds at +1200, while 2022 winner Austin Cindric has dropped to +1600. Ricky Stenhouse Jr., the 2023 winner with Hyak Motorsport, is listed at +3500, reflecting how some former champions might still be undervalued as the race approaches.
Anticipation Builds for the Season Opener at Daytona
The Daytona 500 remains one of the most important and unpredictable events in the NASCAR Cup Series. With several former winners and established stars competing, the race promises a thrilling start to the 2026 season. Fans can watch the live broadcast on Fox on Sunday, February 15 at 2:00 p.m. ET, highlighting the excitement and renewed competition at the World Center of Racing.
As the motorsports world watches closely, the shifting odds underscore the caution and uncertainty inherent in this high-stakes event, where past success offers no guarantee, and each lap could change the trajectory of the campaign.
