NASCAR Cup Series driver Ryan Blaney. Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

Daytona 500: Here's where oddsmakers list reigning NASCAR champ Ryan Blaney

By Chelena Goldman | Last updated 2/12/24

Ryan Blaney surprised the race-watching world in 2023 when an impressive late-season push made him the NASCAR Cup Series champion. Will he kick off his defending campaign by winning one of the most popular races of the year?

NASCAR returns on Sunday at the Daytona 500, and everyone down in the Sunshine State will have eyes on Blaney -- including oddsmakers. Sportsbooks are already keen on the Ohio native being a repeat champion, with DraftKings listing him as the 5-1 favorite to win the Cup Series this time around.

However, DK has its sights set on a different driver to win the Daytona 500.

The big game has come and gone.

The big race is right around the corner. #DAYTONA500 pic.twitter.com/ruXu2FOvhL
— NASCAR (@NASCAR) February 12, 2024

While DK lists Blaney at 12-1 odds to win the Daytona 500 and at 6-4 odds to finish in the top 5, it is tapping Denny Hamlin as the 9-1 favorite to get the checkered flag.

Hamlin had just as many wins last season as Blaney did at three but had more top-5 finishes. He finished 17th at Daytona in 2023 but is likely the favorite since he has won the race three times before. Hamlin most recently got the checkered flag at Daytona in back-to-back seasons, 2019 and 2020.

A win would put the spotlight on Hamlin back on the racetrack instead of on the current off-track turmoil surrounding a new charter agreement between NASCAR and its racing teams. The current agreement is set to expire at the end of this season, and Hamlin has been vocal about the two sides reportedly not being close to getting a new deal in place.

"We tried to start these conversations two years ago and it’s just been delay, delay, delay. So now here we are at the end of the rope," Hamlin said on his "Actions Detrimental" podcast. "Do I believe we are closer to a deal now than 12 months ago? I don’t think so."

Meanwhile, back on the track, Kyle Busch is listed after Hamlin at 11-1 odds to win the Daytona 500 -- even though he has still never won the event in his decorated career. Brad Keselowski is listed alongside Blaney at 12-1 odds, while Kyle Larson and Blaney's teammate Joey Logano are each listed at 14-1.

The Daytona 500 takes place on Sunday, Feb. 18 at 2:30 p.m. ET.

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