Sleeper Picks for the 2021 Daytona 500

Most NASCAR gamblers looking at backing sleepers for the 2021 Daytona 500 are probably thinking the same thing…
Will Denny Hamlin spoil my day again?
But if you are looking to make money on the Great American Race, remember that it’s unpredictable. Of all the cars lining up, one must win. And it’s not always the favorite, either.
I mean, who would have predicted that Hamlin to win back-to-back races? Who placed bets on Daytona 500 winners like Derrike Cope in 1990, or young Trevor Bane, who was priced at odds of +8000 before 2011’s race?
Anything can happen at the Daytona International Superspeedway this Sunday, February 14. Perhaps even a win for one of my 2021 Daytona 500 value sleeper picks.
Austin Dillon (+2500)
A previous winner of the race, Austin Dillon, is certainly a great sleeper bet for the Daytona 500.
Dillon took the crown in 2018, despite being priced at +4000 that year. It just goes to show you that anything really can happen in this race.
There are 12 multiple-time Daytona 500 winners. Can Austin Dillon scrape his way to the checkered flag to make it 13?
He has two top-9s at Daytona in previous years and could very well be a great bet for a top-5 finish this time around.
But as a former winner? You can’t look past him at these odds, which you can find at some of the top NASCAR betting apps.
Cole Custer (+4000)
Custer’s form at Daytona is, admittedly, tough to gauge.
The sample size is small, given that he has only raced here twice in the Cup Series. Both times, he failed to finish.
But the 23-year-old could be one of the best sleepers for the Daytona 500 in 2021. Just think about his crazy maiden win in Kentucky in his rookie season. He is the second-youngest winner of a NASCAR-sanctioned race and is only going to get better.
I’d suggest betting Custer as a top-10 finisher, at the very least. Whether he is worth a shot at these odds to win the race is up to.
Christopher Bell (+4000)
Bell’s odds to win the 2021 Daytona 500 are really interesting.
Expect the 2017 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Champion to be up for this one.
If last year’s performances are anything to go by, Bell could be a great Daytona 500 sleeper bet and a smart wager to finish in the top-10. He crossed for 23rd at the 2020 ‘500, following up with a 13th place finish at the Coke Zero Sugar 400 later in the year.
Bell is now racing in the #20 Toyota Camry for Joe Gibbs and will definitely have a better chance of taking home the spoils than he did last year.
Joe Gibbs Racing has won the last two editions of this race with Denny Hamlin. Could Bell be their next Daytona 500 winner?
Daniel Suarez (+125000)
These are crazy odds.
Especially for a driver that has had probably the worst luck of any active competitor on this track.
It seems a little bit of a push betting on Suarez, but stranger things have happened.
If you’re wondering how to bet on the Daytona 500, it’s always worth looking at outsiders with big value. I wouldn’t put Suarez at the top of the pack by any means, but he has the potential to cause an upset.
I’d say this is the best NASCAR sleeper pick in terms of big odds. Heck, you could even have a gamble on the Mexican driver finishing in the top-10 and still see a nice return.
Six of Suarez’s seven starts at Daytona have ended in accidents. He has never finished a Daytona 500. Could this be his year?
She is fast and she looks great ?
— Daniel Suárez (@Daniel_SuarezG) February 10, 2021
Happy with our first run and ready for tonight’s quali. Let’s GO!!! ???? #SuarezNation #iFly #TeamChevy pic.twitter.com/faztw9LR8l
More Daytona 500 Betting Content
And that’s it for my look at 2021 Daytona 500 sleeper picks and value bets.
I believe the four drivers above are the longshots for the race, which goes down this Sunday, February 14. It sure would be something to see any of the guys above crossing the line, and even better if you have money riding on them!
Perhaps you’re not as keen to back Daytona 500 sleepers and would prefer to explore other bets. If that is the case, here’s some more content to help you wager on the race!
- 2021 Daytona 500 Predictions and Pick
- Best Daytona 500 Prop Bets for 2021
Good luck with your bets!
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