The NASCAR Cup Series is ready to launch another season in grand fashion, and as such, Daytona 500 betting odds are getting some attention. And a familiar name is among those attracting the most action, while making a noteworthy jump up the odds board.
That would be Jimmie Johnson, who on Sunday at Daytona International Speedway will begin his 19th and final full Cup season. Johnson isn’t the favorite, but he’s the money man at MGM sportsbooks in Las Vegas, according to Scott Shelton, supervisor at The Mirage book.
“Our most liability is on Johnson. He opened 25/1, moved to 20/1, 15/1 and now 12/1,” Shelton told Covers. “We took a $500 bet on him at 25/1, and other notable bets at 20/1 and 15/1. There are a lot of tickets on Johnson. We’re a mid-five-figure loser to him.”
That $500 wager is a fair chunk of the loss, as the bettor would collect $12,500 with a Johnson win. Shelton said Ryan Newman, a longer shot at 30/1, is the second-worst decision for the book, followed by 2019 Cup Series champion Kyle Busch, the 8/1 co-favorite who leads the ticket count.
“Kevin Harvick is No. 2 in tickets, Chase Elliott No. 3 and Johnson No. 4,” Shelton said, noting Harvick joins Johnson at 12/1, while Elliott is the 8/1 co-favorite. “We do OK to Chase, but we’re a loser to Kyle.”
So which drivers are MGM books rooting for when the green flag drops at 2:30 p.m. ET?
“Our best-case scenario of the contenders is Brad Keselowski, then Joey Logano. They’re both really good,” Shelton said of two drivers sitting as the 10/1 co-second choices, along with Denny Hamlin.
As coincidence would have it, among MGM’s eight matchup props is one pitting Keselowski against Logano, with the latter a modest -115 favorite.
Big picture, the Daytona 500 kicks off the chase for the 2020 Cup championship. Busch is a 4/1 favorite to repeat, followed by Martin Truex at +450, Harvick at +500 and Hamlin at +600. Johnson is a 40/1 shot to go out on top, but bettors are feeling sentimental.
“Biggest Cup liability is Johnson by a wide margin,” Shelton said, noting JJ opened 50/1. “We also lose big to long shots Matt DiBenedetto (200/1) and Bubba Wallace Jr. (300/1). The most tickets are on Chase Elliott, followed by Johnson and Harvick.”
