The Coke Zero 400 at is scheduled for the night of June 7th at Daytona International Speedway. This will be the drivers second go-around at the famed 2.5 mile-oval. Unlike Sonoma Raceway, where they raced in last week’s event, NASCAR longshots who poorly qualify isn’t as important. This factor helps the slower qualifiers have a chance to move up through the field in the draft as the race rages on.
Daytona’s style of racing also provides a unique opportunity for NASCAR longshots. All cars stay bunched up in pack racing for the entirety of the event. This allows for cars that are farther back to move to the front in the final closing laps, giving them a shot to steal a win. For these two reasons, the races at Daytona can be a perfect chance for NASCAR longshots to capture a much-needed victory.
Many of the competitors that are having sub-par years look forward to the restrictor plate tracks in hopes of a chance to pick up a win and get into the Sprint Cup Series playoffs. Several NASCAR longshots that are in that same situation are listed as heavy underdogs by the Las Vegas line-setters. Some of those racers have had success at the larger super speedways. There are some excellent opportunities to roll a little stack of money into a larger bank roll in one fail swoop.
Jamie McMurray is a NASCAR longshot that has as good as chance as any to drive on to victory in Saturday’s night race at Daytona. Though McMurray has only recorded one win since 2011 he has taken the checkered flag at super speedways before.
In fact, he won the opening day event at this same track in in 2010. The veteran has a good understanding of the draft the cars use to move to the front. He seems to save his best for the larger venues that implement that style of racing. He finished fourth at Talladega, another super speedway, in a late race bid for glory. Odds-makers have him slated at 30/1 to win his way into the playoffs.
Another NASCAR longshot that seems well over due to pick up his first career win is Kyle Larson. Larson, who is Jamie McMurray’s teammate, hasn’t done well at Daytona in the previous two years but took seventh here on opening day.
Larson, a Chip Gnassi driver, has shown a lot of speed in 2016 and has been in contention on some fast race tracks. With the help from his team and extra reps in the Xfinity Series, it’s a matter of time for this young talent to get his win. Las Vegas has him at a 25/1 favorite to do just that on Saturday.
Clint Bowyer also hopes to turn around an utterly disappointing half of the 2016 Sprint Cup season. Daytona International Speedway might just be what the doctor ordered. Bowyer also has finished inside the top ten here four out of the last seven races. The experienced driver likes his chances on the larger ovals with Stewart-Haas Automation building the engines that propel him.
HScott Motorsport’s racer has really shined at Talladega, collecting two victories since 2010. He hasn’t slowed down at that super speedway recently either. Bowyer has finished inside the top ten in four of the last five. Line-setters have Bowyer at 40/1 to get his first Daytona win.
Chase Elliott has not looked like a rookie at super speedways in 2016. The young racing protege took his #24 3M hot-rod to the pole here in the opening race of the season. He led three laps in that contest and was one of the fastest cars throughout the two weekends spent there. A early race accident at lap 20 crushed his hopes of a amazing start to his career and he finished in 37th.
Chase Elliott proved at Talladega Super Speedway that Daytona wasn’t a fluke. He placed his car at the front of the field from his qualifying efforts once again. This time the talented young driver was in it to the end, and fell just short in 5th place. Elliott is also surrounded with teammates that have all won here before and races with Hendrick Motorsports who is known for restrictor plate dominance. Las Vegas gives him a 20/1 chance to take his first checkered flag.
Odds to Win the Coke Zero 400 at Daytona International Speedway:
| JIMMY JOHNSON | 8-1 | +1000 | ||
| KYLE BUSCH | 12-1 | +1200 | ||
| KEVIN HARVICK | 10-1 | +1200 | ||
| DENNY HAMLIN | 10-1 | +1000 | ||
| JOEY LOGANO | 10-1 | +1200 | ||
| MATT KENSETH | 12-1 | +1200 | ||
| BRAD KESELOWSKI | 15-1 | +1200 | ||
| CARL EDWARDS | 12-1 | +1200 | ||
| MARTIN TRUEX Jr | 15-1 | +1200 | ||
| DALE EARNHARDT Jr | 9-2 | +600 | ||
| KURT BUSCH | 15-1 | +1600 | ||
| KASEY KAHNE | 18-1 | +2000 | ||
| CHASE ELLIOTT | 15-1 | +2000 | ||
| AUSTIN DILLON | 30-1 | +2500 | ||
| JAMIE McMURRAY | 30-1 | +3000 | ||
| KYLE LARSON | 30-1 | +2500 | ||
| TONY STEWART | 25-1 | +2500 | ||
| RYAN NEWMAN | 60-1 | +4000 |
