What to Watch: Favorites, drivers with voids to fill have shot at Daytona 500 glory

66th Daytona 500 at Daytona International Speedway

(⏰ Monday, 4 p.m. ET | FOX | MRN, SiriusXM)

Everything you need to know for Monday’s NASCAR Cup Series race at Daytona International Speedway, the first points-paying event of the 2024 Cup Series season.

Weekend schedule | TV schedule | Weather tracker | NASCAR 101

Location: Daytona Beach, Florida
Track length: 2.5 miles
Cup Series race purse: $28,035,991
Race distance: 200 laps | 500 miles
Stages: 60 | 130 | 200
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Starting lineup: Logano on pole for Daytona 500
Pit stall assignments: Where drivers will pit on Monday
Defending winner: Ricky Stenhouse Jr., 2023

Key things to watch

Wednesday, Thursday and Friday sessions

Daytona 500 build-up is its own animal, with an expanded qualifying process and extra practice. Ford drivers had the upper hand early on in pole qualifying, with Joey Logano (Team Penske) and Michael McDowell (Front Row Motorsports) sweeping the front row. Toyota flexed its muscle late in the Bluegreen Vacations Duel qualifying races, with Tyler Reddick (23XI Racing) and Christopher Bell (Joe Gibbs Racing) converting last-lap passes to divide the victories. Drivers learned plenty about how their cars push and handle in the aerodynamic draft in the Duels and in Friday’s practice, which was led by Denny Hamlin at the head of a top-eight sweep by Toyota drivers. | Read qualifying recap | Friday’s practice recap | Saturday session canceled

Big story line

Who gets a career-altering moment? Weighing favorites and the long waits

There are a couple of camps of drivers who fall into the category of “Great American Race” favorites — former winners with a special superspeedway savvy and those still missing a Harley J. Earl Trophy in their collection — some with an agonizingly lengthy wait time. Denny Hamlin is first and foremost in the former category, aiming for his fourth victory in the 500, and Joey Logano sets up from the first starting spot in search of a second Daytona crown to match his 2015 triumph.

Among the long-suffering drivers without a Daytona 500 win are big-name standouts and future Hall of Famer material. “I mean, it’s missing, right? There’s no checkmark there,” said Kyle Busch, who said that a 500 win doesn’t necessarily validate a career — citing HOF members Mark Martin, Rusty Wallace and Tony Stewart among that group. Busch is 0-for-18 in the “Great American Race” and joins Brad Keselowski (0-for-14), Cup Series champ Ryan Blaney (a stealthy but always contending 0-for-9), and Martin Truex Jr. (0-for-37 at Daytona overall) among those pining for a victory in NASCAR’s most prestigious event.

History tells us…

Going the extra mile(s)?

Five of the last six runnings of the Daytona 500 have gone into overtime, including last year’s record 530-miler that went 12 extra laps. “Statistically, I think you have to plan on it,” said Chris Buescher, with Daytona International Speedway’s most recent winner noting the tendency toward multicar crashes in the closing laps.

Those overtime attempts have been the frequent result of late-race crashes, sparked by a combination of aggression, poorly executed aerodynamic pushes or both. Blaney, after yet another heavy hit at the World Center of Racing in Thursday night’s qualifying races, has had his fill of it. | Blaney: ‘It’s just guys not being smart’

He may not be the betting favorite to win, but watch out for…

Jimmie Johnson. It feels funny to think of a seven-time Cup Series champion as anything less than a sure-fire contender, but there Jimmie Johnson sits at 70-1 on the odds board. The driver and minority owner for Legacy Motor Club eked out a qualifying berth in Thursday night’s Duels, but as a two-time Daytona 500 winner, he rises into the conversation of potential underdogs. His team’s switch to Toyota this year also gives the automaker reinforcements in its superspeedway numbers in the aerodynamic draft. | Daytona 500 odds

Speed reads

Our biggest pieces of the week — get covered for race day from all angles.

– Daytona 500 postponed until Monday: Get ready for a historic Xfinity-Cup doubleheader | Read article
– Dale Jr. retrospective: Next-level stardom after second Daytona 500 win | Read article
– Blaney’s next act: 2023 champ braces for title defense, responsibility | Read article
– Berry’s new journey: “Our team will surprise a lot of people” | Read article
– Ride of passage: Turn 4’s tunnel a special Daytona original | Read article
– Manufacturer mix: New-look Fords, Toyotas to challenge Chevy’s reign | Read article
– Daytona debate: Racing Insights projects the final race results | Read article
– At-track photos: Sights and scenes from Daytona Speedweeks | Photo gallery
– Fantasy Fastlane: Setting your Daytona 500 lineup | See fantasy tips
– Paint Scheme Preview: New designs to kick off the season | Pick a favorite
– Power Rankings: Hamlin rises in preseason pecking order | Latest driver rankings

Fast facts ⏩

Race-relevant statistics, brought to you by the experts at Racing Insights.

– Ford notched its 30th Daytona pole, sweeping the front row in the Daytona 500 for the first time since 2012.
– Kyle Busch leads all drivers in laps led among drivers that are winless in the Daytona 500 with 330.
– Only once has a stage winner in the Daytona 500 gone on to win the race (Denny Hamlin in 2020 after winning Stage 2).