Daytona 500 Pick - Concrete Carl Rolls into Daytona

It's February once again, and instead of planning for Valentine's Day (as perhaps they should) the majority of males worldwide, they have been focused on two things: Football and NASCAR. More specifically, Super Bowl betting and Daytona 500 betting!

Yes, the Daytona 500 is the granddaddy of them all, as Vince McMahon would put it. Annually, NASCAR betting for the first race of the year turns in astonishing numbers at the BetUS Sportsbook, and every year, numerous racing bettors pick the winner and put astonishing numbers of their own into their pockets!

Rightfully, those evaluating NASCAR odds look at the current slate, and with Jimmie Johnson listed at +800 can't find a reason in the world not to take a shot with it! Johnson has already cemented his place as one of the greatest drivers to ever get behind a wheel, capturing the championship over the past three consecutive seasons. Daytona 500 odds favor racers like Dale Earnhardt Jr., Jeff Gordon and Kyle Busch, who have all had a little more success than Jimmie at Daytona. However, let's not forget that Double J took home the checkered flag in 2006, and won the pole in back to back races here in 2008. The only reason he finished 15th in the final race of 2008—probably the reason he isn't favored—is because he was playing it safe and making sure he finished the race, so as to secure the championship!

There has never been a more consistent racer than Jimmie Johnson, and you know he's going to arrive at the track with an absolutely stellar piece of machinery. Chad Knauss is the evil genius of NASCAR, and bettors should feel quite comfortable with him calling the shots from up above.

However, the real Daytona 500 betting value seems to be with Carl Edwards at +1200. Those evaluating NASCAR lines tend to forget that while Kyle Busch had the hot start and appeared to dominate 2008, it was Edwards who led all racers with nine checkered flags! Edwards is the type of aggressive driver, similar to Earnhardt Jr., that thrives on the 2.5 mile track. The master of the backflip is primed for a breakout year, and one has to believe that it starts at Daytona. It's preposterous to think that a mega power like Roush Fenway would give him a bad piece of equipment, so look for Edwards to be running near the front all day. While he hasn't conquered Daytona in a car yet, he did win here in 2004 on the Craftsman Truck circuit.

With such an enormous lineup, it's not difficult to find value anywhere on the Daytona 500 odds board, so head over to the BetUS Sportsbook for more NASCAR betting options! Also, keep the BetUS Locker Room bookmarked as we continue our coverage of the Great American Race—including free picks, analysis of odds, props, lines and spreads—all week long!