The Cup Series regular season wraps up this Saturday, August 29, 2026, at Daytona International Speedway with the 2026 Coke Zero Sugar 400. This isn’t just another race, folks, it’s the Daytona Night Race, and the green flag drops at 7:30 p.m. ET. Ryan Blaney, who just won last week, is the defending champ here, and Tyler Reddick already scored a Daytona triumph this year at The Great American Race. Right now, Denny Hamlin is sitting pretty atop the Cup Series standings heading into this showdown.
The Usual Suspects and a Pole Shocker
So, who’s got the juice for this one? Joey Logano is the favorite, clocking in at +900 odds via FanDuel Sportsbook. Blaney is right behind him at +1000, and William Byron is looking strong at +1100. But hold up, here’s a curveball: Ross Chastain snatched the pole position, and he’s a longer shot at +2500. This is the last chance for some drivers to make a statement before the real heat begins, and you know everyone’s bringing their A-game.
McClure’s Model Just Threw a Wrench in Everyone’s Picks
Now, if you want the real inside scoop, you gotta talk about Mike McClure’s proven model. This dude is a legendary professional DFS player, pulling in over $2 million in career winnings. His prediction model is no joke either, simulating every single lap 10,000 times! This thing has nailed a staggering 30 winners since 2021, even hitting Denny Hamlin’s back-to-back wins at Michigan and Pocono just this past June. Anyone following his picks has seen some serious cash come in.
And what’s McClure saying for the Daytona Night Race 2026? He’s FADING Chase Elliott at +1800, saying Elliott finishes outside the top 10! Can you believe that? Elliott has shorter odds than only three other drivers, but the model doesn’t care. He’s got checkered flags at 14 different tracks, but Daytona ain’t one of them, even with 21 starts here, his second most at any circuit. The guy hasn’t led a single lap in the last two Daytona Night Races, and frankly, he’s been limping towards the end of the 2026 Cup Series season with only one top 10 over his last 11 starts. That’s a tough look.
But here’s the kicker: McClure’s model is super high on Alex Bowman at +3500. This is wild! Bowman’s got an average finish of 17.1 across 20 career Daytona races, which is the third-best among all active drivers. Plus, he’s locked in four top-6 finishes over his last seven trips to this track, including a runner-up at the 2024 Daytona 500. He even placed third more recently! That’s the kind of consistency you want heading into a chaotic track like Daytona.
So, get ready for Saturday night. It’s the regular season finale, and with these kinds of picks from McClure, this race is going to be absolutely nuts. Keep your eyes peeled on Bowman, because if McClure’s model is right, we’re in for a wild ride!
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by CBS Sports.
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