Coke Zero Sugar 400 race predictions, betting lines, and odds for the 2025 NASCAR event at Daytona: insights from a predictive model that accurately anticipates 27 winners
Racing Towards Daytona: Keselowski and Buescher Shine as Longshot Contenders for the Coke Zero Sugar 400
The final race before the Cup Series Playoffs is approaching, and the anticipation is building for the 2025 Coke Zero Sugar 400 at Daytona International Speedway. This race, taking place on Saturday at 7:30 p.m. ET, consists of 160 laps on a 2.5-mile tri-oval track, and it promises to be a thrilling event.
Among the drivers with odds listed for the Coke Zero Sugar 400, Brad Keselowski stands out with odds of +1200. Keselowski, who has made 32 starts at Daytona, the third-highest active count among drivers, has had an impressive history at the track. He has four top 5s over that span and arguably had his best race of the season earlier this month in Iowa, where he won both stages and had the fastest lap, finishing in third place.
Ryan Blaney will start on the pole for the race, but Keselowski's experience and recent form make him a strong contender. In fact, the model developed by Mike McClure simulated the race 10,000 times and predicts Keselowski as a longshot to win, with odds of +1900.
Another driver to watch is Chris Buescher, who finished second to teammate Keselowski at this event in 2023, as RFK Racing finished 1-2. Buescher needs a victory to clinch a playoff spot, making him a strong candidate for NASCAR Daytona bets. Buescher has had success at Daytona International Speedway, with top 10 finishes in four of his last five NASCAR starts there, including earlier this year in the Daytona 500.
The model is targeting Keselowski and Buescher as two drivers with Daytona NASCAR odds of 18-1 or longer to make a serious run at the checkered flag. Todd Gilliland and Sam Mayer are also identified by the model as potential winners for the 2025 Coke Zero Sugar 400, with odds of 18-1 or higher.
However, the favourites for the race include Joey Logano, Ryan Blaney, and Keselowski himself, with odds of +1000, +1100, and +1200 respectively. William Byron, who won the Daytona 500 to open the year, is not a top favourite for the Coke Zero Sugar 400, with odds of +700.
Kyle Busch, Alex Bowman, Tyler Reddick, and Brad Keselowski are among the drivers still searching for their first wins of the year. Reddick is a longshot at +2700 to win both his first race of the year and his first Daytona victory.
Brad Keselowski has a +145 payout for finishing top 5 in the Coke Zero Sugar 400. With his past success at Daytona and his recent form, Keselowski and Buescher are certainly ones to watch as the race approaches.
