Byron Chases Three-Peat as Longshots Loom Ahead of Daytona 500

William Byron will attempt to become the first driver in recent memory to win three consecutive Daytona 500s when the season's biggest race rolls into the World Center of Racing on Sunday, Feb. 15 (ET). While Byron arrives as the headline name, a handful of longshots and risky strategies mean Victory Lane could belong to an unexpected challenger.

Byron's bid for history

Byron's back-to-back wins have reshaped expectations for superspeedway racing: teammates, rivals and strategists alike will be watching how he and his team manage drafting partners, pit strategy and the chaos that typically defines the 2. 5-mile trioval. A three-peat would be a rare feat and would immediately place Byron among the most dominant drivers at this track in the modern era.

Still, Daytona's history is littered with surprise winners, late-race pass-offs and multi-car incidents that can erase pre-race odds in an instant. The combination of pack racing and intense drafting means victory is rarely a foregone conclusion, even for the favorite.

Dark horses who could spoil the party

Several drivers outside the top betting favorites are drawing attention for reasons that range from raw speed to cold-weather resilience in traffic. Here are the most notable names to watch:

• Chris Buescher — Buescher will have work to do after a crash in one of the qualifying duels forced him into a backup car and a start from the rear of the field. Even so, his track record at Daytona is strong: a career-best third in the 500 in 2020, multiple top-10s at the venue and a win in the summer race. Starting at the back at Daytona can be a curse or an advantage; with patience and the right drafting partners, Buescher can navigate the chaos and finish near the front.
• Riley Briscoe — Briscoe finds himself on the front row for the second straight year and enters the weekend off a breakout season that included multiple wins, numerous top-five finishes and strong qualifying form. Row-one starts at Daytona are valuable — they let a driver avoid early melee and set the tone for the opening laps. Briscoe's speed and momentum make him a logical longshot for Victory Lane.
• Bubba Wallace — Wallace was battling at the front late in his duel before contact sent him spinning. The incident did limited damage, but it relegated him to a midpack start on Sunday. Wallace's past results at Daytona include several late-race runs that ended inside the top five, and he has the experience and aggression to take advantage of late-race restarts.
• Rajah Zilisch — The rookie scored a spot in the Daytona 500 field through the duels and will make his debut in the sport's biggest race. Zilisch led laps in the qualifying events and has a proven winning touch in the lower series. Rookies at Daytona have surprised before; if his equipment holds and he avoids the big one, a solid top-20 or better is possible and, depending on how the race unfolds, an upset finish is not out of the question.

What to expect on race day

Expect the unexpected. The Daytona 500 typically features long green-flag runs punctuated by multi-car pileups, opportunistic drafting alliances, and strategic gambles on pit road. Teams will be balancing the need to maintain track position with the reality that working through the field can pay dividends as the race reaches its closing laps.

For viewers and bettors alike, the daytona 500 presents a high-variance proposition: favorites bring speed and consistency, but the track’s unique dynamics reward timing, patience and a willingness to roll the dice. When the checkered flag falls on Sunday, it may well be a name outside the top odds list hoisting the trophy.