The 2021 NASCAR Cup Series started with a loud bang, with Michael McDowell navigating 500 laps at the Daytona International Speedway and beating the favorites in an exhilarating fashion. With that race behind us all now, Nitrobetting news peeks at some of the drivers to watch out for in next Sunday’s race at Daytona Road Course.  

O’Reilly Auto Parts 253 At Daytona 2021 NASCAR Cup Series Race Preview

When: Sunday, February 21, 2021 | 3:00 PM ET

Where: Daytona Road Course, Daytona Beach, Florida

TV: FOX

Radio: MRN

Live Stream: FOX Sports Online

Odds: O’Reilly Auto Parts 253 At Daytona odds

Watch out for these drivers

Chase Elliott (+225)

Any list about top drivers to watch out for at a road course NASCAR Cup Series event will not be complete without Chase Elliott’s name on it. Elliott had a strong start to the season, finishing runner-up at the 2021 Daytona 500 on Sunday, showing he’s still hot from the title-winning campaign last year when he won two road course races. But his dominance at the track stretches further back. Dating back to August of 2019, Elliott has managed to collect four wins in five road course races.

Kevin Harvick (+1400)

2020 wasn’t too shabby for Harvick. Although he wasn’t able to win it all in the NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs, he did clinch a regular-season championship after picking up nine wins to go with 20 top 5s. In 36 starts a year ago, Harvick placed inside the top 10 a total of 27 times, and it appears that he’s managed to sustain that form at least into the early goings of the current season. Harvick finished fourth at the 2021 Daytona 500.

Kyle Busch (+1200)

Busch figured in the unfortunate crash in the last lap of the 2021 Daytona 500 which led to an improbable win by longshot Michael McDowell. Busch showed class after the event, saying that he was happy to see McDowell win the Great American Race. Expect Busch to strongly contend for the checkered flag this coming Sunday to rebound from that disappointing ending to Daytona 500.

Don’t sleep on them

Erik Jones (+6600)

Jones was kind of a disappointment last season. He ended his 2020 campaign with zero wins to show after winning a race in each of the previous two seasons. But Jones also had nine finishes inside the top 10 and a career average finish on road course tracks of 14.30 across 10 races. That’s better than the averages of Kurt Busch, Joey Logano, and Brad Keselowski on road courses.

Alex Bowman (+2800)

Bowman surely could have used a mulligan at the 2021 Daytona 500. Bowman won the pole position for last Sunday’s race, but that was put to waste when he got involved in a 16-car pileup within just 15 laps of the event. Bowman has raced on road courses 12 times in his career, so far. While he’s yet to win anything on it, he’s come close to snatching the checkered flag at least twice. Bowman had a pair of top-10 finishes in past road course races, having finished second there in 2019 (Bank of America Roval 400) and fourth in 2018 (Bank of America ROVAL 400).

Expert’s Prediction for the O’Reilly Auto Parts 253 At Daytona 2021 NASCAR Cup Series Race

Chase Elliott should attract plenty of action heading into the O’Reilly Auto Parts 253 race this coming weekend, but if there’s one thing people have learned from the 2021 Daytona 500, it’s that even long shots can end up on top at the end of the day.

Where to Bet on NASCAR with Crypto

The NASCAR season is in full gear! Enjoy motorsport action and exclusive rewards and promotions as soon as you sign-up at Nitrobetting.

This is just one of the many sports betting guides that you can read here at Nitrobetting news. Stay tuned for more NASCAR previews and articles, and don’t forget to check out the latest sports betting odds at our crypto sportsbook.