Betting Preview: 2019 Advance Auto Parts Clash at Daytona

Just about every driver has a chance to win Sunday's Clash.

Sunday's Advance Auto Parts Clash at Daytona International Speedway is a 75-lap shootout between 20 of the best drivers in NASCAR. And while it's a non-points race and the 2019 NASCAR Cup Series officially begins Feb. 17 with the Daytona 500, the Clash is the green light for everyone that NASCAR is back.

So let's get this 2019 NASCAR party started!

The participating drivers became eligible by either winning a pole last season, a Daytona 500 pole, a former Daytona 500 champion or participate in last season's playoffs. That's a total of 20 drivers, the best of the best. No jalopies to get in the way, either.

“The Clash is a great event and always an exciting way to kick off the season," said Ryan Newman who makes his debut Sunday for Roush Fenway Racing driving the No. 6 Ford. "It is a limited, All-Star field, with a winner take all mentality and it usually leads to some thrilling racing. It would be a great opportunity to kick off the season with a win and get momentum rolling heading into the Daytona 500.”

The Westgate Las Vegas SuperBook posted three Fords drivers -- Kevin Harvick, Joey Logano and Brad Keselowski -- as the co-favorites at 7-to-1 odds (Bet $100 to win $700).

Ford has won five of the past nine points races at Daytona's 2.5-mile high-banked layout and Keselowski won the Clash last season and the year before it was Logano. Ford has also won the past seven races at Talladega Superspeedway, the other track requiring restrictor-plates.

There's not much changed on the plate cars we'll be watching the next two weeks from last season which certainly has Ford deserving to be the favorite. The Ford body has changed from the Fusion to the new Mustang GT body. Ford says the aerodynamics aren't much different and might even be better, but can it really be just as good as the Fusion? Those Fords were elite and now they're not the same cars. I'm skeptical of change.

And the huge change will be in two weeks at Atlanta Motor Speedway when the new rules package goes into effect. NASCAR tested the new package at Las Vegas Motor Speedway last week and the cars were slower than Xfinity cars. Horsepower dropped from 750 to 550 and drivers kept the pedal mashed to the floor all the way around the 1.5-mile layout, which is unheard of. NASCAR wants drivers in packs and close, but passing appeared difficult at the test as well.

“I think this year with there being so many different changes within the cars themselves, it’s going to be pretty much a reset for everyone,” said Denny Hamlin. “That allows us to get back to square one. I’m working with a new crew chief (Chris Gabehart) who are coming from the Xfinity side, so he’s got more of a clean slate to kind of work from now."

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