With NASCAR’s 71st season starting with the 66th running of the Daytona 500 on Sunday and Ohio sportsbooks preparing for the big race, BetOhio.com utilized Google Trends by searching “NASCAR” over the past 12 months (Feb. 7, 2023 to Feb. 7, 2024) to find the most searched NASCAR driver in search volume in that state.
Any full-time or part-time NASCAR Cup Series driver was included. Here are the favorites:
NASCAR Drivers With Most States
With a BetMGM Ohio bonus code you can get +525 odds on Kyle Larson to win the NASCAR season championship. William Byron is second on the odds list at +625.
Busch is Tops in Buckeye State
Two-time NASCAR Cup Series champion Kyle Busch tops the Buckeye State's list for most searched driver and finished third among drivers for the most states with seven. Only Chase Elliott and Kyle Larson have more searches in more states with eight apiece.
The Las Vegas native enters “The Great American Race” on Sunday winless in 18 starts. His best finishes: 2nd (2019), 3rd (2016), 4th (2008). You can use a Fanatics Sportsbook Ohio promo to wager on the race.
Busch certainly has had his chances as he ranks second among active drivers on laps led at the Daytona 500 with 330, 150 behind Denny Hamlin at 480, but with a heavy lead over Brad Keselowski (177) who rounds out the top three.
Last year, Busch led the race with three laps remaining in regulation, but Rickey Stenhouse, Jr. won it in two overtimes. Why? Stenhouse was the beneficiary after a late crash that featured Daniel Suarez and numerous other drivers that brought out caution flags and sent it to the extra period. Busch, running the No. 8 Chevrolet for his new Richard Childress Racing team, ended up also crashing in the second overtime, costing him yet another shot at glory and ended up finishing in 19th place.
Earlier this month, Busch had a nice start to his 2024 campaign finishing second in the Busch Light Clash exhibition race at the Los Angeles Coliseum. The winner: Hamlin.
ESPN BET Daytona 500 Odds
An early check at ESPN Bet Ohio on Monday has Busch tied with Keselowski for third favorite at +1200. Hamlin and Ryan Blaney are tied for the favorite at +1100. Busch is also the second favorite (+310) to have a top 3 finish, with Hamlin the favorite at +260. Busch is tied for the second favorite (+150) with Blaney to have a top five finish, with Hamlin yet again the favorite at +120.
