Bluegreen Vacations Duels 2020 Race 1 - Predictions, Odds, Favorites to Win

The first row for the 2020 Daytona 500 has already been defined.

The rest of the field now turn their attention to the Bluegreen Vacation Duels, the two heat races that will set the rest of the starting order.

Odd-placed cars, including pole-winner Ricky Stenhouse Jr., will line up for race 1.

How to Watch

What: Bluegreen Vacations Duels Race 1

When: Thursday, February 13th at 7 PM ET

Where: Daytona Superspeedway in Daytona Beach, FL

Favorites to Win the 2020 Bluegreen Vacations Duels Race 1

1. Chase Elliott

For the first time since 2014, a Hendrick Motorsports driver won’t start the 500 from the pole.

The Chevrolet powerhouse still placed an impressive three cars in the top 4.

Elliott is the only driver from the team set for race 1, having scored a solid third in qualifying.

A two-time Daytona 500 pole winner, #9 has a very good shot at winning the first heat race of the week.

Elliott remains the only driver since 1996 to win the 500 pole and a duel in the same year.

While he won’t be able to repeat this feat, the Hendrick Motorsports leading driver remains among the contenders for race 1.

He had a good showing at the Busch Clash and remained among the contenders before crashing out from the lead.

Elliott won his first superspeedway race last year at Talladega and considering Chevrolet’s success on the high-speed tracks, could add another one at Daytona.

2. Denny Hamlin

The defending Daytona 500 champion closed out the top 5 in qualifying.

Hamlin is a three-time Duels winner, his most recent success coming in 2017.

The two-time Daytona 500 winner has enjoyed plenty of success at the big race.

He has five top 5 finishes in the last six editions, the best average among active drivers by a significant margin.

Hamlin is carrying plenty of momentum heading into the 2020 season.

Coming off his first-ever winless season, he brushed off the retirement rumors with a career year in 2019.

Hamlin won six races and advanced to the Championship 4 for the second time, although an overheating engine cost him a shot at the title.

The veteran finished second at the Busch Clash with a damaged car, pushing teammate Erik Jones for the win.

With a great record at the 500 and back to his good days, Hamlin is a very good pick for race 1.

Two is always better than one!

Tonight, we’ll set the lineup for The Great American Race with the #BluegreenDuel at @DISupdates! pic.twitter.com/0goNDw5P71

— NASCAR (@NASCAR) February 13, 2020

3. Joey Logano

Logano also has a very good record at the 500 sine joining Team Penske in 2013.

He won the race in 2015 and finished sixth or higher in the last four editions of the season opener.

The 2018 champion has a very good record at superspeedways races as well.

Logano has three wins and six top 5 finishes in his last six starts at Talladega.

His record at the Duels is also worth mentioning.

The Team Penske driver won the second heat race last year and finished four of the last five inside the top 3.

Logano crashed from the lead during last weekend’s Busch Clash but still rejoined the race before getting involved in another accident.

He will start the first heat race from sixth after scoring the 11th fastest time in qualifying.

2020 Bluegreen Vacations Duels Race 1 Odds

The odds for Bluegreen Vacations Duel 1 are provided by DraftKings Sportsbook.

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