Starting order. We don’t need a stinking starting order.

Odds are out for the Daytona 500. Even though we have no clue who is starting in spots 3-43, there are some trends developing for the race and the 2010 season.

Oh, wait. This information is for the sake of entertainment. So don’t use my advice; go purse shopping the day of the race and buy your mommy a nice Valentine’s Day card.

That’s bleeping teamwork

My favorite Tenacious D song applies to Sunday’s race. If you bet $10 (remember we’re imagining for the sake of entertainment) on each Hendrick driver, and a Hendrick driver won, the least you would make is about $65. That’s $25 profit for you to spend on a Dale Jr. moonshine dispenser.  If Jimmie Johnson won the race (why he’s 14/1 is beyond me) you could tackle a chunk of your holiday shopping.

Roush Fenway Racing is in a similar spot. Bet $10 on Carl Edwards, Greg Biffle and defending race champion Matt Kenseth (28/1, really) and the worst you would do is make about $90. Note: We know David Ragan is a Roush driver, but would you put money on him? Sorry, ladies.

If you’re confident in a specific team, there’s a chance to have a very good Sunday. And I think you can thank the NASCAR Mafia for that because….

Vegas thinks there’s going to be a big wreck

You saw how the Bud Shootout ended. Add that with the bump-draft or bust vibe, and you can see the odds scrunch together. Last year, Hendrick drivers were as low as 3/1. Poor Sam Hornish Jr. was 150/1. Things are meeting in the middle like we saw at Talladega where a big wreck allowed some Jamie McMurray fan a chance to drink Cristal out of a plastic cup at Wynn. 

Luck might be just as important as skill on Sunday, for the drivers and those making legal wagers in the state of Nevada.

Big names, bigger odds

Chevy drivers are 10 of the top 15 favorites. (Viva la bailout). Names like Biffle, Kenseth, Truex and Logano are all 25/1 or greater. Heck, Denny Hamlin is 18/1, and people think he’s got a shot to take home the title.

Then there’s Bill Elliott. He finished fifth in qualifying, knows the track like the back of his hand and is 100/1. The Saints just won the Super Bowl. A woman won on the men’s bowling tour. Why can’t a Wood brother dream?

Here are the odds as of Wednesday morning from a random Internet site. I will be back Friday once we see a starting order to make some last minute modifications. Until then, insert a random catchphrase here.
 
ODDS TO WIN THE 2010 DAYTONA 500:       
 
Name                            Current       
MARK MARTIN         13/2        
KYLE BUSCH             7/1        
JEFF GORDON            8/1        
DALE EARNHARDT JR.         17/2        
KURT BUSCH              9/1        
TONY STEWART         11/1        
CARL EDWARDS         12/1        
JIMMIE JOHNSON       14/1        
JUAN MONTOYA         17/1        
DENNY HAMLIN         18/1        
KASEY KAHNE            20/1        
KEVIN HARVICK         20/1        
RYAN NEWMAN          22/1        
JEFF BURTON               22/1        
CLINT BOWYER           22/1        
BRIAN VICKERS           22/1        
GREG BIFFLE                 25/1        
MATT KENSETH            28/1        
FIELD (ALL OTHERS)    30/1        
JOEY LOGANO               30/1        
MARTIN TRUEX              33/1        
ELLIOTT SADLER            40/1        
JAMIE MCMURRAY        50/1        
DAVID REUTIMANN       50/1        
MARCOS AMBROSE       60/1        
SAM HORNISH JR.           60/1        
PAUL MENARD                 75/1        
DAVID RAGAN                  75/1        
A.J. ALLMENDINGER       100/1        
BILL ELLIOTT                    100/1        
SCOTT SPEED                    100/1