Race officials at the Daytona International Speedway waited more than four hours before postponing yesterday's start of the 54th annual Daytona 500 on account of rain for the first time in NASCAR history. So instead, the 2.5-mile tri-oval track will go under the lights once again tonight when the season is scheduled to open on Monday at 7:00pm EST which can be seen live on FOX. Early racing lines had listed Kevin Havick as an 8/1 favorite but just a few hours away from hearing "gentleman and ladies, start your engines," reigning NASCAR Sprint Cup champion Tony Stewart has swayed bookmakers in Vegas and offshore as Daytona 500 updated odds now have "smoke" predicted to win the race by the beach. Stewart is the NASCAR betting favorite at 7/1 followed by Dale Earnhardt Jr. at 8/1, Carl Edwards and Kyle Busch at 10/1, Harvick now at 11/1 with Jeff Gordon and Jimmie Johnson at 13/1.

It's that time of the year again when gasoline fills the air and the women fill the saloon in Daytona Beach, Florida as the first NASCAR racing events of the season get ready for their final preparations. The 2.5-mile, tri-oval International Speedway will open its doors to the public on February 18th for the Budweiser Shootout at 8:00pm EST on FOX which will be followed by the Gatorade Duals on February 23rd at 1:00pm EST on the Speed Channel. Then the grand daddy of them all will take place on February 26th as 2012 Daytona 500 odds will take center stage when the checkered flag drops at 12:00pm EST which can be seen live on FOX. NASCAR betting in Vegas favors Kevin Harvick at 8/1 to win the first race of the year with Kyle Busch, Tony Stewart, Jimmie Johnson and Dale Earnhardt Jr all listed as second choices at 10/1.