Who’s the favorite? According to Vegas Insider, in odds released on Friday, defending Sprint Cup champion and pole sitter Jimmie Johnson is a 4-1 favorite to win the 50th Daytona 500. That’s actually a drop for Johnson, who was a 3-1 favorite when the odds were released on Dec. 20.

Defending race champion Kevin Harvick (whose 2007 race-winning No. 29 car is shown sitting Sunday morning in front of a stage on the infield) is listed at 15-1, an improvement from his Dec. 20 odds of 18-1. Among the other favorites are three-time race winner Jeff Gordon (5-1), Dale Earnhardt Jr. (7-1, up from 12-1 on Dec. 20), Tony Stewart (10-1), Matt Kenseth (12-1), Martin Truex Jr. (12-1), Kurt Busch (15-1), Greg Biffle (18-1), Clint Bowyer (22-1), Carl Edwards (25-1) and Denny Hamlin (25-1).

Michael Waltrip, who’ll start on the front row outside of Johnson, was not even given his own set of odds back in December. Friday, he was listed at 75-1. MWR teammate David Reutimann of Zephyrhhills was 75-1 in December and was 50-1 on Friday.

Here’s one to keep an eye on: Hendrick driver Casey Mears. His more glamorous teammates are who they are and they’ve been fast this week, so naturally they’ve gotten the publicity. But at 35-1, Mears is a pretty good bet to make some noise today.

By the way, the surprise choice of Tampa Tribune motorsports writer Tony Fabrizio, Dave Blaney, is listed at 40-1.