The Real Heroes 400 promises plenty of excitement for NASCAR fans everywhere after a nine-week hiatus due to the coronavirus pandemic. Last year, Erik Jones claimed the NASCAR at Darlington checkered flag, fending off Kyle Larson, Kyle Busch, Kevin Harvick and Brad Keselowski. Now, Jones will look to defend his title at Sunday's 2020 Darlington 400, which gets underway at 3:30 p.m. ET from Darlington Raceway.

Jones enters Sunday's Darlington NASCAR race as a 14-1 long shot in the latest 2020 NASCAR at Darlington odds. Meanwhile, Busch (5-1), Harvick (13-2), Denny Hamlin (13-2), Martin Truex Jr. (15-2), Keselowski (8-1) and Joey Logano (8-1) are all near the top of The Real Heroes 400 odds. Before finalizing any NASCAR at Darlington picks for Sunday's race, be sure to see the latest Real Heroes 400 predictions and projected leaderboard from the proven computer model at SportsLine. 

Developed by daily Fantasy pro and SportsLine predictive data engineer Mike McClure, this proprietary NASCAR prediction model simulates every race 10,000 times, taking into account factors such as track history and recent results.

The model began its season paying out big by picking Denny Hamlin to win his second consecutive Daytona 500 at 10-1. It also crushed its NASCAR picks last year, hitting nine of the top 10 drivers at the Go Bowling at The Glen and calling Martin Truex Jr. to win the Toyota/Save Mart 350 at Sonoma. Anybody who has followed it has seen huge returns.

Now, his model simulated the NASCAR at Darlington 2020 race on Sunday, May 17, 10,000 times. Head here now to see the complete projected leaderboard.

Top NASCAR at Darlington predictions 

For Sunday, the model is high on Kurt Busch, a 22-1 long shot in the latest Darlington NASCAR odds. He's a target for anyone looking for a huge payday. Busch is getting sizable value at a racetrack he's had plenty of success at recently. In fact, Busch has finished in the top 10 in four of his last five starts at Darlington Raceway. The 41-year-old, who led 94 laps at this track in 2019, will be eager to win his first race at this track. He has the potential to deliver a massive payout with 22-1 odds and an unquestionably fast car.

And a massive shocker: Chase Elliott, one of the Vegas favorites at 10-1, barely cracks the top 10. Elliott claimed fifth at Darlington in 2018, but hasn't finished better than 10th in his other four career races at the track. That includes a disappointing 19th-place performance in 2019. He's also led just nine total laps in his five Darlington events.

With just one top-five performance in 2020 before the hiatus and his history of struggling at Darlington, there are far better values in the NASCAR at Darlington lineup than Elliott. 

How to make NASCAR at Darlington picks

The model also is targeting two other drivers with NASCAR at Darlington odds of 14-1 or longer to make a serious run at winning it all. Anyone who backs these drivers could hit it big.

So who wins the NASCAR at Darlington 2020 race on May 17? And which long shots stun NASCAR? Check out the latest odds below and then visit SportsLine now to see the full projected 2020 NASCAR at Darlington leaderboard, all from the model that crushed its NASCAR picks last season and just nailed the Daytona 500. 

2020 NASCAR at Darlington odds (via William Hill)

Kyle Busch 5-1
Kevin Harvick 13-2
Denny Hamlin 13-2
Martin Truex Jr. 15-2
Brad Keselowski 8-1
Joey Logano 8-1
Chase Elliott 10-1
Alex Bowman 14-1
Erik Jones 14-1
Kurt Busch 22-1
Jimmie Johnson 28-1
William Byron 28-1
Ryan Blaney 28-1
Matt Kenseth 28-1
Aric Almirola 50-1
Matt DiBenedetto 50-1
Clint Bowyer 50-1
Ricky Stenhouse Jr. 100-1
Tyler Reddick 100-1
Christopher Bell 100-1
Cole Custer 100-1
Ryan Newman 125-1
Austin Dillon 150-1
John Hunter Nemechek 200-1
Bubba Wallace 300-1
Ty Dillon 500-1
Daniel Suarez 500-1
Ryan Preece 500-1
Brannan Poole 750-1
JJ Yeley 1000-1
Coey Lajoie 1000-1
Joey Gase 1500-1
Garrett Smithley 1500-1
Quin Houff 2000-1
Reed Sorenson 2000-1
Timmy Hill 2000-1