Daytona Notebook - Monday Morning Prediction
Odds of Winning the Daytona 500Jimmie Johnson 2 to 1 - The clear favorite picked up right where he left off last season, earning the pole to the Great American Race. He could've won the Budweiser Shootout, but decided to slow up and help his new teammate. It's his race to lose.
Jeff Gordon, Dale Earnhardt Jr. 4 to 1 - Gordon is a three-time winner of the race, and is always a threat to pull it out. It didn't take long for Junior to look comfortable as a member of Team Hendrick. Tony Stewart said after Little E's win that he's the one of the best drivers to ever step foot in a restrictor plate car. So he has to be a favorite. Team Hendrick ruled Car of Tomorrow races last year, so you have to think they are a clear step ahead of everyone else.
Tony Stewart 10 to 1 - Tony has qualified in the top 10 seven of the nine times he's raced th 500. But he has just four top 10 finishes, and zero victories. Stewart's all ready made headlines by allegedly punching Kurt Busch in the face after Busch gave him a few love in practice Friday. Some would argue it's Smoke's temper that keeps him from winning the Super Bowl of NASCAR.
Kevin Harvick 15 to 1 - Harvick hasn't raced particularly well since winning this thing last year. His qualifying times have also been sub-par. But he obviously knows how to win here, and if Sterling Marlin can win two straight, Harvick surely can.
Denny Hamlin, Matt Kenseth 20 to 1 - These two strong drivers have never seen success here. Hamlin has never finished better than 17th at the Daytona International Speedway. Kenseth has just one top 5 in 16 career races at the track. You could say that they're due for a good race, or you could just say they're not very good here.
Michael Waltrip 25 to 1 - Last year was a nightmare here, maybe this year could be dream.
Clint Bowyer, Jeff Burton, Carl Edwards 30 to 1 - These three chasers had terrible runs last weekend. They have shots to win, but need to pull it together by Sunday.
Kurt Busch, Ryan Newman, Patrick Carpentier, Elliott Sadler, Kasey Kahne, JPM 35 to 1 - Dodge seems to be lagging behind with the Cars of Tomorrow. Carpentier is the only one running well in qualifying and practice - and he's a rookie. I'd be shocked if any of these guys won.
Mark Martin 46 to 1 - 45 starts at Daytona. Zero victories. This might be his last go-around (even if we've been saying it for years) so maybe it's finally the one when he gets it.
Kyle Busch 50 to 1 - Busch will be out to prove that he can win outside of Hendrick. He's an aggressive driver anyway, and he'll be even more apt to try to make moves throughout the race. He's much more likely to start a wreck than to win the race.
Dave Blaney, Casey Mears, Greg Biffle, Martin Truex Jr., Bobby Labonte, Joe Nemechek, Jamie McMurray 100 to 1 - A group of longshots that need everything to go right to get a historic victory
Everybody else 5,000 to 1 - No shot.
Posted by on 02/11 at 01:08 PM
