DAYTONA 500 Predictions

Here they are. My predictions for the top ten for the 51st running of the Great American Race.

1. Jeff Gordon - I think this is his year and he's already proved he has a strong car.
2. Kevin Harvick - He's really grown to be a great super-speedway racer. I think he could certainly be a threat to win the 500 again.
3. Mark Martin - More Hendrick power here. I think he'll be in the lead often, but I don't know if he can actually tie this one down.
4. Clint Bowyer - The Kansas native seems to have learned quickly from his teammates and after the Nationwide race should really prove to be a threat.
5. Dale Earnhardt, JR - You can't ever count out this guy on a Super-Speedway, especially boasting Hendrick horsepower.
6. Jamie McMurray - He's won here under the lights and although he may be an underdog, I expect him to be strong if he can stay out of trouble.
7. David Ragan - With all the improvement he showed last season, he very well may start this season off strong.
8. Kyle Busch - He's daring and doesn't mind putting his car in places others won't go. Problem is this is a double-edged sword at Daytona.
9. Tony Stewart will have to fight from the back after moving to a back-up, regardless, the man knows the way around The World Center of Racing.
10. Carl Edwards - Roush-Fenway has been OK on Super-Speedways as of late, if not Edwards then Biffle.

Dark Horses:

• Casey Mears - The 07 team knows what to do. Mears has plenty of experience but no results to show for it. Assuming he can dodge the mis-haps look for him to challenge for a top-5 position.
• Jeff Burton - Although he may not be aggressive enough to really dominate a race like this, the skillful veteran could definitely be left standing at the end to challenge for a win
• Bill Elliott - Great car, great experience. Sounds like the possibility of a win to me.
• Michael Waltrip - This is someone who knows this Florida speedway very well. Toyota has the horsepower, but Waltrip may or may not have the talent left in him.
• Brian Vickers - his lone Cup win came at Talladega, He's matured as a driver since then and with Team Red Bull his chances this season of being in contention for many races are quite high.

Those are my picks - take 'em or leave 'em. I hope to have a podcast of these types of things up and running by the All Star race. Thanks for reading. Come back Tuesday for a review of the 2009 Daytona 500.
- DT