NASCAR Picks for Daytona 500
David Ragan, #34 CSX Transportation/Peanut Patch, Front Row Motorsports [Yahoo Class C]
His lone win at the Cup level came at Daytona in July of 2011, and Ragan showed he can still be a factor at the plate tracks even with Front Row Motorsports. He picked up a pair of top-10s at Talladega last season, including a fourth-place run in the fall. Ragan has had a decent feel for the draft since joining the Cup Series, and he is definitely one of the top sleepers.
Austin Dillon, #51 Tissot Watches, Phoenix Racing
Dillon ran a strong third in his Budweiser Duel to lock himself into the Daytona 500 field and put himself on the list of potential sleepers. After all, he finished in the top five in both his Nationwide starts at the track last year. More importantly, he is driving for a Richard Childress Racing team that has been stout at the plate tracks. In fact, all three of his RCR teammates finished in the top 10 during their Budweiser Duel races, as well.
Regan Smith, #51 Guy Roofing, Phoenix Racing
He will be behind the wheel of the Phoenix Racing No. 51 in the opener, and Smith has had some success at Daytona. In 2011, he finished seventh in the Daytona 500 and posted the best driver rating of the race. Of course, that run came while he was driving for Furniture Row Racing and it remains to be seen if he can duplicate those numbers while driving for an underfunded Phoenix Racing team.
Michael Waltrip, #55 Aaron's Dream Machine, Michael Waltrip Racing [Yahoo Class C]
Although he only runs a handful of races a year, Waltrip is still a potential sleeper option at Daytona. After all, he is a three-time winner at Daytona, and he finished ninth at the track just last fall. In Yahoo! leagues, he could deliver a surprise top-15 while saving a start from one of the full-time drivers in the C-List group.
Marcos Ambrose, #9 Stanley/Dewalt Power Tools, Richard Petty Motorsports [Yahoo Class B]
He has had all kinds of issues at Daytona recently. Ambrose has finished outside the top 10 in his last six starts at the track, and he has finished 30th or worse four times during the stretch. At this point, staying out of trouble would be a victory.
Trevor Bayne, #21 Motorcraft/Quick Lane, Wood Brothers Racing [Yahoo Class C]
Bayne stole the show in his Daytona 500 debut, winning the race in just his second-career Cup start. However, he has finished outside the top 25 in his three starts since the win, posting a dismal 34.3 average finish during the stretch.
Yahoo Racing Cheat Sheet
Class A Drivers
Class B Drivers
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Brian Polking -
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Cincinnati, OH
FFToolbox Fantasy NASCAR Writer since 2011
I grew up in a racing family, and I spent my childhood at dirt tracks throughout Ohio and Kentucky. NASCAR became a passion of mine at an early age as well, and I have been following the sport ever since I can remember. While I earned my degree in journalism at Ohio State University, I began writing about NASCAR for several Web sites in 2005. I became head editor of the NASCAR section for Fanball.com and FantasyCup.com in 2008 and was a finalist for the Fantasy Sports Writer's Association NASCAR Writer of the Year in 2009. My knowledge of NASCAR stems from my lifelong love of the sport, and I believe that passion shows through in every article I write.
