Pre-Race Predictions: Daytona 500

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    This years' Daytona 500 is going to be another crazy, wreck filled race, just like years prior. This leaves me to wonder, who will we see take a win at the "Great American Race"?

Drivers for the win:

• Denny Hamlin [No. 11 Toyota / Joe Gibbs Racing] - There is no reason why Hamlin cannot win 3 Daytona 500's in-a-row, that is, unless he gets taken out in a wreck.
• Aric Almirola [No. 10 Ford / Stewart Haas Racing] - After winning Duel 1, he could be a factor in this years' Daytona 500. As long as he can keep his car out of the wall on the last lap, he should be able to win.
• Ryan Blaney [No. 12 Ford / Team Penske] - A Daytona duel winner, but was short of winning the Busch Clash when Chase Elliott unintentionally spun him into the wall. After a second place finish in the 2020 Daytona 500, he will be a big factor this year.
• Kyle Busch [No. 18 Toyota / Joe Gibbs Racing] - The "Candy Man" has never won a Daytona 500. But after a sneaky win in the Busch Clash, and his past success at Daytona, he could be another driver in contention for the win. 
• Austin Dillon [No. 3 Chevrolet / Richard Childress Racing] - Dillon has had success at Daytona, his second career cup win was the 2018 Daytona 500, and most recently, the 2021 Duel 2. So there is no reason why he couldn't be a factor on Sunday.   

Drivers for a good finish, (or possibly win):

• Ricky Stenhouse, Jr. [No. 47 Chevrolet / JTG Daugherty Racing]
• David Ragan [No. 36 Ford / Front Row Motorsports]
• Erik Jones [No. 43 Chevrolet / Richard Petty Motorsports]
• Kevin Harvick [No. 4 Ford / Stewart-Haas Racing]
• Jamie McMurray [No. 77 Chevrolet / Spire Motorsports]
• Ryan Newman [No. 6 Ford / Roush-Fenway Racing]

The Daytona 500 is a hard race to predict who will win, and yes, these drivers very well could wind up in victory lane, though the winner may be someone I have completely overlooked! I can’t wait to see!