NASCAR is opening the 2020 season in style at the always-thrilling, always chilling Daytona 500 at the Daytona International Speedway. If you watched the Busch Clash, you had a front-row seat to some crazy maneuvers and accidents that even the announcers were surprised to see. Could that be a precursor to things to come on Sunday? The NASCAR driver who ends up in Victory Lane will be the one who can escape with the least amount of damage. There’s never a dull moment at the Daytona 500, so start your engines and prepare for an entertaining show.
Ready for this week’s NASCAR expert picks?
Here’s my NASCAR fantasy advice guiding you to the Brilliant, Bold, and Bonkers drivers for this week’s race: The Daytona 500.
Brilliant picks
These NASCAR drivers have the best shot at winning at the Daytona 500
Denny Hamlin
Wins at Daytona: 2
Top 5 finishes: 8
Top 10 finishes: 9
Denny Hamlin is one of the better NASCAR drivers at Daytona. He has two wins under his belted fire suit and a lot of passion to succeed in the 500. He’s not starting in the front, but he’s happier when he starts in the rear and works his way up to surprise everyone. Slow and steady wins the race, after all, and if Denny can stay away from the craziness, he’s bound to end up in victory lane.
Ricky Stenhouse Jr.
Wins at Daytona: 1
Top 5 finishes: 2
Top 10 finishes: 3
Not many drivers do Daytona like Ricky Stenhouse Jr. He’s on the pole this week, and he had a fantastic run in the Bluegreen Vacations Duel #1. Sure it’s been a few years since he took the top spot at the 500, but with his new team at JTG Daugherty Racing behind him, he has a renewed spring in his step and, likely, in his foot. Don’t be surprised to see the No. 47 burn it down on Sunday.
Joey Logano
Wins at Daytona: 1
Top 5 finishes: 6
Top 10 finishes: 9
Joey Logano has never let me down at the Daytona 500. From my personal NASCAR fantasy lineup to my expert picks, he’s come through when I expected him to do so. Unless he gets wiped out in one of the famous Daytona 500 accidents, he’s reliable for a great finish. He looks good this week after winning his duel, and I fully expect that he’ll cap off this weekend in grand fashion.
Bold picks
These are my NASCAR sleeper picks
Erik Jones
Wins at Daytona: 1
Top 5 finishes: 2
Top 10 finishes: 3
Erik Jones kicked off the 2020 Monster Energy Cup Series season by winning the Busch Clash last Sunday. He’s looked great all week and he has a pretty nice starting position at the 500. The question is: Can Jones and his spotter steer clear of the wild events that are likely to unfold before his eyes? As long as that answer is ‘yes,’ expect to see the No. 20 team prayin’ and celebrating with Coach Gibbs post-race.
Ryan Newman
Wins at Daytona: 1
Top 5 finishes: 6
Top 10 finishes: 11
Ryan Newman has a way of slipping out of the wrecks that plague these Superspeedways. This makes him the boldest of my NASCAR sleeper picks for the Daytona 500. When half the field is heading to the garage, the No. 6 quietly forges ahead, often finishing near the top. He held his own in the Bluegreen Vacations duel all the way to the end, an impressive feat to be sure. Look for Ryan Newman to have a steady race on Sunday with a solid win possibility.
Matt DiBenedetto
Wins at Daytona: 0
Top 5 finishes: 0
Top 10 finishes: 3
What can you say about Matty D? Last season was up and down for the No. 21 NASCAR driver, with some oh-so-close weeks. This year, I fully expect his new crew at Wood Brothers Racing to rally behind him and give him the speed he needs to become a threat. His ‘partnership’ with Harvick at the dual on Thursday made me a firm believer in his ability to be one of the hottest NASCAR sleeper picks out there for Sunday.
Bonkers picks
Stay away from these NASCAR drivers in your fantasy lineup this week
Martin Truex Jr.
Wins at Daytona: 0
Top 5 finishes: 2
Top 10 finishes: 2
Martin Truex Jr. is facing a new era without his longtime Crew Chief Cole Pearn. Having said that, we all know that this guy is one hell of a NASCAR driver, and I doubt that this change will take much out of the No. 19. This track has never been kind to Truex, and I don’t imagine it will be welcoming on Sunday. My NASCAR fantasy advice? Put him on the shelf for the Daytona 500..
Chase Elliott
Wins at Daytona: 0
Top 5 finishes: 0
Top 10 finishes: 0
Despite two starts from the pole and a host of great starting positions, Chase Elliott has one of the worst averages in NASCAR at this track. He was pretty aggressive during the duels this past week, but I have a sneaking suspicion that he’s going to end up either into the wall or into someone else before all is said and done. Hold off on the No. 9 this weekend.
Kyle Larson
Wins at Daytona: 0
Top 5 finishes: 0
Top 10 finishes: 3
Kyle Larson has an uncanny knack of getting tangled up in whatever mess occurs during a NASCAR race. In 12 races, he’s been in five accidents at Daytona Superspeedway, and his numbers here pretty much show it. 2016 was a good year for the no. 42 with two top-10 finishes, but it’s been all downhill from there. I think that Larson is going to have a bounce-back year for 2020, but keep him out of your winning NASCAR fantasy lineup for a little bit longer.
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