Brilliant – These NASCAR drivers have the best shot to win the Daytona Road Course
Chase Elliott
This one’s a no-brainer for the Daytona Road Course. Chase Elliott has steadily grown to be one of the best road course drivers in the NASCAR Cup Series, and he’s comfortable at this track no matter how it’s set up. The reigning NASCAR champ came in second at the 500 last Sunday, and he’s likely going to kick it up a spot for the win this week.
Wins at the Daytona Road Course: 1
Top 5 finishes: 1
Top 10 finishes: 1
Denny Hamlin
Denny Hamlin’s road track skills have really grown in recent years. Finishing second in this race last year, he’s likely to have another great run at the Daytona Road Course. He came in sixth at last week’s Busch Clash on this same set-up and fifth at the Daytona 500. Though he missed making history with a win last week, a first-place finish on Sunday would surely provide satisfaction by securing his place in the playoffs early in the season.
Wins at the Daytona Road Course: 0
Top 5 finishes: 1
Top 10 finishes: 1
Martin Truex Jr.
Martin Truex Jr. ended up with a DNF at the Busch Clash last week, but think twice before counting him out on Sunday. With a third-place finish last year at the Daytona Road Course, and an impressive display of past road course wins, Truex is capable of taking this season by the horns and charging full speed ahead. Though he has a mediocre starting position, that’s nothing to deter this future Hall of Fame driver.
Wins at the Daytona Road Course: 0
Top 5 finishes: 1
Top 10 finishes: 1
Bold – These are my NASCAR sleeper picks for the Daytona Road Course
Michael McDowell
You may assume that I’m banking on Michael McDowell to have a good finish at the Daytona Road Course simply because he won the 500 last week. And yes, that’s partially true. But, since this course has only been run once on the circuit, I have only last year’s results to go by when it comes to judging. With a 10th place finish and a hot streak in the making, there’s no doubt that the 34 has just as good a chance as any to hit victory lane again this weekend. He’s a 2016 Road America winner for the Xfinity Series and he has a great starting position on Sunday. If he can hold it, he’ll be in a prime spot to take the lead in the final laps.
Wins at the Daytona Road Course: 0
Top 5 finishes: 0
Top 10 finishes: 1
William Byron
As the 2020 NASCAR Cup season ended, William Byron seemed to finally come into his own. He got his first Cup Series win at this very track, albeit not a road course set up at the time. That win put him into the playoffs for the second year in a row and bolstered his confidence. The No. 24 nabbed a top-ten finish at the Daytona Road Course last year and a fifth-place finish at the Busch Clash last week, giving him a good shot at taking things further this time around.
Wins at the Daytona Road Course: 0
Top 5 finishes: 0
Top 10 finishes: 1
Ryan Blaney
Ryan Blaney was kicking some butt at the Busch Clash until an unfortunate incident with his off-track buddy, Chase Elliot. His 13th place finish would have been digits lower had he continued his predestined path. This makes me curious about the No. 12’s ability to actually pull off a win this weekend. He’s a true sleeper pick, because I think he’s going to have a great finish with at least a stage or two when all is said and done.
Wins at the Daytona Road Course: 0
Top 5 finishes: 0
Top 10 finishes: 0
Bonkers – Stay away from these NASCAR drivers in your fantasy lineup for the Daytona Road Course this week
Ryan Newman
The Cinderella story never materialized for the Daytona 500 and Ryan Newman. And I doubt it’s gonna be written at the road course. He didn’t have a good finish at the last race here in 2020, his 14th place finish at the Busch Clash was unimpressive, and he doesn’t have a positive road record. Keep the No. 6 out of your NASCAR fantasy lineup this weekend.
Wins at the Daytona Road Course: 0
Top 5 finishes: 0
Top 10 finishes: 0
Aric Almirola
Aric Almirola’s luck has been pretty poor at the Daytona Road Course, from last year’s run to the Busch Clash. I don’t anticipate that he’ll have any luck this week, either. And besides, Almirola isn’t the best road course driver out there. His best runs have been at Sonoma where he finished just inside the top-10 twice. Best to pick him for a track he’s known to rule—like Talladega.
Wins at the Daytona Road Course: 0
Top 5 finishes: 0
Top 10 finishes: 0
Cole Custer
Cole Custer came out wheels a-blazin’ in 2020 and I highly anticipate more of the same for 2021. Just not at this road course. He has a lotta drivers to hold off on a track he’s not proven at yet, so just go with a different young gun if you’re daring to be different.
Wins at the Daytona Road Course: 0
Top 5 finishes: 0
Top 10 finishes: 0
