Fast Forward ~ The COKE ZERO 400 At Daytona Fantasy Race Picks And Preview
“The future is like a corridor into which we can see only by the light coming from behind.”
–Edward Weyer, Jr.
The Track: Daytona
International Speedway
Location: Daytona Beach, Florida
Length: 2.5 Mile tri-oval
Banking: Turn 1-4, 31 degrees
Frontstretch, 18 degrees
Backstretch, 3 degrees
Pit Road Speed: 55 MPH
The Race: Coke
Zero 400
200 Laps, 500 Miles
Defending Champion: Jimmie Johnson, 154.313 MPH
Most recent winner: Dale Earnhardt, Jr., 145.290 MPH
Track Record: Buddy Baker, 177.602 MPH, February, 1980
Race Record: Bobby Allison, 173.473 MPH, July, 1980
Qualifying Record: Bill Elliott, 210.364 MPH, February 1987
2013 Purse: $6,5297,729
TV: Saturday. July 25, 2014 7:30 TNT
Radio: Motor Racing Network (MRN) Sirius XM 90; www.mrn.com
The History:
Nov 25th, 1957- Ground breaking. The fill to build the banking was dug from the infield, in the area now known as Lake Lloyd.
February 20th, 1959- First Sprint Cup Series race was run, a 100 mile qualifying race which was won by Bob Welborn.
July 4th, 1959-Fireball Roberts won the first summer race at Daytona.
July 4th, 1984- Richard Petty wins his 200th career race with President Ronald Reagan in attendance.
February 14, 1988-Bobby Allison becomes the oldest winner at the track at 50 years, 2 months, 11 days.
Spring 1998-Lights were installed.
2010-Track was repaved.
February 20th, 2011- Trevor Bayne becomes the youngest winner at the track at 20 years, 1 day.
The Contenders:
Top 10 Driver Ratings at
Daytona
Kyle
Busch................................. 97.1
Matt Kenseth..............................
92.9
Dale Earnhardt
Jr........................ 92.0
Tony
Stewart............................... 90.0
Jimmie
Johnson.......................... 89.0
Kurt
Busch.................................. 88.9
Jeff Gordon................................
88.0
Denny
Hamlin............................. 85.5
Clint
Bowyer............................... 83.5
Kevin
Harvick.............................. 83.1
Note: Driver Ratings
compiled from 2005-2014 races (19 total) among active
drivers at Daytona International Speedway.
The Picks!
Before we get to this week’s picks, let us recap how we all did last week.
Player |
Selection |
Race Pts |
Previous Pts |
Total Pts |
Behind |
Wins |
DNFs |
|
Mr. Pole |
2 |
48 |
690 |
738 |
48 |
4 |
1 |
|
Mr. Seven |
4 |
37 |
675 |
712 |
22 |
0 |
0 |
|
Mr. Winner |
20 |
40 |
653 |
693 |
3 |
1 |
1 |
|
Vivian |
48 |
34 |
630 |
664 |
-26 |
2 |
2 |
|
Jim Fitzgerald |
48 |
34 |
617 |
651 |
-39 |
0 |
1 |
|
Nate |
20 |
40 |
605 |
645 |
-45 |
0 |
1 |
|
Darrell |
4 |
37 |
603 |
640 |
-50 |
2 |
2 |
|
PattyKay Lilley |
18 |
43 |
596 |
639 |
-51 |
1 |
0 |
|
Brian Marchetti |
20 |
40 |
569 |
609 |
-81 |
0 |
1 |
|
Barbara |
20 |
40 |
562 |
602 |
-88 |
1 |
2 |
|
Alabama Fitz |
18 |
43 |
519 |
562 |
-128 |
1 |
3 |
|
Kevin Abraham |
5 |
36 |
516 |
552 |
-138 |
1 |
3 |
|
If Playoff Started Today |
|
|||||||
Player |
Selection |
Race Pts |
Previous Pts |
Total Pts |
Behind |
Wins |
DNFs |
Chase Pts |
Mr. Pole |
2 |
48 |
690 |
738 |
48 |
4 |
1 |
2012 |
Vivian |
48 |
34 |
630 |
664 |
-26 |
2 |
2 |
2006 |
Darrell |
4 |
37 |
603 |
640 |
-50 |
2 |
2 |
2006 |
Mr. Winner |
20 |
40 |
653 |
693 |
3 |
1 |
1 |
2003 |
PattyKay Lilley |
18 |
43 |
596 |
639 |
-51 |
1 |
0 |
2003 |
Barbara |
20 |
40 |
562 |
602 |
-88 |
1 |
2 |
2003 |
Alabama Fitz |
18 |
43 |
519 |
562 |
-128 |
1 |
3 |
2003 |
Kevin Abraham |
5 |
36 |
516 |
552 |
-138 |
1 |
3 |
2003 |
Mr. Seven |
4 |
37 |
675 |
712 |
22 |
0 |
0 |
2000 |
Jim Fitzgerald |
48 |
34 |
617 |
651 |
-39 |
0 |
1 |
2000 |
Nate |
20 |
40 |
605 |
645 |
-45 |
0 |
1 |
2000 |
Brian Marchetti |
20 |
40 |
569 |
609 |
-81 |
0 |
1 |
2000 |
JIM FITZGERALD: Okay friends...I need a win, soon. When I need something soon, I Fed-Ex it. Denny Hamlin had Daytona owned in February save for the 500. Then he ruled Talladega. I'm asking him to use that One Flat Rate box and send me a win. I'm taking Denny Hamlin to win at Daytona.
KEVIN ABRAHAM: Welcome to the Russian roulette wheel called Daytona. This week I am breaking logic and looking at drivers that their Chase appearance has its last shot of being made here as anyone can win here. The drivers I am looking at are David Ragan, Danica Patrick, Casey Mears, Josh Wise, and David Gilliland. This is their last shot at having a shot of making the Chase this year with win. Only basing my pick on that criteria this week, I am taking David Gilliland to be the next upset winner at Daytona and be the Cinderella story to this Chase.
JIM FITZGERALD: Interesting call Kevin, but I'm not sure a win saves Gilliland's season. He's 31st in points, and while a win will probably elevate him into the top thirty, I'm not so sure that team can stay there. Remember that they have to be in the top thirty for that win to put them in the Chase
KEVIN ABRAHAM: I had my sad month of June to forget I started out decent then had a rash of issues not of my own making to send me back to the basement. Gilliland is a decent plate driver and has multiple top 5s at the plate tracks. I honestly thought of taking Danica but felt that she would end up in the big one with Casey Mears and David Ragan. Josh Wise is a sleeper, but out of the top 30 too far to convert a win to a spot in the Chase. I know Gilliland is not in the top 30 but can feel he could get there if he had the W.
ALABAMA FITZ: Kev: you gotta go with what you feel is right. Frankly, this track, and Talladega scare me to death. It's anybody's race, you are correct and you could pull off the upset, but.....a Cinderella story ? If he wins here, he is going to have to quit messing around with those 20th and 30th place finishes for the rest of the season, but I don't think the glass slipper will fit.
KEVIN ABRAHAM: Due to the race being at Daytona makes it a free for all and all qualifiers can win. Odds are good to see drivers low in points pull a win. Again logic is not always needed here, just a car to make 160 laps and not crash.
BRIAN MARCHETTI: I want to jump on the Hendrick Bandwagon, but I think I need to do my homework first.
ALABAMA FITZ: You're right Kev and that is exactly why it is just about anybody's race. Haven't heard from MamaK yet, and although she may tend to be a bit more conservative, you never know...your second choice of Danica Patrick might just show up!
BRIAN MARCHETTI: What about you?
ALABAMA FITZ: I started Sunday night and I have analyzed this thing to death. I hate this track and 'Dega because of the unpredictability of them. I have probably over analyzed again and will end up 25th or something. Only one driver has 3-peated Daytona, Cale Yarborough in '67-'68, when he sandwiched the '68 Daytona between the '67 Firecracker and the '68 Firecracker. Only four drivers have "swept" Daytona : Cale in '68, Lee Roy Yarbrough in '69, Bobby Allison in '82. and our own Jimmie Johnson, in 2013. Earnhardt could be the the next, and his teammate is none other than the guy who did it last. Will JJ team up with Dale, Jr and help make him the fifth to sweep AND a shot at a 3-peat ...OR.....will JJ take revenge on Dale, Jr. for winning this years 500 thus ruining JJ's shot at only the second 3-peat. The next set of team mates are Busch and Kenseth. Kenseth has not won this year, and because of Busch and the somewhat unpredictability of the Toyota engines on the longer hauls says it may not be here either. Then of course, we have Kurt Busch and Stewart. Kurt has been strong most of the year and has a win, while Stewart shows flashes, but...I don't think I see either one of them as "team" players. I actually see Kyle more of a team player than Kurt and he could just help Matt break that winless streak, if their engines hold up. Final analysis: Jimmie Johnson goes for it with Earnhardt and possibly Gordon in hot pursuit.
BRIAN MARCHETTI: Well, I think I have to agree with damn near everyone, that Earnhardt is the driver to beat. But that doesn't make me pick him for the win. The only shot I have at gaining any points on this group is to luck out with a different pick than anybody else, and score a win. My thoughts are still pretty consistent with the last few weeks, in that Kenseth needs a win, and he won't quit until he gets one. Sure, the new format shows him with a solid seat in the Chase, but that doesn't keep a core driver like Matt from pushing to the front. I'm going to ride with the 20 again this week, say a prayer for his engine, and hope all of the Hendrick cars get caught up in the Big One.
ALABAMA FITZ: You may be right Brian...but he'll have to team up with Kyle Busch. Matt helped Mark Martin win a race once by blocking for him then not running full speed to catch him. Maybe he'll get a little good help.
BRIAN MARCHETTI: Kyle is the #1 Rating driver at this track, which I would not have predicted before looking it up.....Kenseth #2, and Earnhardt #3.
PATTYKAY LILLEY: Who is rating Kyle Busch as #1 at Daytona? No thanks on that one. Why? Because he's Kyle Busch and tends to drive like Kyle Busch. Not good in a pack 3-wide and 12 deep. It is, as we all agree, a crap shoot dependent entirely on who is or is not involved in "The Big One." Common sense says to seek a calm and collected driver... one not likely to make a mistake... but there are none. I'm really torn between two drivers, Brad and Jeff. Both are capable and both are racing extremely well. I just flipped a coin... really! Heads for Jeff, Tails for Brad. Came up tails, so Mama will be riding shotgun in the Blue Deuce Saturday night. That, gentlemen, is how it's done at Daytona. No fuss, no muss and no long study.
BRIAN MARCHETTI: The ratings show Kyle as best over the last 19 races.
ALABAMA FITZ: So, Austin Dillon, who was rated 25th, has been driving since 2008. Is it possible he and Kyle Larson, who was rated dead last, have driven 19 races at Daytona already ?
BRIAN MARCHETTI: What is possible is that your perception of my data source could explain a lot about why I’m near dead last in points! However, I would also argue that not a soul on this planet bet on Trevor Bayne the year he won at Daytona....rookies never get consideration.
PATTYKAY LILLEY: Guys, forget those stats for 19 races. That's the past 10 years, for those that somehow ran out of fingers to count on. Of course the rookies haven't run 19 races. That is the max they are counting. My suggestion... go to racing-reference.info where you can sort and read your own stats. Everything is interactive, and you can see at a glance what a driver has done at any given track. You get to choose how far back you want to go. Last 6 races usually give 3 years’ worth of stats. Plenty to work with. Too much has changed from 10 years ago, and who cares how Rusty Wallace or Jeremy Mayfield were doing? It's not relevant to today. Heck, for a bottle of "good" wine, I'll even teach you how to use the site. It dwarf's MRN by miles, for both accuracy and content. Now, let’s see what our fans have to say!
Barbara: I’m going to go with Dale Earnhardt, Jr. this week!
Nate: Hmmmmm...this is probably a cliché but I'm going with #88 for Daytona. He's touch and go, but his plate track resume' speaks for itself.
Darrell: Gonna go way out on a limb here... Go Denny Hamlin!
Vivian: Several drivers have been performing well all season and choosing just one to win is tough this week. Daytona is a race where anyone can win. However, based on the runs he has had this season, I am picking Dale Earnhardt Jr to win Saturday night.
And there you have it for this week…three for Dale Earnhardt, Jr, two for Denny Hamlin, one for Brad Keselowski, one for Jimmie Johnson, one for Matt Kenseth, and one for David Gilliland. We’ll be back next week to talk about the following race at New Hampshire, and recap our picks from this week, so until then, keep the shiny side up!
Our Picks For This Week!
Kevin AbrahamTotal Wins: 3 This Year: 1
|
Alabama FitzTotal Wins: 2 This Year: 1
|
Jim FitzgeraldTotal Wins: 7 This Year: 0
|
PattyKay LilleyTotal Wins: 5 This Year: 1
|
Brian MarchettiTotal Wins: 3 This Year: 0
|
DarrellTotal Wins: 2 This Year: 2
|
NateTotal Wins: 0 This Year: 0
|
Who is YOUR pick to win this week?
Correctly choose the winner before the green flag drops on Saturday, and you'll be entered into a drawing to win some racing stuff!