Fast Forward ~ The 2014 Daytona 500 Fantasy Race Picks And Preview
2/20/2014
Race Fans Forever Staff
“The
future is like a corridor into
which we can see only by the light
coming from behind.”
–Edward Weyer, Jr.
It is the Daytona 500, the beginning of our 2014 season! History, prestige, money, points, and a possible spot in the Chase; they are all on the line. Finally racing has returned! So, with apologies to Michael Buffer….
For the thousands in attendance, and the
millions watching around the world…Ladies And Gentlemen….
LET’S GET READY TO RUMBLLLLLEEEEE!!!!!!
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:
200 Laps, 500 Miles
Defending Champion: Jimmie Johnson, 159.250 MPH
Most recent winner: Jimmie Johnson, 154.313 MPH
Track Record: Buddy Baker, 177.602 MPH, February, 1980
Race Record: Buddy Baker, 177.602 MPH, February, 1980
Qualifying Record: Bill Elliott, 210.364 MPH, February 1987
Purse: $19,784,864.00 (Winner: $1,454,600)
TV: Sunday. February 23, 2014 1:00PM Fox
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 Picks!
Before we get to this week’s picks, let us recap how we all did last week.
Denny Hamlin was awarded the pole, and then went on to win the race, so Mr. Pole started out the season with a bang and a win. This week, Mr. Pole will be selecting Austin Dillon, of course, so we’ll have to wait and see how that turns out.
Alabama Fitz was the class of our human contestants, as he selected Brad Keselowksi and came home in second place.
Player |
Selection |
Race Pts |
Previous Pts |
Total Pts |
Behind |
Wins |
DNFs |
Mr. Pole |
11 |
48 |
0 |
48 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
Alabama Fitz |
2 |
43 |
0 |
43 |
5 |
0 |
0 |
Jim Fitzgerald |
18 |
42 |
0 |
42 |
6 |
0 |
0 |
Brian Marchetti |
4 |
40 |
0 |
40 |
8 |
0 |
0 |
PattyKay Lilley |
4 |
40 |
0 |
40 |
8 |
0 |
0 |
Mr. Seven |
9 |
37 |
0 |
37 |
11 |
0 |
0 |
Vivian |
88 |
36 |
0 |
36 |
12 |
0 |
1 |
Darrell |
20 |
34 |
0 |
34 |
14 |
0 |
1 |
Barbara |
24 |
32 |
0 |
32 |
16 |
0 |
1 |
Nate |
41 |
30 |
0 |
30 |
18 |
0 |
1 |
Kevin Abraham |
10 |
28 |
0 |
28 |
20 |
0 |
1 |
Now our Round Table group will make their picks for the Daytona 500…
Kevin Abraham: I guess since I am now last in points after the first race of the season, I get to pick first?
Jim Fitzgerald: You have the floor, kid.
Kevin Abraham: Well, it is Daytona. The track that causes childhood dreams to come true. It is also the track that has caused more than its fair share of heartache to NASCAR teams and fans over the years. Just because the new Golden Child Austin Dillon is sitting on the pole for the Daytona 500 driving the first race back for a legendary No. 3 does not mean that Dillon will pull off the win. There are many drivers capable to pull off the win. Those that come to mind are Earnhardt, Jr. Harvick, Johnson, Jeff Gordon, along with Patrick and anyone that qualifies for this race. I look for trends in NASCAR and the trend I see are fairy tale endings. That is why I am choosing Austin Dillon to bring the No. 3 into Victory lane in this year’s Daytona 500, another fairy tale ending will be written in racing as well.
Jim Fitzgerald: The thing about Daytona is, you're absolutely right, Kev. It really could be anybody, as long as the car is handling. That's the difference between Daytona and Talladega. Your car doesn't even have to handle correctly at Talladega to win. Dillon is fast, shown by his pole speed. It's a wheel of fortune out there, and we'll see if that Ol' Black Magic has him in its spell.
Brian Marchetti: Fairy Tales? Black Magic? This is racing, right?
PattyKay Lilley: Ah yes, the stuff that dreams and fairy tales are made of, but far more often, the destroyer of dreams and plans, with all going up in smoke in something known as "The Big One." Mere mortals can figure and guess and predict, but any restrictor plate track can fool you and change all the statistics in that one instant. Enough with the poetic stuff. I'm putting my money on the guy that didn't win on a plate track last year, but led over 1/3 of all laps run on them in that same year. It seems as if it should be his turn, so put me down for seeing Matt “The Brat” Kenseth in Victory Lane at Daytona after 500 miles of turning left.
Kevin Abraham: Kenseth would be a favorite due to having two Daytona 500 wins already. Honestly anyone who makes the race can win it. All they have to do is avoid The Big One and Marcos Ambrose.
Jim Fitzgerald: Wow! I can't say that wasn't Earnhardt's fault as well. I don't think you can vacate a spot and expect it to still be empty when you go back to it. It's like street parking in the snow in Baltimore. You have to leave a chair there when you leave.
Kevin Abraham: What say you, then, El Supremo?
Jim Fitzgerald: Well, Mama, once again, I like your pick, but I'm not going to mirror it. Instead, I'm going to go with a guy who unfortunately ran a bit of a Limited schedule last year due to injury, but ever since Homestead last season, he has been Mr. "Unlimited". Denny Hamlin won every segment of the Sprint Unlimited, and if his Unlimited car is any indication of how his 500 car is going to perform, I think he may have the field covered. I'm taking Denny Hamlin for the win in the Daytona 500.
Alabama Fitz: A couple of years back, a kid named Trevor Bayne did it, why not Dillon? Or Danica? Or Ricky? Or Matt? Anything is possible. It's a crap shoot out there. If you come home in one piece, consider it a win. My pick is a guy who had a bigger learning curve switching from Dodge to Ford than I counted on. In his sophomore Ford year, I expect this year what I expected last year. I said earlier to look for the Blue Deuce to start the year off right and a second isn't a bad start. I'm going with Brad Keselowski to pull into the winners circle at the conclusion of the 500.
PattyKay Lilley: As we've all said so far, it's anybody's game at Daytona, and survival of the fittest prevails. I know we all wish each other well, but dang it guys, I want to win that "Cup" this year, so tell your picks to move aside for my guy.
Alabama Fitz: Not likely lady. Why don't you set your sights on an attainable goal!
Jim Fitzgerald: You guys are funny. That Cup is going nowhere! Seriously, though, Fitz...Keselowski was looking good until he got passed with two laps to go in the Unlimited. Then he looked out of his own skin and indecisive, not knowing where to go or who to go with. That's doesn't mean he's not capable of winning the 500, though. He does have two wins at Talladega on his resume, so with a solid car, he's a solid pick.
PattyKay Lilley: Jim, I love this time of year, when just like the drivers, no one here has done anything wrong yet. No mistakes have been made and that proverbial clean slate awaits all. From the gist of the conversation so far, I'd say that the entire field has you in its sights, and you, my friend, have an appointment with the SAFER barrier this year. Just sayin'...
Alabama Fitz: Solid drivers in solid cars are always solid picks......until.....the BIG ONE takes half of them out. The other half, if possible, fight it out to be the best of the best of the survivors. One more thing...the defending champ is always in everybody’s sights, which makes his job tougher because he has to keep sneaking looks behind him while we just look forward.
Kevin Abraham: I need points, and points fast. I’m starting out twenty in the hole already. Might need to start copying Jim's picks to ensure he does not repeat as champion.
Jim Fitzgerald: Well, that's not going to work...you'll never pass me! OH...I see where you're going...If you pick my picks, I'll be down in the cellar with you! Dirty rotten ratzen fratzen.....
Brian Marchetti: Okay…I’m ready.
Kevin Abraham: Wow, I thought you had picked already…
Brian Marchetti: Check out the funny man over here. Anyway… I hate to make it look like I am shadowing PattyKay's picks, but I guess it looks like I am shadowing PattyKay's picks. We both had Harvick last week. Maybe we will end the year tied and split the Championship? Anyway, yes, I am following Mama's lead. I think Kenseth's history at Daytona does speak for itself, and if there were no engine troubles last season, I think he was strong enough to be a three time Daytona 500 Champion. Maybe that distinction comes this Sunday. I'm taking Kenseth for the Daytona 500.
PattyKay Lilley: Flattery will get you everywhere Brian, but only for so long. If I thought you were shadowing me, all I have to do is wait for you to pick first. Of course, if it should turn out to be true, I hope you realize that I am capable of picking last place, especially at the plate tracks. My record there does not shine.
Jim Fitzgerald: Someone will definitely shine this weekend…hopefully it will be me! So, our Round Table picks are complete, and it’s time to turn it over to our Fan picks! Vivian, get us started for the Daytona 500!
Vivian: There are so many variables at Daytona such as the anticipated big one, pit and race strategy, drafting partners and just plain good luck of being in the right place at the right time for the opportunity to take the checkered flag first. Jimmie Johnson will hang around somewhere toward the back until the last 50 laps or so and win the Daytona 500.
Darrell: This is a tough one this week. We all know it's a crap shoot. My initial pick was Tony Stewart but after practices and seeing the Fords run, I have to go with Greg Biffle. I think his mind is there and I think he has the car for it this week. That's my story and I'm stickin’ to it!
Barbara: As for the Daytona 500 - I stick to what I said about Jeff Gordon for the Unlimited. I don’t think the half-race fiasco will deter him. I think he wants to prove something this year and is bent to start by winning the 500.
Nate: My pick of Kurt Busch in the Unlimited netted me nothing more than a lot of wadded up sheet metal. For the 500, I’m taking Ryan Newman. He’s won here before, ECR engine have been strong, and he’s with a new team which could light a fire under him to produce results.
Well, there you have it. We have a pick for Austin Dillon, two for Matt Kenseth, one for Brad Keselowski, one for Denny Hamlin, one for Jeff Gordon, one for Jimmie Johnson, one for Greg Biffle, and one for Ryan Newman. Happy readers, hopefully you find some value in these picks, and they serve you well in your fantasy racing leagues. Until next week…enjoy the Daytona 500!
“I’ve got Pac-Man, Galaga, Galaxian, and Daytona
500. Those are the games I grew up
playing.” –Ray Lewis
Who is YOUR pick to win this week?