The 2024 NASCAR Season is here and in the most predictable NASCAR way, Mother Nature is poising a huge issue, with trying to see when the Daytona 500 will be run. While the Daytona 500 is always a huge coin flip on who will win the race, since every car has a legitimate shot with the last three Daytona 500 winners, having a combined total of six wins in the NASCAR Cup Series. Here are the Top 10 drivers to keep your eye on in the Daytona 500!
Top 10 Drivers to Watch in the 2024 Daytona 500
1. #2 Austin Cindric
We’re starting it off with the 2022 Daytona 500 Champion. Austin Cindric is the only driver in this field to be in the Top 10 for Qualifying, Duel, and Practice. Penske has definitely shown speed this weekend, and if luck is on his side, Austin Cindric could be a surprise winner for the Daytona 500.
2. #22 Joey Logano
Joey Logano won the 2015 Daytona 500, and came very close last year with a 2nd place finish. As previously mentioned, Penske has shown speed this weekend and he was the main reason as he claimed the pole with a 49.465 time. Also, if he finishes in the Top 5 this weekend, that will be his third consecutive Daytona race in which the 2022 Cup Series Champion finished in the Top 5.
3. #9 Chase Elliott
Chase Elliott had a 2023 season to forget about, filled with injuries and some controversies, as it ended up being his first winless season since 2017. The 2020 Cup Series Champion, has been pretty good this weekend, as he ended up with a Top 5 qualifying run, and he bested it by finishing second in his duel.
4. #21 Harrison Burton
Daytona has not treated Harrison Burton very well in the four races in the Cup Series, as he has not finished higher than 19th in any of those races, but on the bright side, he did finish his last two Daytona races, albeit, not on the lead lap. He is trying to change his luck this year, and Burton is a huge surprise this weekend, as he has been in the Top 12 for qualifying, duel, and practice.
5. #34 Michael McDowell
The 2021 Daytona 500 Champion knows how to start off a season. Since 2018, when he started driving the #34 car, he has finished in the Top 14 in five of the six Daytona 500s. Although he finished 16th in his duel race, he likely was to save his car from any damage, as he had already clinched a spot in the front row by qualifying second. He continued to show that speed, as he finished ninth in practice. McDowell is a safe driver to pick for this race.
6. #43 Erik Jones
The last three Daytona 500’s have not been very kind to Erik Jones, as he ended up with DNFs in all three of those races. Hopefully that luck has changed. Toyota did not have a great qualifying effort, but Jones finished fifth in his duel race and ended up second in practice. The race trim seems to be going great for Toyota, and Jones has shown it.
7. #5 Kyle Larson
What hasn’t Kyle Larson done since joining Hendrick? He’s won 17 races since joining Hendrick, he finished in the top two in points in two of the last three seasons, with him winning it in 2021. There is one thing that he is missing, a top five finish at Daytona. His highest finish at Daytona since joining Hendrick is 10th, and has not finished on the lead lap in his last five Daytona races. Larson is more of a safe pick, with him finishing ninth in his duel and third in qualifying.
8. #24 William Byron
William Byron has steadily improved from year to year. With that, hopefully he can finish on the lead lap for the first time in his career at a Daytona 500 this season. Although he has better luck in the 2nd Daytona race than the first Daytona race of the season, he has quietly been in the Top 17 for Qualifying, Duel, and Practice with being the sixth fastest in qualifying and finishing eighth in the Duel. I can see Bryon steadily improving a Daytona 500 finish, just like he has with his Cup Series career.
9. #20 Christopher Bell
As previously mentioned, Toyota had a horrendous qualifying trim. If you take that out of the way, Bell has been spectacular. In both Daytona races last season, he finished in the Top 16 and was able to finish on the lead lap. So, he’s got luck on his side there. Then, he won his Duel, and was third fastest in practice. Bell could be a driver that you would love to pick.
10. #11 Denny Hamlin
Denny Hamlin pretty much is following after Bell. Toyota having a horrendous qualifying trim, but he flipped with Bell, as he was fastest in practice, and finished third in his duel. Of course, Denny knows his way or two, or should I say three about winning a Daytona 500, as he has done it three times, with the last being in 2020.
