The Super Low Tier – Daytona
Justin Haley – Justin Haley is a super low tier driver who’s actually gotten the job done at Daytona. In summer 2019 after everyone got suckered to come to pit road, Haley stayed out on the track and then the sky opened up and he was crowned the winner in the rain. In the 2020 Daytona 500 when Haley made his one other Daytona start he came home 13th after dodging the attrition. In the Xfinity Series at Daytona, Haley raced his way to victory lane last summer. At Talladega in the Xfinity Series, Haley pulled out the broom and won both races last year.
Kaz Grala – Kaz Grala will be returning to competition at Daytona driving the Kaulig Racing #16. In this years Daytona 500, Grala drove this very ride and looked respectable until his car caught on fire shortly before the midpoint. On lap 111 shortly before his fire he was running in 19th. Typically for the evening prior to his demise he ran around the high-teens. At Talladega earlier this year in Cup, Grala finished 6th. In the Truck series at Daytona, Grala raced his way to victory lane in 2017.
Landon Cassill – Landon Cassill is a super low tier driver with upside at Daytona. On Saturday night, he’ll be driving the #96 Toyota. Cassill has fifteen starts at Daytona on his resume and in a third of his races he’s finished in the top 20. Over his last five Daytona races, Cassill has finished in the top 24 and has an 18.8 average finish. In summer 2019, when Cassill made his most recent Daytona start he finished 11th (Race where Haley won in the rain). In his four Daytona races prior to that his results were 24th, 24th, 19th and 16th.
BJ McLeod – BJ McLeod has four Daytona starts under his belt and his average finish is 24.4. In this years 500, McLeod came home 23rd. In his other three Daytona races his results are 38th (crashed), 28th and 19th. At Talladega, the other superspeedway on the schedule he finished 25th in April. One notable strength of McLeod’s this season is he’s avoided crashes. In 2021 he doesn’t have a single DNF due to an accident.
Joey Gase – Joey Gase is a super low tier driver who has upside at Daytona. He has six Daytona races under his belt and his average finish is 24.8. In 4 of his 6 starts he’s finished between 20th to 25th. In this years Daytona 500 he came home 20th. In 2020, Gase’s Daytona results were 31st and 23rd.
Cody Ware – Cody Ware has two Daytona starts on his resume. In this years Daytona 500 he came home 21st which marks his best result of the season to date. In the 2019 Daytona 500 when he made his one other start he crashed and finished 39th. At Talladega, the one other superspeedway on the schedule he finished 28th in April. Look for attrition to be his friend on Sunday.
Josh Bilicki – Josh Bilicki has two races at Daytona under his belt. He finished 24th in this years 500, and last summer in his one other start he finished 38th. At Talladega, Bilicki has made one start and he crashed and finished 36th this spring.
Quin Houff – At Daytona, Quin Houff has a 27.5 average finish and in 3 of his 4 races he’s finished 29th or worse. In this years Daytona 500 he finished 29th. In 2020 his results were 23rd and 39th. In summer 2019 when he made his first start here he came home 37th. At Talladega, the one other superspeedway on the schedule he crashed and finished 37th this spring. In 2020 his results were 13th and 27th there.
Garrett Smithley – This is kind of surprising, but Garrett Smithley will be making his Daytona debut on Saturday night. In his Duel 150 leading up to the Daytona 500 earlier this year he finished 16th and missed the “Great American Race.” At Talladega, the other superspeedway on the schedule he has two starts on his resume and his results are 25th (2021) and 31st (2020-1).
David Starr – David Starr will be piloting the #66 on Saturday night, and I can’t say I’m expecting much. When we’ve previously seen him in this ride in 2021 he was a moving chicane. In the Cup series, Starr has never made a start at a superspeedway. In the Xfinity series at Daytona, Starr has a 23.44 average finish, and in the Truck series here his average finish is 19.4.
