Daytona 500 Fantasy NASCAR Confidence Rankings/ Post Duel Predictions
Welcome to 2023! The NASCAR season has officially arrived, which means it’s time for the Daytona 500! In this race, legacies are made, and many of the sports current super stars are still searching for their first elusive Daytona 500 win.
The Daytona 500 has a unique format for setting the field. The front row was set by qualifying, and the rest of the lineup was set by the Duel 150’s. Here’s a look at the STARTING LINEUP. Here’s stats from those respective Duel races (Duel #1 & Duel #2). NASCAR held practice sessions this week, but I would just view the Duels as “Practice.” Those were essentially simulation races.
Daytona 500 Full Field Fantasy Rankings
1) Denny Hamlin
Start 18th / Projected Finish Range 1-6 / Dominator Potential – Medium-High
Quick Scoop – Denny Hamlin is Mr. Daytona 500, and in the “Great American Race”, the road to victory lane will likely go thru him. Following his Duel 150, Denny Hamlin tweeted, “I LOVE my car”, and take note, LOVE was all in capital letters. Denny Hamlin knows what it takes to win, and I have no doubt the competition will be in trouble on Sunday. In the Daytona 500 if he can avoid trouble, look for Hamlin to finish in the top five and compete for the win.
Daytona 500 Fantasy Spin – Denny Hamlin is the premiere performer at Daytona and on Sunday, there’s no question he’ll be tough to beat. In Daytona 500’s, Hamlin’s been especially strong and in this crown jewel event going back to 2014, Hamlin has 3-wins and in 7 of the 9 races he’s finished in the top 5. Over the last five Daytona races minus last year, Hamlin has 2 wins and a 2.5 average finish. Last summer, Hamlin was involved in two accidents while running in the top 3. His first was on lap 30 while running in 3rd, and his second was in the “Rain Big One” while he was running in 2nd, leading the top groove. His demise in the “Rain Big One” led to his 25th. In the race, Hamlin led 13 laps, had the 2nd best driver rating and had a 10.9 average running position. In the 2022 Daytona 500, Hamlin looked great but finished an asterisk mark 37th. In the race, Hamlin started 30th, was up to 5th on lap 62, but then the very next lap, Keselowski caused a “Big One” which marked the end of Hamlin’s afternoon. In summer 2021, Hamlin was running in 2nd with 4 to go, but then the next lap he was damaged in an accident which led to his 13th. In the 2021 Daytona 500, Hamlin was the class of the field. In the race, Hamlin won Stage #1, won Stage #2, led a race high 98 laps but finished 5th. The final pit cycle which was manufacturer driven cost him the race. Just prior to the final pit cycle, Hamlin was the leader. In 2020, Hamlin finished 3rd in the summer and once again won the Daytona 500.
Last Four Daytona Finishes – 25th, 37th,13th, 5th
DraftKings $10,300 / FanDuel $12,500 / DK Betting Odds To Win +1300
2) Ryan Blaney
Start 7th / Projected Finish Range 1-6 / Dominator Potential – Medium-High
Quick Scoop – Ryan Blaney is a future Daytona 500 winner in waiting, will this be the year? There’s no question Blaney has the superspeedway racing skill, and the hot rod underneath him to hoist the Harley Earl Trophy on Sunday. In his Duel 150 on Thursday night, Blaney led half the race, earned the best driver rating and finished 3rd. At Daytona, Blaney’s a previous winner (summer 2021), and in numerous other races he’s come close to victory lane. Since 2020 at Daytona minus last summer and the 2021 Daytona 500 (caught up in a “Big One” both races), Blaney’s average finish is 3.25, with him finishing in the top 6 every race. Last year at big superspeedways over the combined events, Blaney had a series best 8.0 average finish, he averaged leading the most laps per race (22.5) and his driver rating ranked as the 4th best. In the Daytona 500, Ryan Blaney will without question be one of the top contenders.
Daytona 500 Fantasy Spin – Ryan Blaney is one of the best at Daytona and over his last four incident free races, his average finish is 3.25. Last summer, Blaney was caught up in early carnage and limped home to finish 15th. In that race, two laps prior to getting caught up in a wreck he was running in 2nd. In last year’s Daytona 500, the #12 was one of the best and Blaney finished 4th. In the race, Blaney led the 2nd most laps (36) and had the 4th best average running position (8.3). In summer 2021, Blaney raced his way to victory lane. In the race, Blaney finished 6th in Stage #2, led 7 laps and consistently ran near the front when the trophy was on the line. In the 2021 Daytona 500, Blaney looked to have a great car but was involved in the lap 13 “Big One” which led to his 30th. In 2020, Blaney’s Daytona results were 6th and 2nd.
Last Four Daytona Finishes – 15th, 4th, 1st, 30th
DraftKings $10,100 / FanDuel $13,000 / DK Betting Odds To Win +1200
Further Recommended Reading = Daytona 500 Post Duel Finish Projections, DraftKings Daytona 500 Scoring Projections, FanDuel Daytona 500 Scoring Projections
3) Joey Logano
Start 3rd / Projected Finish Range 1-6 / Dominator Potential – Medium-High
Quick Scoop – Joey Logano ranks as one of the premiere superspeedway racers in NASCAR, so make sure he’s high on your radar. Logano’s the perfect combination of being smart and aggressive, but his luck has been in the gutter in recent races. That said, Logano hasn’t been lacking when it comes to performance. In his Duel 150 on Thursday night, Logano led the final 29 laps and raced his way to victory lane. There’s no doubt the #22 is primed to have a strong showing. If Logano can avoid trouble, which has become a huge liability, then I have no doubt he’ll be tough to beat.
Daytona 500 Fantasy Spin – Joey Logano, the 2018 “Great American Race” winner is one of the best in the business at Daytona. The results column has been horrific lately, but he’s performed at a high-level. Currently at this wildcard venue over the last seven races, Logano has zero top tens and in 5 of them he’s finished 21st or worse. In Daytona 500’s specifically, Logano has been stout. He’s had problems in the last three, including 2021 where he was crashed while leading on the last lap but over the last eight, Logano has five results in the top 6 and his 10.0 average finish is the 2nd best among drivers who competed in every race. Last year at Daytona, every time the #22 seen the track, Logano was stout, but he literally had problems while running in 1st, 2nd and 3rd. Last summer, Logano won Stage #1, finished 4th in Stage #2, led 14 laps, had a race best 7.9 average running position, earned the best driver rating but finished 12th. In the last Stage, Logano was caught up in a wreck while running in 3rd. Last February in the Daytona 500, Logano was fast, but finished 21st. In the race, Logano started in the rear of the field in a backup car, finished 5th in Stage #1 and 2nd in Stage #2. Then in the final Stage, things went south. During the Stage #2 caution he had to pit twice and then on lap 150 while he was back in traffic, Logano was collected in a wrecked which damaged the #22 leading to his asterisk mark 21st. In his Duel 150 leading up to Sunday, Logano nearly raced his way to victory lane but crashed while leading on the last lap. In summer 2021, Logano wrecked late in the race while running in 3rd and then in the 2021 Daytona 500, Logano of course was wrecked on the last lap while leading.
Last Four Daytona Finishes – 12th, 21st, 23rd, 12th
DraftKings $10,000 / FanDuel $11,500 / DK Betting Odds To Win +1200
Portions of this content are hidden. To view this ifantasyrace advantage content log in or join the site
