Daytona 500 Fantasy NASCAR Top Tier Elite Picks

Joey Logano
Daytona 500 Bottom Line – Joey Logano is the perfect combination of smart and aggressive at superspeedways and in the Daytona 500, there’s no question he’ll be tough to beat. Logano has a knack for the draft and once he gets to the front, the #22 gets really wide and is hard to pass. Last year at superspeedways, Logano won at Atlanta in the spring, and was one of just two drivers who swept the top five at Daytona to the tune of a 3.5 average finish. If Logano can avoid trouble, look for him to finish up front and be a factor.
Daytona Track History – At Daytona, Joey Logano is one of the best in the business. Logano won the 2015 Daytona 500, and in 6 of the last 9 in this crown jewel race he’s finished in the top 6. That stats line is even more impressive when you consider one of his non-top 6 outliers was in the 2021 Daytona 500 where he had the race all but won, until getting wrecked while leading on the last lap. In the Next Gen at Daytona, Logano’s been a standout, having the best Driver Rating, the best average finish (10.0) and the 2nd best average running position. In 2023, Logano swept the top five and had a 3.5 average finish. Last summer under the lights, Logano finished 5th in Stage #1, finished 10th in Stage #2, had the 2nd best average running position (9.3), earned the 2nd best driver rating, led 9 laps and then finished 5th. In the 2023 Daytona 500, Logano finished 4th in Stage #2, led 12 laps and then finished 2nd when the checkered flag waved. In his Duel 150 leading up to the 500, Logano led 29 laps and raced his way to victory lane. In 2022, Logano was strong every time he seen the track, but he literally had problems while running in 1st, 2nd and 3rd. In summer 2022, 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. In February 2022 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 caught up in a wreck. In his Duel 150 leading up to that 500, Logano nearly raced his way to victory lane but crashed while leading on the last lap. In 2021 at Daytona, Logano led 37 laps but got into the wall with 5 to go while running in 5th in the summer and in that year’s 500 he was crashed while leading on the last lap.

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Denny Hamlin
Daytona 500 Bottom Line – Three-time Daytona 500 winner, Denny Hamlin will be tough to beat in the “Great American Race.” Hamlin’s dominated the Daytona 500 on numerous occasions, and he always brings his A-game to this crown jewel race. In Daytona 500’s over the last decade, Hamlin has 3-wins and in 7 of the 10 races, he’s finished in the top 5. When it comes to pure superspeedway racing prowess, Hamlin’s arguably the best in the business. Hamlin’s had quite a few recent bad results, but he hasn’t lacked when it comes to performance.
Daytona Track History – Denny Hamlin is a super-elite performer at Daytona who’s been the premiere performer in the “Great American Race” over the last decade. Daytona’s been somewhat of a buzz saw to him recently in the results department with four straight finishes of 17th or worse but don’t let that scare you away. Last August, Hamlin had a hot rod but finished an asterisk mark 26th. In the race, Hamlin started 19th, led 12 laps, finished 8th in Stage #1, got caught speeding in Stage #2 during green flag pit stops which dropped him a lap down and then during the last lap of Stage #2, he was involved in a crash which led to his 26th. In the 2023 Daytona 500, Hamlin had a solid showing but finished 17th after getting collected in the overtime #1 crash, and a crash coming to the finish line. In the race, Hamlin earned the 6th best driver rating, had the 7th best average running position and was running in 8th before the final pit cycle started which shuffled him back to the mid-teens. In summer 2022, Hamlin was involved in two accidents while running in the top 3. At the time of his second accident in the “Rain Big One” which led to his 25th, Hamlin was running in 2nd. In the race, Hamlin led 13 laps and earned the 2nd best driver rating. 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” and Hamlin was caught up in the carnage. In summer 2021, Hamlin was strong but was involved in multiple accidents which led to him finishing a misleading 13th. In the race, Hamlin led 7 laps and finished 2nd in Stage #1. At the time of his second accident on lap 156 with 4 to go, Hamlin was running in 2nd. 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. In 2020, Hamlin finished 3rd in the summer and once again won the Daytona 500.

Ryan Blaney
Daytona 500 Bottom Line – Defending series champion, Ryan Blaney is the premiere superspeedway performer in NASCAR and in the Daytona 500, he’s primed to be a factor. Blaney consistently runs up front at superspeedways, and his mastery of the draft in the Next Gen is next level. Blaney won here in summer 2021, and on other numerous occasions he’s flirted with victory lane. Since 2020 at Daytona minus the three races he’s crashed, including last summer where he was crashed while leading, Blaney’s average finish is 4.2. In the Next Gen at big superspeedways, Blaney’s been the driver to beat. Blaney won the most recent race at Talladega last fall and minus Daytona last summer his Next Gen superspeedway average finish is 6.1.
Daytona Track History – Ryan Blaney has been elite at Daytona and over his last four incident free races, Blaney’s average finish is 3.25. In 2023, Blaney performed at an extremely high-level in both races but neither were incident free. Last summer, the #12 was a rocket but Blaney was crashed while leading on lap 95, leading to his 36th. Prior to his demise, Blaney led 4 laps. In the 2023 Daytona 500, Blaney’s race was far from incident free but courtesy of extreme carnage he snuck in an 8th. In the race, Blaney was running in 2nd on lap 116, but then a few laps later on lap 118 he was collected in a “Big One” that did a ton of damage to the #12. Then early in Stage #2, the wounded #12 even lost a tire which brought out a caution. During the last lap carnage, Blaney was also involved so his 8th is remarkable! In summer 2022, Blaney crashed early but thanks to the extreme attrition rate he walked away with a 15th, despite finishing 6 laps down. On lap 28 Blaney was running in 3rd, but then two laps later while running near the front of the pack he was involved in a “Big One.” In the 2022 Daytona 500, Blaney was very competitive and 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 had a great performance and raced his way to victory lane. In the three races prior to that, Blaney had results of 30th (crash), 6th and 2nd.

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