Fantasy NASCAR Asterisk Mark Report – Daytona 500 (2024)

Joey Logano – In the Daytona 500, Joey Logano subjectively had the best car, but he finished an asterisk mark 32nd after getting caught up in the lap 191 “Big One.” On lap 190 just prior to his demise, Logano was in 2nd. Prior to the final green flag pit cycle, Logano was the leader and had control of the race. In the race, Logano started on the pole, led the most laps (45), had the best average running position (9.7) and earned the 2nd best Driver Rating.

Ryan Blaney – Ryan Blaney had a rocket in the Daytona 500 but finished an asterisk mark 30th. In the race, Blaney won Stage #2, led 12 laps and was running in 6th on lap 190 but then on lap 191 he was caught up in the “Big One.” If Blaney’s race would’ve been incident free, there’s no doubt he would’ve been a factor right at the very end.

Brad Keselowski – Brad Keselowski was one of the best in the Daytona 500 but he finished an asterisk mark 33rd. On lap 191 while running in 2nd, Keselowski was turned by Byron and wrecked which caused the “Big One.” He could’ve very well won if he wasn’t wrecked.

Ross Chastain – In the Daytona 500, Ross Chastain was a factor late and had control of the race following the final green flag pit cycle until the “Big One” ensued in which he lost the lead during the following restart. Then on the last lap, Ross Chastain wrecked Austin Cindric who was running in 2nd and took himself out in the process, which led to his 21st. In the race, Chastain led 14 laps late.

Kyle Busch – Kyle Busch finished 12th in the Daytona 500 but he performed better than his result. In the race, Busch finished 6th in Stage #1, finished 4th in Stage #2, earned the best Driver Rating, led 12 laps and had the 2nd best average running position (10.6). In the race, Busch got two pit penalties during both Stage cautions and the ending just didn’t play out favorably for him.

Denny Hamlin – Denny Hamlin was a top five contender in the Daytona 500 but he finished 19th. In the race, Hamlin finished 7th in Stage #1, led 10 laps, ran a lot of laps in the last Stage in the top five, was in 4th on lap 176 but then the final pit cycle dropped him back to the high-teens. On lap 190, Hamlin rebounded somewhat up to 11th but then the next lap he was caught up in the “Big One”

Austin Cindric – In the Daytona 500, Austin Cindric looked poised to finish in the top five but on the last lap, Ross Chastain crashed him while he was running in 2nd which led to his 22nd. Additionally in the race, Cindric finished 2nd in Stage #2, led 13 laps and had the 4th best average running position (12.3).

Tyler Reddick – In this year’s Daytona 500, Tyler Reddick was sporty but finished 29th. In the race, Reddick finished 5th in Stage #2, had the 3rd best average running position (11.8), earned the 4th best Driver Rating but was then caught up in the late “Big One” On lap 190 prior to his demise he was in 15th. Before the final green flag pit cycle which dropped him back, he was running in 8th.

Martin Truex Jr. – In February, Truex finished 15th but I’ll note that underrates him. In the race, Truex earned the 7th best Driver Rating, had a 14th place average running position and was running in 8th on lap 190, but was then caught up in the lap 191 “Big One” but was able to continue.

Michael McDowell – Michael McDowell looked great early in the Daytona 500 but he also had engine/electrical issues early which led to him finishing 36th. On lap 40 before his issue surfaced, McDowell was running in 6th.

Ricky Stenhouse Jr. – In February, Stenhouse had his typical Daytona afternoon. He showed potential and then crashed. In the race, Stenhouse finished 8th in Stage #2, ran as high as 2nd on lap 183, was in 17th on lap 190 but then on lap 191 he was caught up in the “Big One” which marked the end of his race, leading to a 31st.

Daniel Suarez – In the Daytona 500, the #99 was fast but Suarez finished an asterisk mark 34th. In the race, Suarez finished 10th in Stage #1, finished 3rd in Stage #2, was in 7th on lap 190 but then on lap 191 he was caught up in the “Big One” which marked the end of his race, leading to a 35th.

Todd Gilliland – Todd Gilliland is a perfect 5 for 5 at DNF’ing at Daytona. In this year’s Daytona 500, Gilliland was a top ten contender but crashed late and finished 35th. In the race, Gilliland led 16 laps, was in 9th on lap 190 but then on lap 191 he was caught up in the “Big One” which led to his poor result.

Austin Dillon – In this year’s 500, Austin Dillon was collected in the lap 5 “Big One”, and you could stick a fork in him after that and he went on to finish 37th. Since his race was so short, no lessons learned.

Harrison Burton – In this year’s 500, Harrison Burton was collected in the lap 5 “Big One”, and you could stick a fork in him after that and he went on to finish 39th. Since his race was so short, no lessons learned.

Carson Hocevar – How good was Carson Hocevar in the Daytona 500? I don’t know. Hocevar crashed on lap 5 while running around 10th which led to his 40th. Since his race was so short, no lessons learned.