Daytona 500 Fantasy NASCAR Top Tier Elite Picks

Brad Keselowski
Daytona 500 Bottom Line – In the Daytona 500, look for 7-time big superspeedway winner, Brad Keselowski to be a factor as he vies for his first Daytona 500 trophy. There’s no doubt he’ll be fielding a car capable of reaching victory lane and his mastery of the draft is second to none. Last year at big superspeedways, I would argue Keselowski was the best. He finished 2nd in both Talladega races and then had problems in both Daytona races while running in 2nd. Overall at big superspeedways last year minus the Daytona 500 where he was crashed late while running in 2nd, Keselowski had a 4th place average finish.
Daytona Track History – Brad Keselowski is a former Daytona winner (summer 2016), who’s been one of the best “Performance Wise” in the Next Gen, with him having the 6th best Driver Rating, despite crashing in 3 of the 6 races. Last summer, Keselowski was stout but finished an asterisk mark 8th. In the race, Keselowski finished 7th in Stage #1, finished 3rd in Stage #2, led 8 laps, had the 6th best average running position (9.1) but then late in the race on lap 144 while battling for the lead during a restart, NASCAR black flagged him for jumping the restart which put him behind for the end. In last year’s Daytona 500, Keselowski was a contender. In the race, Keselowski consistently ran up front when the trophy was on the line but then on lap 191 while running in 2nd, Byron turned him and then a “Big One” ensued which led to his 33rd. He could’ve very well won if he wasn’t wrecked. In summer 2023, Keselowski won Stage #2, finished 2nd overall, led 6 laps and then pushed Buescher to victory lane in overtime. In the 2023 Daytona 500, Keselowski was a standout performer. In the race, Keselowski won Stage #1, led a race high 42 laps, earned the 2nd best driver rating, had the 2nd best average running position (8.6), was the leader as late as lap 196 but then late in the race he got shuffled out of the lead and then crashed in overtime which led to his 22nd. In 2022, Keselowski led 31 laps in the summer but crashed (35th) and then in the Daytona 500 he led a race high 67 laps, had a race best 4.8 average running position, earned the 2nd best driver rating and then finished 9th.
Kyle Busch
Daytona 500 Bottom Line – In the Daytona 500, look for Kyle Busch to be a factor as he vies for his first Daytona 500 win in attempt #20. Busch has flirted with victory lane on numerous occasions, and he nearly won last summer. In the Next Gen at Daytona, Busch has been a standout performer, being tied for having the best Next Gen average finish (9.3), the 3rd best average running position and the 4th best Driver Rating. Overall, in the Next Gen era at big superspeedways, Busch has 1-win, the best average finish (12.6), the best average running position and the best Driver Rating.
Daytona Track History – Kyle Busch has performed at an elite-level at Daytona. Busch nearly won last summer, nearly won the 2023 Daytona 500 and in the Next Gen minus the 2023 “500” his average finish is 7.0. Last summer, Busch had a great performance and should’ve raced his way to victory lane, but he made bad lane decisions at the end and finished 2nd as a result. Additionally, Busch led 8 laps, earned the 3rd best Driver Rating and had the 4th best average running position (8.3). In last year’s “500”, Busch had standout speed and was one of the best but finished 12th. 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). To make Busch’s race look a little more impressive, his afternoon wasn’t incident free. In the race, Busch got a safety violation during the Stage #1 caution and then following the Stage #2 caution he had a loose wheel and had to come back to pit road. In 2023, Busch finished 7th in the summer (7th best average running position, 8th best Driver Rating) and then in that year’s “500”, Busch was the leader at the end of regulation, led 6 laps, but was then shuffled out of line in overtime and wrecked which led to his 19th. In 2022, Busch had results of 10th (summer) and 6th (500).
Christopher Bell
Daytona 500 Bottom Line – Christopher Bell is entering elite territory at Daytona and since 2023, Bell has the best average finish (6.3). Not included in that tally is Bell winning his Duel 150 last year. In 2024 at big superspeedways, Bell had a great season and minus the spring Talladega race where he crashed his average finish was 4th. If Bell can avoid trouble, look for him to finish up front and be a factor.
Daytona Track History – Christopher Bell has performed at a super-elite level at Daytona and in 3 of the last 4 races, he’s finished 3rd. Since 2023 over the combined races, Bell has a series best 6.3 average finish and the 5th best Driver Rating. In 2024, nobody was better than Bell when it came to the results column. Last summer, Bell drove up to the front late and finished 3rd when the checkered flag waved. Additionally, Bell earned the 11th best Driver Rating and had a 15.3 average running position. Last February, Bell finished 3rd, earned the 3rd best driver rating, led 22 laps and had the 6th best average running position (13.8). In his Duel 150 leading up to the “500”, Bell raced his way to victory lane. In summer 2023, Bell looked great but finished an asterisk mark 16th. In the race, Bell finished 2nd in Stage #1 but then during the last lap of Stage #2 while running in the top 5, Bell was involved in a crash when he gave Gibbs a bad bump, leading to his 16th. In the 2023 Daytona 500, Bell led 20 laps and finished 3rd.
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