Daytona Coke Zero Sugar 400 Fantasy NASCAR Front Runner Rankings

Michael McDowell
Daytona Fantasy Outlook – Michael McDowell is a strong mid-tier superspeedway performer who should be high on your radar. McDowell’s a previous Daytona 500 champ (2021) and there’s no doubt he’s willing to lay it all out on the line. When it comes to big superspeedway racing prowess, McDowell’s performed at a high-level and in 2 of the 6 races since last year, he literally crashed while battling for the lead. This year on this track type, McDowell’s 2 for 2 at finishing 11th.
Daytona Track History – Michael McDowell has performed at a high-level at Daytona and is a great mid-tier option. I’ll quickly note, McDowell might’ve lost some of his “Mojo” after winning in 2021 since he’s finished 28th or worse in 5 of the last 8 races. In this year’s Daytona 500, McDowell had some sort of engine issue but he motored along and finished 11th, thanks in a large part to all the attrition at the end. I’ll note, he did run well at times but he was also back in the 30’s on lap 185 before all the late mega mayhem ensued. Last summer, McDowell was a standout performer but finished 30th. In the race, McDowell led 26 laps (2nd most), had an 8.8 average running position but then late in the race on lap 151 while leading, he was crashed which led to his 30th. In the 2024 Daytona 500, McDowell looked sporty, logging a good number of laps in the top ten early but he had engine/electrical issues which ultimately doomed him to a 36th. On lap 40 before his problem was first reported, McDowell was running in 6th. In summer 2023, McDowell started 39th but avoided all the mayhem and finished 13th. In the 2023 Daytona 500, McDowell was a top ten contender but crashed on lap 181 which led to his 28th. Before the final pit cycle ensued, McDowell was running in 7th. In summer 2022, McDowell was strong but crashed like much of the field which led to his 32nd. In the race, McDowell was leading on lap 100, but then the very next lap while running in 2nd he crashed. In the 2022 Daytona 500, McDowell ran well and finished 7th.

Erik Jones
Daytona Fantasy Outlook – Erik Jones is a strong mid-tier superspeedway racer who’ll be going all out on Saturday night in hopes of punching a ticket to the Playoffs. Jones is a former Daytona winner (summer 2018) and there’s no denying his big superspeedway racing prowess. Since 2024 at big superspeedways over the combined races, Jones has 2-top tens, he’s 5 for 6 at finishing in the top 20 and his 16.2 average finish ranks as the 8th best.
Daytona Track History – Erik Jones is a former Daytona summer winner (2018) who’s capable of performing at a high-level, but times have been rough recently and in 9 of the last 12 races he’s finished 17th or worse. That said, in 2 of the last 3 he’s finished in the top 12 so perhaps his fortunes are starting to change. In this year’s Daytona 500, Jones ran well, finishing 9th in Stage #1, 7th in Stage #2 and then finished 12th when the checkered flag waved. Additionally, Jones had the 14th best average running position (16.5) and earned the 15th best Driver Rating. Last summer, Jones showed potential and was running in 10th on lap 156, but then two laps later he got a ton of damage in the #2/#4 crash which led to his 17th. In the 2024 Daytona 500, Jones escaped with his first Daytona top ten since 2019 and finished 8th. In 2023, Jones finished a not so great 18th in the summer (nothing special) and then in the 2023 Great American Race”, Jones showed potential but finished an asterisk mark 37th. On lap 116 Jones was running in 9th, but then on lap 118 he was involved in a “Big One.”

John H Nemechek
Daytona Fantasy Outlook – John H Nemechek has a knack for the draft, so he’ll be a quality mid-tier dark horse. At Daytona in the Next Gen, Nemechek has a series best 9.0 average finish, he’s 2 for 3 at finishing in the top ten and he’s had a result in the top 15 every race. At big superspeedways, Nemechek has a 60% top 11 finish rate.
Daytona Track History – Daytona has been a great track for John H Nemechek. His career average finish is 9.8, he’s 4 for 5 at finishing in the top 11 and he’s had a result in the top 15 every race. In this year’s Daytona 500, Nemechek survived the carnage and snuck in a 5th. In the race, Nemechek didn’t place in the two opening Stages, had a 20.3 average running position but over about the last 40 laps, he ran well and logged laps in the top ten. On lap 185 which is before all the late race carnage, Nemechek was in 10th. Last summer, Nemechek caused a crash, spun out late on lap 139 while battling for the lead but escaped with a 15th place finish. In the 2024 Daytona 500, Nemechek didn’t run well but he dodged trouble and finished 7th. In 2020, Nemechek was 2 for 2 at finishing 11th.

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