Daytona 500 Fantasy NASCAR Front Runner Rankings

Erik Jones
Daytona 500 Outlook – Erik Jones is a strong mid-tier superspeedway racer who’s always a popular pick at Daytona. Jones is a former Daytona winner (summer 2018) and there’s no denying his big superspeedway racing prowess. At Daytona over the last four races, Jones has a series best 10.5 average finish and he’s 3 for 4 at finishing in the top 12. In the Next Gen era at Daytona, Jones has the 12th best Driver Rating.
Daytona History – Erik Jones is a former Daytona summer winner (2018) who’s capable of performing at a high-level. Last summer, Jones had a solid evening and finished 5th. Additionally, Jones led 10 laps, earned the 5th best Driver Rating and had the 14th best Average Running Position. In last year’s Daytona 500, Jones ran well, finishing 9th in Stage #1, 7th in Stage #2 and then finished 12th overall. Additionally, Jones had the 14th best average running position (16.5) and earned the 15th best Driver Rating. In summer 2024, Jones showed potential and was running in 10th on lap 156, but then two laps later he got a ton of damage in the Cindric/Berry crash at the front which led to his 17th. In the 2024 Daytona 500, Jones escaped with his first Daytona top ten since 2019 and finished 8th.

Michael McDowell
Daytona 500 Outlook – Michael McDowell, the 2021 Daytona 500 champ is a strong mid-tier superspeedway performer who should be high on your radar. When it comes to big superspeedway racing, there’s no doubt he’s willing to lay it all out on the line. Last year at big superspeedways, McDowell had a 12.8 average finish and in 3 of the 4 races he finished in either 11th or 12th.
Daytona History – Michael McDowell has performed at a high-level at Daytona and is a great mid-tier option. Last year, McDowell had results of 11th and 12th and going back a little further, in 3 of the last 5 he’s finished between 11th to 13th. Last summer, McDowell finished 12th, had a 12.3 average running position (6th best) and earned the 13th best Driver Rating. In last year’s Daytona 500, McDowell had some sort of engine issue, but he finished 11th, thanks to all the attrition. In summer 2024, 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.

Ross Chastain
Daytona 500 Outlook – Ross Chastain could be a factor at Daytona. Chastain’s smashed watermelons here in the past (Xfinity series 2019 win), he’s flirted with victory lane recently and he’s a previous big superspeedway winner (Dega 2022). That said, Chastain’s pretty risky. He’s shown potential but in the Next Gen, Chastain has a 23.4 average finish, with just 3 top 15’s.
Daytona History – Ross Chastain has run well at Daytona but he’s 5 for 8 at finishing 17th or worse in the Next Gen. Last summer, Chastain looked good but finished 15th. In the race, Chastain finished 2nd in Stage #1, won Stage #2, led 7 laps, had the 8th best Average Running Position (12.9) and earned the 16th best Driver Rating. To close out, he just didn’t seem to be at his best, but I’ll note he was in 10th with 5 to go. In last year’s Daytona 500, Chastain had an early exit and finished 40th. In Stage #1, Chastain finished around 20th but then during the Stage #2 restart when Logano had trouble getting up to speed, Chastain crashed and that marked the end of his race. In summer 2024, Chastain finished 12th but it was an ugly evening. Chastain was damaged in the lap 60 “Big One” which dropped him off the lead lap and was literally back in 30th with 10 to go until the scheduled distance. In the 2024 Daytona 500, Chastain had a great chance to win but crashed. Following the final green flag pit cycle, Chastain found himself in the lead and made the #1 super wide, leading 14 laps but then following the “Big One”, he lost the lead on the restart and then crashed Cindric and himself out on the last lap. When the race reached its conclusion, Chastain finished 21st.

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