NASCAR Nationwide Picks: NASCAR heads back to restrictor plate racing under the lights at the Daytona International Speedway which has become a Fourth of July tradition with both the Nationwide and Sprint Cup Series. The NASCAR Nationwide Series will have plenty of crossover drivers from the Sprint Cup series since the Cup Series Coke Zero 400 will run on Saturday night. The Subway Firecracker 250 will run Friday night from the Daytona International Speedway with coverage on ESPN2 starting at 7 PM ET.
Daytona International Speedway
The Daytona International Speedway is a 2.5 mile tri-oval track with 31 degree banks and 18 degree banks in the tri-oval with a 6 degree bank on the straightaway. Daytona is a restrictor plate track which makes for tight racing, drivers looking for drafting partners to tow with, and “the big one” which is parlance for a huge multi car wreck.
Top Nationwide Series Daytona Drivers
Matt Kenseth was the winner last year Kurt Busch winning in 2012, Joey Logano in 2011, Dale Earnhardt Jr in 2010, Clint Bowyer in 2009, Denny Hamlin in 2008, Kyle Busch in 2007, and Earnhardt Jr in 2006. All these drivers were Sprint Cup crossover drivers!
Kenseth has 14 career Nationwide Series starts at Daytona with 2 wins and 8 top 5 finishes with an average finish of 6.9.
Harvick has 19 career Nationwide Series starts at Daytona with 1 win and 12 top 5 finishes with an average finish of 7.6.
Logano has 9 career starts at Daytona in the Nationwide Series with 1 win, 4 top 5 finishes and an average finish of 8.4.
The Pick
Earnhardt Jr has 6 Nationwide Series wins in 23 career starts at Daytona with 11 top 5 finishes and an average finish of 11.9 to make for our pick!
