NASCAR Picks: Daytona International Speedway is a restrictor plate track that hosts two of the most daring and tight races of the NASCAR Sprint Cup season. There is the season opening Daytona 500 held each February and then the Coke Zero 400 race each July 4 week. As one would expect Jimmie Johnson has had his share of success at Daytona with a win in last year’s July 4 holiday week race and he will again be among the favorites for this weekend’s run at Daytona. The Coke Zero 400 will run Saturday night at the Daytona International Speedway with coverage on TNT starting at 7:30 PM ET. Recent winners of this race include Johnson in 2013, Tony Stewart in 2012, David Ragan in 2011, Kevin Harvick in 2010, Tony Stewart in 2009, and Kyle Busch in 2008.
Top Daytona Drivers
Dale Earnhardt Jr has followed his late and legendary father’s footsteps with outstanding performances on restrictor plate tracks. Junior has 29 career starts at Daytona with 3 wins, 11 top 5 finishes and 17 top 10 finishes with an average finish of 13.4.
Kevin Harvick has a total of 26 career starts at Daytona with 2 wins, 6 top 5 finishes, and 11 top 10 finishes with an average finish of 15.8.
Jeff Gordon has a total of 43 career starts at Daytona with 6 wins, 13 top 5 finishes, and 20 top 10 finishes with an average finish of 16.3.
Jimmie Johnson, Gordon’s teammate, has 25 career starts at Daytona with 3 wins, 9 top 5 finishes and 12 top 10 finishes with an average finish of 17.0.
The Pick
Gordon and Johnson are 1-2 in the standings and we’ll call for that as a finish here!
