Our Daytona 500 picks
So who's going to win this thing Sunday?
We don't have a clue, either. You've got a better chance of retiring early by pouring your money into a Vegas slot machine than you do of picking a winner at any NASCAR race. But that's not going to stop us from guessing.
Dustin Long is already on record with his pick: Elliott Sadler. But Dustin told me yesterday that USA Today asked for his pick a week ago, but now he's not so sure. He notes that the DEI and Hendrick cars have looked the best at Speed Weeks. Tony Stewart is another one to watch, Dustin says, and so is Ryan Newman. When I pressed him for one driver, he sighed and said, probably Newman.
Ed Hardin says he's pulling for Jeff Gordon, who's chasing history. (Meaning Dale Earnhardt - Gordon, with 69 career wins, needs seven more to tie Senior on the all-time victories list.) But he thinks Greg Biffle will win Sunday. Why? Ed says the Fords have been "bad fast" this week. The problem: The Fords are fastest for 400 miles, and the race goes 500 miles. If the engine builders for Biffle and other Ford drivers can figure out how not to blow up in the late stages in the race, they'll be up front.
Me? I'm going with Newman. He's had terrible luck in the past -- he got caught up in a wreck last year; the year before, his was the car that caught air along the front stretch, and he ended up 43rd. He's looked good this week - second in last Saturday's Shootout and fourth in the first Gatorade Duel on Thursday. Sure, he's not going to get much help from his teammate. But if he's fast enough, other drivers will help him get to the front, and Newman's experienced enough to stay up there.
Those are ours. Who's your pick?