Daytona: My pick to win, racing preview and some quotes

Normally, I would want to pick Dale Earnhardt Junior to win at a superspeedway but given his non-performing year, I just can’t do it. So let me think. Hhmmm…..well, I know who I won’t be picking. I won’t be picking Sam Hornish Jr. or Michael Waltrip. Let’s see here…. Oh, and I won’t be picking Joey Logano. I didn’t think he deserved the win last weekend at New Hampshire Motor Speedway. That victory was all Zippy.

My pick to win the Coke Zero 400 is going to be Tony Stewart. He’s due another visit to victory lane and I think it’s going to be Saturday. Not to mention that he’s not too shabby at superspeedways.

Qualifying is scheduled for 4 pm tomorrow on SPEED. Hopefully the weather won’t be a factor in it. And here’s hoping that we don’t have another rain-shortened race this weekend. Uugh.

Here’s the NASCAR Newscast: Coke Zero 400 Preview:

Here are a few quotes from drivers regarding racing at Daytona:

Joey Logano — “This is still going to be a difficult race for me. I didn’t get to run as many laps at Daytona as I wanted to in February and it is so different than Talladega. Daytona is about handling and I know when we did the tire test it was slick. I can only imagine in the heat of July how much hotter it will be and slicker it will be. I know everyone is in the same boat, but at least they have an idea of what to expect. If we can get out of Daytona with a solid finish, Chicago should be a good race for us.”

Dale Earnhardt Jr. — “I bring a lot of confidence there and always enjoyed going there when I was a kid. It’s always been one of my favorite tracks.”

Mark Martin — “The July race at Daytona is so much different than the 500. Unlike Talladega, and more so than the 500, this race is really dependent on the car’s handling. A team’s ability to get its car handling well for this race can really set it apart from the competition. In this race, you’re not as reliant on drafting. You have the ability to put yourself in the right place at the right time if your car is handling well. The 400, in my opinion, is better than the 500, although the 500 is the one you want to win so badly. This race really comes down to the actual racing. There’s not as much pressure, and you can actually have fun and enjoy it.”

Carl Edwards — “I know a lot can happen at Daytona. The past two July races there have been good for us, so hopefully I can keep the Subway Ford out of trouble and finish up front. Last year we went there with a car that could win and good race strategy and ended up second. We’re bringing a new Ford Fusion that should be pretty good, so I’m expecting good things. We’re getting down to the final few races before the Chase, so a strong finish and a win more importantly would be huge.

Who do you think will be celebrating in victory lane on Saturday night?

Tags: Carl Edwards, Dale Earnhardt Jr., Daytona, Joey Logano, Mark Martin, NASCAR, Tony Stewart