The Dener Broncos or the Seattle Seahawks? It seems like almost anyone you ask has a pick for the 2014 Super Bowl to be played Sunday evening (TV — FOX Sports at 6:30 p.m. ET). And just like pretty much everyone else, NASCAR drivers also have their picks. Here are some of them, along with the reasoning behind the picks:
Brad Keseloski: Denver
“Easy, it’s going to be the Broncos. I’ll take the Broncos by nine. That is my official, on the record pick. I’ll take Manning and the Broncos by nine.”
Joey Logano: Denver
“I am going to be rooting for the Broncos. I was rooting for the Patriots but that didn’t work out. I am a Peyton Manning fan. I think he is awesome and I love watching him play. I am rooting for the Broncos for that reason. I am not a huge football fan but I love watching him play and that is really my only reason for picking them.”
Denny Hamlin: Seattle
“Ultimately, the cliché of defense wins championship will come through. Also, Russell Wilson is a very underrated passer. The San Fran defense he beat is much tougher than the defense he’ll see on Sunday. Marshawn Lynch will be in full beast mode. He’s relaxed and as calm as they come under pressure. Peyton will have his shot at winning the game on the last drive but will come up a bit short.”
Ricky Stenhouse Jr.: thinks Denver, but rooting for Seattle
“I am definitely going to watch the Super Bowl. I enjoy football. I don’t really have a team in it. I did meet Russell Wilson last year at the ESPYS and he is a super nice guy and a huge race fan. He is really down to earth. He came over and talked to us for awhile so after that I became a big fan of his and watching him play is pretty exciting. I am pulling for him for sure but if I am making an official prediction I think the Broncos are going to win but I want Seattle to win.”
Greg Biffle: Seattle
“I am a big Seahawks fan being from Washington state so I gotta support the home team. I hope they pull it off, I am really rooting for them. The problem is I am a huge Peyton Manning fan as well and respect what he has been able to do in the sport, but I am going with my hometown team.”
Kasey Kahne: Seattle
“Seahawks win; that’s my prediction. Maybe about 30-24, Seahawks.”
Kyle Busch: Denver
“My Super Bowl prediction of course is the Broncos. I’m a huge Broncos fan so the Broncos are going to win and Kasey Kahne is going to wear a (Broncos) jersey down at Speedweeks in Daytona.”
NOTE: Busch and Kahne made a friendly Super Bowl bet with the picker of the losing team wearing a winning team’s jersey during Speed Weeks at Daytona (Fla.) International Speedway.
Aric Almirola: Denver
“I am pulling for the Broncos because I want to see Peyton shut up all the doubters who said he wouldn’t be able to come back from the neck injury. He has proven all of them wrong to this point but there are still naysayers that say he can make it to the big dance but won’ tbe able to win. I think it would be cool to see him win it to cap what he has done with turning that football team around. It is a lot like our situation really, he is playing for John Elway, the guy that made the Broncos famous. To take them back to the top is going to be really cool to watch.”
Marcos Ambrose: Denver
“I don’t follow too closely but I have some good friends of mine that are in Denver, so I am pulling for the Broncos for that reason. They are big fans of the Broncos, so I am a fan because of that.”
Paul Menard: Seattle
“I’ve always been a defensive guy. When I played football, I was a middle linebacker for seven years. I’m a defensive guy, so Seattle.”
Clint Bowyer: Denver
“(Denver quarterback Petyton Manning) did beat the Chiefs twice,” Bowyer said. “I wasn’t very happy with him over that, but nonetheless, that’s who my pick is.”
Matt Kenseth: Denver
“Peyton Manning’s kind of my sentimental pick because he prepares really hard, works really hard,” Kenseth said. “From watching at a fan standpoint, it appears he doesn’t have the physical attributes he used to have, and he still figures out how to have the best year a quarterback’s ever had in the league. I really admire his work ethic, how hard he prepares, the example he sets to his teammates, how hard he works in the offseason when he’s not required to — I really admire all that, so with that being said, I’d like to see him get another win in the Super Bowl, especially with a different team.”
Jamie McMurray: Denver
“Really, since getting to meet him (Peyton Manning), I pull for him. And I think the story of him playing for Colts, not able to come back, and then going to Denver, I think it would be really cool to see the Broncos win the Super Bowl just because of that. I think it’s a great story.”
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