NASCAR: Dark Horse Picks for the Daytona 500

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Feb 17, 2016; Daytona Beach, FL, USA; NASCAR Sprint Cup Series driver Landon Cassill (38) during practice for the Daytona 500 at Daytona International Speedway. Mandatory Credit: Mike DiNovo-USA TODAY Sports /

Landon Cassill

This guy knows how to keep his car in one piece and get to the finish. In fact, he was the driver who wrecked the least in 2015 among drivers who attempted every race. He also has a knack for the draft, having posted finishes of 4th, 12th, and 14th over the past three seasons in restrictor-plate races where he was not plagued by engine troubles in his Joe Falk-owned No. 40 team.

Now Cassill has been given the opportunity to step into a better ride with the Front Row Motorsports No. 38 team. Front Row usually brings strong race cars to the restrictor-plate tracks, having won a race at Talladega and sat on the pole at Daytona in the past few seasons. Now the team will be ever stronger with the alliance with Roush Fenway Racing.

Look for Cassill to keep the car in good shape, barring any engine problems or unavoidable accidents, and he will know how to maneuver that Florida Lottery Ford into late-race contention.

Next: Chris Buescher

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