NASCAR: Dark Horse Picks for the Daytona 500

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Feb 13, 2016; Daytona Beach, FL, USA; NASCAR Sprint Cup Series driver Ricky Stenhouse Jr. (17) during practice for the Daytona 500 at Daytona International Speedway. Mandatory Credit: Peter Casey-USA TODAY Sports /

Ricky Stenhouse Jr.

The Roush Fenway Racing stable is looking to rebound after a poor season in 2015 across the board. The two-time Xfinity Series Champion Stenhouse Jr. may be the man who can get the ball rolling on a successful season for the team in the Daytona 500. This car has been fast through the opening days of Speedweeks.

To begin, the No. 17 Fastenal Ford was one of the strongest Fords in the single-car qualifying on Sunday. Stenhouse drove the car to a fifth-place qualifying effort, showing he has one of the fastest cars at Daytona. He ran a solid race in the first Can-Am Duel Thursday night and ended up with a tenth-place run, keeping the car in one piece. He will start in 19th position and will surely bring that car to the front.

Stenhouse is no stranger to success on restrictor-plate races. He has finished in top 10 at Talladega and Daytona multiple times, including a third place finish at Talladega in 2013. If he gets the full potential out of this fast Ford machine, Ricky Stenhouse Jr. will be up front and ready to surprise everyone with his first victory in the biggest race of them all.

Next: Ryan Blaney

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