NASCAR: Who could pull off a Daytona upset?
Daytona International Speedway has produced many upset winners. Who could be the next driver to win and get into the 2020 NASCAR Cup Series playoffs?
Daytona International Speedway is set to host the regular season finale for the first time in NASCAR Cup Series history. With the track being such a wild card track, it presents the opportunity for almost anybody outside of the playoff picture to win and get into the playoffs.
Since 2010, the track has produced five first-time winners, including last year’s Coke Zero Sugar 400 winner Justin Haley. Three of these first-time winners, Trevor Bayne, David Ragan, and Aric Almirola, have only ever scored wins at superspeedways.
The reason for so many surprise winners at Daytona International Speedway is the draft. The draft is the ultimate equalizer and allows for mid-pack drivers to run at the front.
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Who could be the next driver to score an upset win at Daytona International Speedway? Let’s take a look at a few who have that potential to shift the playoff cut line with a victory on Saturday night.
Chris Buescher
Chris Buescher’s first season at Roush Fenway Racing has been a bit of a disappointment. He was expected to take the next step toward being a contender for the 16-driver playoffs. Instead, he has seen a slight drop in his average finish, despite running in better equipment than he had over the last few years at JTG Daugherty Racing.
The bright spot in Buescher’s 2020 season? Two top six finishes at the superspeedways.
He restarted on row two during the final restarts in both the Daytona 500 and the GEICO 500 at Talladega Superspeedway. He finished in third and sixth place, respectively.
Add in a pair of fifth place finishes at Daytona International Speedway in 2018 and you’ve got a guy on the cusp of scoring a breakthrough victory.
Ryan Newman
Everyone remembers Ryan Newman’s frightening crash at the end of the 2020 Daytona 500. But many forget that before the wreck, he led 15 laps and nearly won the race.
Go back to the 2019 1000Bulbs.com 500 at Talladega Superspeedway. Newman used a push from Denny Hamlin to take the lead on the final lap. He would, of course, be overtaken by Ryan Blaney in the tri-oval and settle for second place, but only by 0.007 seconds.
That makes two consecutive superspeedway races which Newman led coming into the tri-oval, and he has finished in the top nine in nine of the last 14 superspeedway races, including five of the last six at Daytona International Speedway.
The 2008 Daytona 500 winner is looking to capture his second career superspseedway win.
Michael McDowell
Unlike Buescher and Newman, Michael McDowell has not been in position to win a superspseedway race, but he does boast a string of solid finishes.
He has finished top 15 in eight of his last nine races at Daytona International Speedway and has posted a pair of top five results. His one finish outside the top 15 during that span was a 26th place finish in the 2018 Coke Zero Sugar 400. It should be noted that he led 20 laps in this race before crashing out late.
McDowell’s team, Front Row Motorsports, have seen success on at superspeedways. David Ragan and David Gilliland worked together to earn a 1-2 finish in the 2013 Aaron’s 499 at Talladega Superspeedway.
Two-time Daytona 500 winner Matt Kenseth and 2018 Daytona 500 runner-up Bubba Wallace could be other drivers to look out for this weekend as well.
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Live coverage of the Coke Zero Sugar 400 is scheduled to begin at 7:30 p.m. ET from Daytona International Speedway on NBC. With a playoff spot at stake, everyone should be going all-in for the victory.