Countdown to Green: Daytona 500 Prediction

The Super Bowl of Stock Car Racing. The Great American Race. The 500. Or just simply, the Daytona 500.

No matter what it is called, NASCAR’s biggest race is set to go on Sunday to officially kick off the 2025 season for the cup series.

It is the catalyst of a grueling 36 race schedule that visits 25 tracks across 20 states and two countries.

But no matter who you ask in this sport, winning this race means more than any other on the schedule, even including the championship at the end of the year.

From Denny Hamlin seeking his fourth win in this race, William Byron trying to make it two in a row and veterans like Busch and Keselowski still seeking that long awaited victory, there are many storylines coming into this event.

One of which is Chase Briscoe who in his first race at Joe Gibbs Racing won the first ever Daytona 500 pole for Toyota since they entered the sport.

Toyota has possibly had its best speed weeks ever as not only did they win the pole, but Bubba Wallace won the first duel race last night and for a brief moment Erik Jones appeared to have won the second one.

Of course that win was given to Austin Cindric who was ahead at the time the caution came out just before he and Jones were at the finish line.

Two of their open cars in Jimmie Johnson and Martin Truex Jr both made the field based on their qualifying times on Wednesday night as well.

The duels also saw the two last open spots for the 500 filled when Justin Allgaier and Corey Lajoie both locked themselves in by finishing the highest on their respective duels.

For Allgaier it means a little more as in the first race JR Motorsports ever attempts at the cup level, they secure a spot in the Great American Race in what was a very emotional night for car owner Dale Earnhardt Jr.

The duels also saw some teams take damage after incidents that happened on the track.

Guys like Alex Bowman, Brad Keselowski and Daniel Suárez all were involved in wrecks that may put them in backup cars if the damage is too severe to repair.

But just because they may be in backup cars does not mean they are at a total disadvantage in this race.

As everyone will tell you, this race takes just as much luck and survival as it does skill in order to win it.

And just about anyone can win it as well. From hall of farmers to rookies and from championship organizations to middle of the pack teams it does not matter who you are because just about everyone who has won this race has had to do it a different way from everyone else.

But who will grab the checkered flag from the flag-stand when the dust settles?

Like it was stated before, do not count anyone out because this race is unpredictable. Toyota has been the dominant manufacturer this week and Ford has looked strong especially in the duels but I think Chevrolet may take it home this year.

As for the driver?

I like Kyle Busch to finally get that one win that has eluded him for his entire career. He has come close his last two years but this time he leads that final lap.

Either way this is going to be another incredible weekend of racing with the trucks racing Friday night, Xfinity on Saturday and Cup on Sunday.

Green flag from the 67th running of the Daytona 500 is at 2:30 from Daytona Beach, Florida.

Chase Fisher is a first-year student majoring in broadcast journalism. To contact him, please email ctf5198@psu.edu.