2009 Daytona 500 Predictions
Written February 12, 2009 by Jason Lowry
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With just a couple days separating us from the running of the 2009 Daytona 500 and the start of what should be another exciting season on the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series. Last year we started the season off with Ryan Newman winning this event, but the regular running season was dominated by Kyle Busch, but when it came to crunch time Jimmie Johnson once again proved he knew how to win when it mattered most, as he took home his 3rd straight Sprint Cup Series Championship. Johnson who won this race back in 2006, would tell you that while winning the Series Championship is a great accomplishment, your career just isn’t complete without a win here at the Daytona 500, where so many of the great racers have made their mark on this popular sport we have all grown to love. To help you out with the action this weekend, I am going to bring you my 1-2-3 prediction for the race, and most importantly get you going on another promising racing season.Â
1. Dale Earnhardt Jr. +700 odds to win at Sportsbook.com
In his first year as part of the Hendricks Motorsports team, Earnhardt won just 1 race (Lifelock 400), and has really struggled to get much anything going since 2004 when he won 6 Sprint Cup races, including the Daytona 500. Since that season Earnhardt Jr has won just 3 races, but are set on 2009 being the return of one of the best drivers the sport has to offer. Just last year Earnhardt Jr was solid here at Daytona winning the Budweiser Shootout and the Gatorade Duel, but when it came to the big race, Earnhardt Jr finished 9th. Look for a big win this weekend in Daytona.Â
2. Tony Stewart +1500 odds to win at Sportsbook.com
Here is a guy who over the past 10 years has become one of the biggest names in the sport today, but after his most disappointing season on the Sprint Cup Series winning just 1 race, Stewart now has new life, as he no longer is racing for Joe Gibbs Racing, but instead races for his own team, Stewart Haas Racing, and after so many years of him driving the #20 car for Home Depot, fans will now have to get use to the #14 car sponsored by Office Depot and Old Spice. Stewart finished 3rd here at the Daytona 500 a year ago, and we believe he has another strong showing in this one, falling just short to Earnhardt Jr.Â
3. Kasey Kahne +4000 odds to win at Sportsbook.com
If you are looking for a driver with great odds and a real good chance to win this weekend, this is your guy. After failing to win a race in 2007 Kahne bounced back with 2 wins in 2008, but after a couple shaky finishes Kahne was unable to make the final 12 for the Chase for the Sprint Cup. Kahne is coming off back-to-back 7th place finishes at the Daytona 500, and we feel like this is the year he cracks the top 3, and if everything goes his way, he just might have what it takes to take home the checkered flag.Â
So there you have it the 3 drivers we think are primed for a great showing at this year’s Daytona 500. Check out our Daytona 500 odds for a look at each drivers odds for the race.
If you liked this article, you may also be interested in:
- 2009 Daytona 500 Odds
- 2009 Coke Zero 400 Predictions
- 2009 All State 400 at the Brickyard Predictions
- 2009 Coca-Cola 600 Predictions
- 2009 Kobalt Tools 500 Predictions
One Response to “2009 Daytona 500 Predictions”
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I think Dale Jr and Jeff Gordon are both solid picks here. They will want to make a statement that they are ready for a big 2009. It’s hard not to back Tony either with the success he’s had. Stewart has made the switch to his own team, so I’d be hard pressed to find a time he was more motivated than this week. With the odds on Kahne I’m having a hard time not throwing a couple units down on him as well.
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