Daytona 500 Driver Rankings

by Eric McGuire , Updated Saturday, February 16, 2008

The Bud Shootout presented 2008 fantasy NASCAR players with their first true look at how the teams looked after a full winter of testing, research, and development. Bud Pole Qualifying on Sunday put that to the test and two guys on teams with well documented winters will be on the front row for the 50th Daytona 500.

Jimmie Johnson will be on the pole and Michael Waltrip will be on the outside of the front row when the green flag falls. The rest of the field was set by the results of the Thursday qualifying races. Both Johnson's Hendrick Motorsports team and Waltrip and the entire Toyota group put a lot of effort into their speedway programs this off-season, with Hendrick looking to stay on top and Toyota looking to move into the sport's upper-echelon after the addition of Gibbs Racing.

Because Waltrip now has a guaranteed starting spot for the 500, he will be part of the top 30 and should be on your class C roster for this weekend. Several of the top teams were forced to change engines before the Twin 150's on Thursday, including the entire Hendrick group (Dale Earnhardt Jr., Jimmie Johnson, Jeff Gordon, Casey Mears), Scott Riggs (with a Hendrick engine), Tony Stewart and Denny Hamlin (from Gibbs), JJ Yeley (with a Gibbs engine), and Kurt Busch had engine trouble during the first Twin 150. This can make fantasy players uneasy- as widespread engine trouble can make for unpredictable results, but the engine trouble prior to the actual race gives teams a chance to put a new motor under the hood and head off any serious problems that may arise otherwise.

So, who to pick for the 500? There are no more mysteries regarding who will be in the field; the field was completely set after the Twin 150's. That means that the rankings will include the best 30 plate racers in the business, period.

1. Tony Stewart, #20 Home Depot Toyota, Gibbs Racing

Stewart was impressive in the Bud Shootout and put to rest any notion that the switch to Toyota would hinder him on the Super Speedways. He had the strongest car in last season's Daytona 500, before he crashed with the 2nd fastest car in the field (Kurt Busch) while leading the race. He won the Pepsi 400 at Daytona in 2006 in dominating fashion and the only big race he has never won is the Daytona 500. The one downside: his engine has been replaced once already this week and he reported that something wasn't right with his motor during the Twin 150. This didn't hinder him from finishing 2nd.

2. Dale Earnhardt Jr, #88 AMP/National Guard Chevrolet, Hendrick Motorsports

Earnhardt was dominant during the Bud Shootout, leading 47 laps en route to the win. He won again in the first Twin 150, making him two for two in his new ride. With his new ride at Hendrick, he is a threat to add to his 7 career restrictor plate wins and he should be the top class B selection for your roster.

3. Jimmie Johnson, #48 Lowe's Chevrolet, Hendrick Motorsports

Johnson was 2nd in both races at Talladega last season and is also a former Daytona 500 winner. He wasn't as solid at Daytona last season, struggling with the handling in each race, but finished 10th in the summer race and pushed Dale Jr. to the win in the Bud Shootout.

4. Jeff Gordon, #24 DuPont Chevrolet, Hendrick Motorsports

Gordon has the most plate wins of anyone since 2004 (6) and won both races at Talladega last season. He wasn't a factor in last season's 500, but led 9 laps and finished 5th in the Pepsi 400 last July. He has a mantle full of Daytona 500 trophies at home and should be on your class A roster for this race.

5. Denny Hamlin, #11 FedEx Toyota, Gibbs Racing

Hamlin was average at Daytona last season, but was very strong at Talladega in both races. He led 48 laps in the spring event before ending up 21st and then led 40 laps in the fall race in the COT before finishing 4th. He also starts 4th in the 500 after a win in the second Twin 150.

6. Kurt Busch, #2 Miller Lite Dodge, Penske Racing South

Busch has never won on a plate track, but was the other dominant car in last season's Daytona 500 before his early exit. He was 3rd at Talladega in the spring, 3rd in the last two Pepsi 400's, and 7th at Talladega in the new COT. Last season, he was no doubt a class B selection; however, in the class A group, he doesn't stand out quite as much. Still, he's an excellent selection.

7. Kyle Busch, #18 M&M's Toyota, Gibbs Racing

In almost every restrictor plate race, Kyle Busch is a contender. He crashed at Talladega in the COT, but was strong in both events at Daytona (ignore the 24th place finish in the 500 - he was running in the top 5 near the start finish line and was involved in a last lap crash). He has finished 2nd in each of the past two Pepsi 400's and has led laps in 3 of his 6 Daytona starts. He is an excellent roster choice for the 500, even with the switch to Gibbs (as evidenced by his 15 laps led in the second Twin 150).

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