Comments: NASCAR Picks for Daytona 500

No matter the sport, every fantasy owner wants to get their 2012 season off to a fast start. That is easier said than done in fantasy NASCAR. Daytona International Speedway creates some of the most unpredictable action and outcomes in the series, and owners need only look back to last year's race for a reminder. Rookie Trevor Bayne won the race in just his second-career Cup start, while David Gilliland and Bobby Labonte also finished in the top five.

Needless to say, fantasy owners don't necessarily need to rely on big names in order to have success in the season opener. In fact, it is probably a good idea to avoid them. The chances of a driver wrecking are higher at Daytona than at any other track, and wasting a start from Jimmie Johnson or Carl Edwards isn't exactly a great way to start the year.

1. Kevin Harvick, Budweiser/Rheem
2. Carl Edwards, Fastenal/Aflac/UPS/Subway
3. Matt Kenseth, Husky/Dollar General
4. Kyle Busch, Mars Brands/Interstate Batteries
5. Tony Stewart, Bass Pro Shops/Mobil 1
6. Jeff Gordon, Drive to End Hunger/Axalta
7. Kasey Kahne, Farmers Insurance/Quaker State
8. Juan Montoya, Target
9. Dale Earnhardt, Jr., National Guard/Diet Mountain Dew
10. Paul Menard, Menards
11. Clint Bowyer, 5-Hour Energy
12. Kurt Busch, Furniture Row
13. A.J. Allmendinger, Phoenix Racing
14. Brad Keselowski, Miller Lite
15. Trevor Bayne, Motorcraft/Quick Lane
16. Regan Smith, Guy Roofing
17. Jimmie Johnson, Lowe's/Kobalt Tools
18. Jeff Burton, Caterpillar/Cheerios
19. Jamie McMurray, McDonald's/Cessna
20. Joey Logano, Shell-Pennzoil
21. Ryan Newman, Quicken Loans/Haas Automation
22. Denny Hamlin, FedEx
23. Greg Biffle, 3M/Bondo
24. David Gilliland, Love's Travel Stops/A&W Restaurants
25. Aric Almirola, Smithfield Foods
26. Martin Truex, Jr., NAPA Auto Parts
27. David Ragan, CSX Transportation/Peanut Patch
28. Marcos Ambrose, Stanley/Dewalt Power Tools
29. Mark Martin, Aaron's Dream Machine
30. Danica Patrick, GoDaddy.com