Ricky Rudd, Jarrett's teammate at Yates, seemingly has everything it takes to win Daytona-talent, experience, a top team, Yates horsepower-but has never prevailed at the 2.5-mile superspeedway.
Bill Elliott, Jeff Gordon, and Sterling Marlin each have two victories in the Daytona 500. Marlin, in fact, is one of three drivers with consecutive wins, having won the event in '94 and '95. Plus, Marlin was Dodge's top performer last season, claiming two wins and finishing third in the points race.
Elliott sat on the pole for last season's 500 and finished the season with his first Cup win since '94. Elliott's "Awesome Bill" years have long since passed him by, however, and only a near-perfect car would give the 46-year-old another Daytona win.
The Right StuffGordon, of course, is the defending Winston Cup champion who won the Daytona 500 in '97 and again in '99. If the No. 24 DuPont Chevrolet is strong at the finish, then don't bet against Gordon reaching Victory Lane again. Forget the talk about catching Earnhardt's and Petty's seven Winston Cup championships. How many Daytona 500s can this cat win?
No 30-year-old in the sport's history has started a season with a more enviable future-or past-than Gordon. He's a four-time Cup champion, he's entering what is considered a stock car racer's prime decade (his 30s), he's with one of the sport's all-time great owners in Rick Hendrick, and he has a bright young crew chief.
Darkhorses? There are plenty.
If the wind blows just right-literally-then a Pontiac could find its way to Daytona's Victory Lane. Two of the sport's top drivers-Tony Stewart and Bobby Labonte-drive Pontiacs for Joe Gibbs Racing, but neither has won at Daytona, outside of Labonte's Twin 125 victory in '99. Jarrett's first Daytona 500 win, in '93, came with Gibbs, however. The question is whether the Pontiacs have the aerodynamic mettle to do battle with the Fords and Chevys at Daytona.
It's also hard to ignore the possibility of Richard Childress Racing reaching Victory Lane. Kevin Harvick and Jeff Green are proven NASCAR winners, capable of winning anywhere, while longshot Robby Gordon's lone Cup win came at New Hampshire in the tour's final race of 2001.
Others who could factor into an exciting Daytona finish include Andy Petree Racing's Bobby Hamilton, who won at Talladega last year, and Jimmy Spencer, a Dodge teammate of Marlin with Chip Ganassi Racing.
Of course, predicting a Daytona 500 winner is a bit like trying to draft a tractor and trailer in a hurricane. You never know what to expect. But that's part of the charm.
| SPEEDWEEKS SCHEDULE |
| Date | Event |
| Feb. 3-4 | Rolex 24 at Daytona |
| Feb. 9 | Daytona 500 Qualifying |
| Feb. 10 | Budweiser Shootout |
| Feb. 10 | Discount Auto Parts 200 |
| ARCA RE/MAX Series Race |
| Feb. 14 | Gatorade 125-mile |
| Qualifying Races |
| Feb. 15 | Florida Dodge Dealers 250 |
| Craftsman Truck Series Race |
| Feb. 15 | True Value IROC Race |
| Feb. 16 | EAS/GNC Live Well 300 |
| Busch Series Race |
| Feb. 17 | 44th annual Daytona 500 |