Written by Gabriel Tsui, Edited by Vyas Ponnuri
After the long summer and the preseason, we are moments away to the 77th season of the NASCAR Cup Series. For the first race of the season, we kick things off down in Daytona Beach for the Daytona 500.
Track Preview
Located in Daytona Beach, Florida, the track first opened in 1959, and has hosted the Daytona 500, the opening race of every season and one of the four NASCAR crown jewel races, ever since. It also hosts a number of other well known races, including the IMSA Daytona 24 hours, and the final race of the NASCAR regular season, the Daytona 400.
The drivers will be going around the 2.5 mile (4.0 kilometre) track for 200 laps, with 65 laps each in stages one and two, closing out the final stage with 70 laps, totalling a distance of 500 miles (804.7 kilometres) run around the track. The turns have a banking of 31 degrees, alongside a 18 degree banking in the front straight.
The weather report indicates that it will be sunny throughout the weekend in Daytona Beach, with temperatures around 77 degrees Fahrenheit (25 degrees Celsius). The race will commence on the Sunday of February 16th, at 14:30 EST (11:30 PST, 20:30 CET).
Race Predictions
Since it's the first race of the season, it will be quite difficult to predict who can start off their season with a win under their belt, however, history has told us that this will be mostly a contest between Chevrolet and the Fords.
The Toyotas have a reputation of being the underdog around superspeedways, winning only once over eight trips to Daytona and Talladega, with said sole win coming from a fluke win, where the leaders collided into each other in the final stretch to the chequered flag.
However, they have three-time Daytona 500 winner Denny Hamlin representing, while Christopher Bell has cracked the top-three two seasons in a row, and Bubba Wallace has never finished below top five in the Daytona 500. In the perfect circumstance, the Toyotas definitely have what they need to win the race.
Daytona is a place where underdogs rise to shine, and that is why I pick Christopher Bell to win the race. Coming off a disappointing end to the season in 2024, the Oklahoma native will be looking for a comeback to kickstart his season.
And what better way to start the season than to win the Daytona 500? What better way to announce that Toyota is back by winning one of the most prestigious races in North American racing history?
Three things to look out for
Chaos at the superspeedway
Superspeedways have created chaos for years, with huge crashes every year and surprise contenders at the front towards the end of the race, so expect the same for this year. Some contenders up front could easily be taken out or fall out of contention, while some back markers could make huge pushes up to the front when all the stars align.
The race to qualify for open entries
This season, there will be nine cars competing for four open entry spots at the Daytona 500, with those drivers being Anthony Alfredo, Justin Allgaier, Hélio Castroneves, Jimmie Johnson, Corey LaJoie, B.J. McLeod, Chandler Smith, Martin Truex Jr. and J.J. Yeley. These drivers will be competing for the four available spots, though the new NASCAR rule could automatically enter Castroneves, while still maintaining the four spots up for grabs.
Toyotas on the upswing
As mentioned above, Daytona looks upon the underdogs favourably. The likes of Toyota will be overpowered in bump-drafting due to disadvantages in numbers and machinery. However, the likes of Bell and Ty Gibbs, or even Wallace have been long overdue for a win, and these drivers won’t be easily defeated. Look out for them to start hauling everything and the kitchen sink to take the lead in the final laps.
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