This weekend we head back to Daytona for the 3^rd restrictor plate race of the season. Those who have done well in the first 2 restrictor plate races this year should once again be towards the front of the field when the checkers fly once again this weekend. Then again, everyone in the lead pack will be close to the checkers when they fly!

            So, my pick to win this weekend is Dale Earnhardt Jr. because he has done well on restrictor plate tracks this year. Junior won the Bud Shootout and his Gatorade Duel at Daytona and then finished in the top 10 at Talladega and in the Daytona 500. The Hendrick engines have the power to help you pull out and pass when you need it.

            Kyle Busch finished 4^th at Daytona and won the race at Talladega. The Toyotas were all very strong in both of the restrictor plate races this year and Kyle is a good pick here unless you can only start him a certain number of times throughout the season like in the Yahoo league. The reason I say this is because you hate to start such a dominant driver on a track where you can be eliminated in the big one or go from 1^st to 30^th in a lap because no one wanted to follow you.

            Ryan Newman won the Daytona 500 and finished 8^th at Talladega this year. This is not a surprise because the Penske cars have been getting better and better every time they hit a restrictor plate track.

            Kurt Busch pushed Ryan to the win at Daytona and was one of my favorites to win that race. Kurt was in an accident at Talladega but is always a good pick at this type of track. He knows how to bide his time and he seems to know who he drafts well with.

            Jeff Gordon and Jimmie Johnson are both good at the restrictor plate tracks and should be running with Junior this weekend. Like I said, the Hendrick teams have the power and aerodynamics to move them to the front here. That includes Casey Mears who could do what Brian Vickers did after announcing that he was leaving Hendrick Motorsports. He could win another race for them.

            Tony Stewart always seems to do better in July than he does in February at Daytona. Tony has yet to win the Daytona 500 but he has multiple victories here in July. Tony has the same car and engine that Kyle Busch won with at Talladega this year so he could once again return to victory lane at Daytona.

            Kasey Kahne has been on a tear lately and the Evernham cars have really made great strides with their restrictor plate packages. Kasey has 3 straight top 10 finishes at Daytona and brought Elliott Sadler along with him this spring for another top 10 finish for Evernham.

            Kevin Harvick won the Daytona 500 last year and always has a good car here. You probably won’t hear much about Harvick battling for the lead early in the race unless his car is perfect but I can guarantee you that you will see him come from nowhere in the last 20 laps to get in the thick of things.

            My Yahoo picks will look much different from who I am predicting will finish in the top 5 this week. The reason is I just don’t want to waste a pick on someone who could get caught up in “the big one” when I can feel safer picking him somewhere else that I’m sure he will do well. For this reason Junior is not in my starting lineup.

            Yahoo picks for Daytona

            Group A

            Kurt Busch (starter)

            Jimmie Johnson

            Group B

            Kasey Kahne (starter)

            Elliott Sadler (starter)

            Dale Earnhardt Jr.

            Kyle Busch

            Group C

            Travis Kvapil (starter)

            Brian Vickers

            Top 5 Overall at Daytona

1.      Dale Earnhardt Jr.

2.      Kurt Busch

3.      Kyle Busch

4.      Tony Stewart

5.      Kasey Kahne

Dark Horse: Elliott Sadler

Stay Away From: Ford drivers

As always you can Email me with any questions, comments or suggestions at gutsamaniac@hotmail.com. Good luck once again this week and remember that the race is Saturday night!