DownNDirty
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The Bud Shootout: With Daytona being such a wildcard with the plates nearly anything can happen. I'll try to weed them out a few at a time to give some insight:
I'll never say never but here are my longest shots to win:
Bill Elliott - yes, he's a master of speed. But this car is not up to snuff and won't be fast enough to contend.
Brian Vickers - His new Toyota Red Bull entry hasn't shown speed in 500 practice or Shootout practice. Vickers is a good drafting driver but won't be able to contend for the win
Dale Jarrett - I have a hunch MWR will be using this as a good test and is only worried about getting those cars up to snuff for the 150's. DJ won't be a contender.
Boris Said - He'll be fast and maybe even run in the top 5-8 but I don't forsee Boris being able to pull out a win here.
Next group of guys, with slightly better chances......
David Gilliland - He's fast, bad fast. He's also not had much plate experience. That didn't matter to Hamlin last year but Hamlin had something Gilliland does not - a teammate to push him. DG will be up front but won't get the help he needs to win and should get shuffled back each time he surges forward.
Scott Riggs - Even though the Evernham Dodges have been running well I just can't see Riggs taking the win. But, he will have two teammates to draft with out there.
Mark Martin - First ride with the new team - Martin is just trying to get chemistry with the group and probably preparing for the 150's and the 500. Mark should run around 10th.
Ryan Newman - Will run decent but nothing earth shattering - probably looking at around a top 10-12 finish.
Jeff Burton - RCR's Burton hasn't been too happy with this car this weekend in practices. They will throw some things at it to see if they can make it better but I don't think he'll contend for a win.
Ken Schrader - He's a draft master but in the Wood's car you never know how great it will run. He led the first 20 of the Shootout last year. Special K will probably have flashes of brilliance but won't finish in the top 5
Elliott Sadler - Will be in the same boat as his teammate Riggs.
Next group up, some have good shots to win....
Kyle Busch - You never know how well he'll run. He will be fast but will he be patient and will others draft with him besides his teammates? He should contend but his over aggressiveness should hinder him in this event.
Greg Biffle - the best Ford in practice for this race Biffle has won at Daytona before. The Biff will be in contention to win but won't have much help out there. I can see Biff havving a strong run but come up short.
Kurt Busch - Will be a contender but I can't see his Dodge hanging in there with some of the fast Chevy's in this event.
Kasey Kahne - Should be the strongest Evernham car but won't get to the front when it counts.
Kevin Harvick - RCR's Harvick ride will be a contender and near the front the entire race. I think he'll be strong and even may get the lead a time or two but won't get the big win.
The FIVE.....the 5 I think have the best shot at winning.
Dale Earnhardt Jr - He's definitely earned his "pied piper" nickname at the plate tracks because they all want to follow DEJ. He'll have a great car and a good chance to win. I don't know if he will get it done tonight though - just not feeling it.
Denny Hamlin - Won the race last year - fastest in practice last night. Hamlin will run strong again but this year may not get that superpush to the win.
Jeff Gordon - Gordon, along with Johnson, will have a good shot at winning tonight. I see him in the top 5 for sure.
Jimmie Johnson - Won everything that mattered last year it seemed. He'll pick up with a solid run at Daytona tonight with a super strong car.
Tony Stewart - This is the year for the Smoke in the Shootout. He will be a contender all night and will be pushing hard to win. Tony excels in races where points don't matter because he likes driving the wheels off of the car. Stewart could have won last year but chose to push Hamlin to the win. This year I could see Denny returning the favor and pushing Stewart to the winners circle.
I'll never say never but here are my longest shots to win:
Bill Elliott - yes, he's a master of speed. But this car is not up to snuff and won't be fast enough to contend.
Brian Vickers - His new Toyota Red Bull entry hasn't shown speed in 500 practice or Shootout practice. Vickers is a good drafting driver but won't be able to contend for the win
Dale Jarrett - I have a hunch MWR will be using this as a good test and is only worried about getting those cars up to snuff for the 150's. DJ won't be a contender.
Boris Said - He'll be fast and maybe even run in the top 5-8 but I don't forsee Boris being able to pull out a win here.
Next group of guys, with slightly better chances......
David Gilliland - He's fast, bad fast. He's also not had much plate experience. That didn't matter to Hamlin last year but Hamlin had something Gilliland does not - a teammate to push him. DG will be up front but won't get the help he needs to win and should get shuffled back each time he surges forward.
Scott Riggs - Even though the Evernham Dodges have been running well I just can't see Riggs taking the win. But, he will have two teammates to draft with out there.
Mark Martin - First ride with the new team - Martin is just trying to get chemistry with the group and probably preparing for the 150's and the 500. Mark should run around 10th.
Ryan Newman - Will run decent but nothing earth shattering - probably looking at around a top 10-12 finish.
Jeff Burton - RCR's Burton hasn't been too happy with this car this weekend in practices. They will throw some things at it to see if they can make it better but I don't think he'll contend for a win.
Ken Schrader - He's a draft master but in the Wood's car you never know how great it will run. He led the first 20 of the Shootout last year. Special K will probably have flashes of brilliance but won't finish in the top 5
Elliott Sadler - Will be in the same boat as his teammate Riggs.
Next group up, some have good shots to win....
Kyle Busch - You never know how well he'll run. He will be fast but will he be patient and will others draft with him besides his teammates? He should contend but his over aggressiveness should hinder him in this event.
Greg Biffle - the best Ford in practice for this race Biffle has won at Daytona before. The Biff will be in contention to win but won't have much help out there. I can see Biff havving a strong run but come up short.
Kurt Busch - Will be a contender but I can't see his Dodge hanging in there with some of the fast Chevy's in this event.
Kasey Kahne - Should be the strongest Evernham car but won't get to the front when it counts.
Kevin Harvick - RCR's Harvick ride will be a contender and near the front the entire race. I think he'll be strong and even may get the lead a time or two but won't get the big win.
The FIVE.....the 5 I think have the best shot at winning.
Dale Earnhardt Jr - He's definitely earned his "pied piper" nickname at the plate tracks because they all want to follow DEJ. He'll have a great car and a good chance to win. I don't know if he will get it done tonight though - just not feeling it.
Denny Hamlin - Won the race last year - fastest in practice last night. Hamlin will run strong again but this year may not get that superpush to the win.
Jeff Gordon - Gordon, along with Johnson, will have a good shot at winning tonight. I see him in the top 5 for sure.
Jimmie Johnson - Won everything that mattered last year it seemed. He'll pick up with a solid run at Daytona tonight with a super strong car.
Tony Stewart - This is the year for the Smoke in the Shootout. He will be a contender all night and will be pushing hard to win. Tony excels in races where points don't matter because he likes driving the wheels off of the car. Stewart could have won last year but chose to push Hamlin to the win. This year I could see Denny returning the favor and pushing Stewart to the winners circle.
