The two Kyles were the only writers able to pick top-ten finishing drivers at the Daytona 500. Kyle Ocker earned ten points for correctly picking Trevor Bayne as the winner (his dark horse pick) and Kyle Brandt earned six points for his dark horse pick Juan Pablo Montoya finishing sixth.
UPDATED POINTS AFTER DAYTONA 500 PICKS: Kyle Ocker 11; Kyle Brandt 7; Jeffrey Boswell 1; Mark Odor 1; Ashley McCubbin 0; Barry Albert 0; Ben Gunby 0; Ed Coombs 0; Matt LaFlair 0; Roberta Cowan 0.
Matt LaFlair
WHO I REALLY THINK WILL WIN: Carl Edwards
Edwards set fast lap in November at Phoenix last year and I believe he is going to lay down about 300 fast laps on Sunday. Edwards will carry momentum from his 2nd place finish at Daytona into defending his win from November of last year.
MY DARK HORSE PICK: Clint Bowyer
Chevys have pretty much cleaned up here as of late. Outside of Edwards, I do not see anyone changing the trend. Watch for Bowyer to be towards the front when the checkers fly Sunday Afternoon.
Kyle Brandt
Who I think will win: Jimmie Johnson
Jimmie has the best average finish at Phoenix (3.25), and has logged top-ten finishes in each of his 4 starts there since February of 2009, leading 27% of
the total laps in that timeframe.
Dark Horse: Ryan Newman
Ryan has a strong track record at Phoenix, having logged top-ten finishes in two of the four races at the track since 2009, and the fourth best average among
active drivers at the track (9.75). Having a win during the Spring 2010 race at the diamond in the desert makes his stock a lot stronger.
Jeffrey Boswell
Who I Really Think Will Win: Jimmie Johnson
My Dark Horse Pick:A.J. Allmendinger
Comments: Johnson and Carl Edwards battle down the stretch, both refusing to concede an inch. Johnson nips Edwards at the line, and the two exchange heated words afterwards, and Johnson boasts of his choke hold on the Sprint Cup.
Mark Odor
WIN: Jeff Gordon
MY DARK HORSE PICK: Brad Keselowski
Ed Coombs
WHO I REALLY THINK WILL WIN: Jimmie Johnson
MY DARK HORSE PICK: Dale Earnhardt Jr
COMMENTS: I’m thinking Johnson will make a statement in Phoenix by taking charge and dominating this race. No one really knows how the teams are doing because they’ve only tested at Daytona so its anon plate track. I am going to think nothings really changed since last season.
Barry Albert
WHO I REALLY THINK WILL WIN: Jimmie Johnson
MY DARK HORSE PICK: Carl Edwards
Roberta Cowan
WHO I REALLY THINK WILL WIN: Jimmie Johnson
MY DARK HORSE PICK: Kevin Harvick
Kyle Ocker
WHO I REALLY THINK WILL WIN: Carl Edwards
MY DARK HORSE PICK: Regan Smith
COMMENTS: I’m just glad that I was one of the only people in the world who picked Trevor Bayne to win the Daytona 500, albeit as my dark horse. Still right.
