NASCAR
Which Playoff Bubble Drivers Have Past Daytona Wins?
Through 25 weeks of racing, 15 Playoff spots are locked in for the NASCAR Cup Series. Heading into Saturday’s regular season finale from Daytona International Speedway, 15 more drivers could win their way into the final Playoff berth. Of these 15 drivers, eight have a past win at the famed Florida superspeedway. Who has the best chance at repeating this past triumph? Let’s look at all eight previous Daytona victors in need of another checkered flag to make the 2022 Playoffs.
Ryan Blaney
All eyes will rightfully be on Ryan Blaney throughout Saturday’s 400-mile race. Despite being third in regular season points, Blaney’s 2022 winless status has him as 16th on the provisional Playoff grid. Holding a 25-point gap over Martin Truex Jr., Blaney may need a win to secure his fate. The defending Coke Zero Sugar 400 winner, Blaney was one big block away from a potential Daytona 500 win in February. Cindric moved up to defend against his teammate in the 12, sending Blaney into the wall and finishing fourth. Blaney led 36 laps in February, far more than the mere seven laps led in last year’s Daytona triumph. One of the strongest superspeedway racers today, Blaney is among the overall favorites to take the regular season ending win.
Brad Keselowski
Blaney’s 36 laps led in the Daytona 500 was second only to the 67 circuits paced by Brad Keselowski. In his first outing with the RFK Racing No. 6 team, Keselowski was perhaps the fastest car in February. The 2016 summer Daytona winner won his Duel race, in addition to being the most aggressive driver in The Great American Race. At 27th in points, Keselowski truly has nothing to lose and everything to gain this weekend. Between the driver/owner and teammate Chris Buescher, RFK should bring two rocket ships to Daytona. After being relegated to ninth in February, Keselowski and his aggression may take no prisoners.
Michael McDowell
Last year’s Daytona 500 Champion, Michael McDowell amazingly has seen an even better season in 2022. With 10 top-10s including last week at Watkins Glen, the 34 team enters Daytona with perhaps the most momentum of anyone on this list. In the rain early at The Glen, McDowell took the lead away from Chase Elliott and held off the 9. At Daytona in February, McDowell backed up his 2021 triumph with a seventh-place effort. This marked the latest of McDowell’s eight career Daytona top-10s. Saturday could be a second victory for the ultimate underdog at The World Center of Racing.
Aric Almirola
The 2014 summer Daytona winner, Aric Almirola was annoyingly close to the Harley J. Earl Trophy in February. Almirola finished fifth in this year’s Daytona 500, saying post-race he wanted those last few laps back. The Tampa native thought he could have won, taking what would have been his third superspeedway victory. Should Almirola survive the impending chaos and carnage again, the 10 could be in position late to put a third Stewart-Haas car in the Playoffs.
Ricky Stenhouse Jr.
The 2017 winner at both Talladega and Daytona, Ricky Stenhouse Jr. could upset with his third career win. After leading inside of the final 10 laps in February only to be wrecked out, Stenhouse eyes retribution at Daytona. Despite being known as a very aggressive racer on superspeedways, Stenhouse hasn’t seen a Daytona top-10 since his 2017 victory. With five top-10s so far in 2022, Stenhouse and the No. 47 JTG Daugherty Racing team look to play spoiler on the high banks.
Austin Dillon
2018 Daytona 500 Champion Austin Dillon started off strong in 2022, only to falter to 19th in points. The opening 10 weeks of the year saw three top-fives, including second-place results at Auto Club and Talladega. Since then though, the 3’s best finish has been ninth. Like almost everyone mentioned here, Dillon has very little if anything to lose and everything to gain with a win on Saturday. Trying to put both RCR cars into the 2022 postseason, Dillon will have a great shot at a fourth career win and second Daytona triumph.
Erik Jones
Career win number one came for Erik Jones in the Daytona summer race just four years ago. Fast-forwarding to four months ago, driver 43 for Petty GMS Racing was staring down another superspeedway win at Talladega. If not for a bad last-lap block, Jones would have earned the win instead of a sixth-place finish. After coming heartbreakingly close to a Talladega triumph, Jones enters Daytona with great confidence for a repeat performance, ideally being first to the checkers this time.
Justin Haley
One of the biggest underdog winners in modern NASCAR history, Justin Haley won the Daytona 2019 summer race. Running part-time then with Spire Motorsports, 2022 is Haley’s first full season effort with Kaulig Racing. During his time in Xfinity with Kaulig, Haley won four superspeedway races, including two at Daytona. Running double-duty this weekend, Haley will be trophy hunting both nights, and has a fair chance at both victories.
The Coke Zero Sugar 400 has the potential to be the most dramatic, unknown, and chaos-driven race of 2022. With close to half of the field having a great chance to win their way into the Playoffs, desperation will be high for many to do whatever it takes to win. Coverage will begin Saturday night at 7:00 p.m. ET on NBC, MRN, and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio Channel 90. Of the eight drivers above who have made it to Daytona victory lane, can any of them repeat this feat under such high pressure? Tune in to find out who the 16th seed will be in the 2022 NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs.
Written by Peter Stratta
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Photo Credit to Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images for NASCAR
