2011 Daytona 500 Prospectus (November 8, 2010)
It's that time of year again, the current NASCAR Sprint Cup Series season is almost in the books and the attention starts to shift towards the circuit's biggest race, the 53rd running of the "Great American Race," the Daytona 500. Next year's late Winter Classic will be interesting for a number of reasons, certainly including that this will be the first Daytona 500 since 2007, in which rear spoilers will be used instead of the oddball rear wing. However, the biggest interest will be how the brand-new, bump free surface will affect the racing itself. Also as always new driver-team combinations always debut at the season opener creating further drama to the event (don't forget of course Jamie McMurray won in his first start for Earnhardt-Ganassi Racing last year).
So without further ado, let's look at the potential entrants for next year's Daytona 500.
(+) Locked in by 2010 owner points standings, or the champions' provisional,
(-) Must either qualify by speed or through the Gatorade Duels.
Note: Teams and drivers are ordered by my view on who has the best chance to win the Daytona 500.
Joe Gibbs Racing: Always seem to be the pacesetters in the "500," but ironically haven't won this race since 1993 with Dale Jarrett. Busch gets the top preference, but Hamlin is a lot closer to Kyle's pace on the plate tracks than in past years. Logano's still learning the ropes in year three for him.
(+) Kyle Busch (18) M&M's Toyota
(+) Denny Hamlin (11) FedEx Express Toyota
(+) Joey Logano (20) The Home Depot Toyota
Richard Childress Racing: Harvick looked primed to bag the win last year until the late race yellow flags. Burton and Bowyer equally adept at the plate tracks, while new driver Menard has shown flashes of potential witht the plates and is a potential under the radar darkhorse in the "500." Menard currently not locked into the field, but with potentially several top 35 teams not returning in 2011, the opportunity to secure his place in the field seems likely.
(+) Kevin Harvick (29) Budweiser Chevrolet
(+) Jeff Burton (31) Caterpillar Chevrolet
(+) Clint Bowyer (33) Cheerios/Hamburger Helper Chevrolet
(-) Paul Menard (27) Menards Chevrolet
Hendrick Motorsports: Seemed to take a step back with the plate program last year, but expect them to bounce in 2011. Junior showed potential at Talladega fall race before accident eliminated him, just missed win in "500" last year placing second. Gordon is overdue for a win and a chance to win a fourth "500" might invigorate him. Johnson has been snakebit as of late in the big race, but his credentials force one to be unable to exclude him from the contenders. Martin will certainly give it his all to win here in what could be his last shot to win the Great American Race.
(+) Dale Earnhardt, Jr. (88) National Guard/AMP Energy Drink Chevrolet
(+) Jeff Gordon (24) DuPont Chevrolet
(+) Jimmie Johnson (48) Lowe's Chevrolet
(+) Mark Martin (5) GoDaddy.com Chevrolet
Earnhardt-Ganassi Racing: Defending champion Jamie McMurray certainly proved Earnhardt-Ganassi is once again one of the best plate racing teams on the circuit, if not the best, a title they held for most of the 2000s decade when Dale Earnhardt, Jr. and Michael Waltrip were turning the wheels. The question now is will Juan Pablo Montoya become the "Michael Waltrip" of this generation's new plate dominator and break through for a top five result if not a win in the "500."
(+) Jamie McMurray (1) Bass Pro Shops Chevrolet
(+) Juan Pablo Montoya (42) Target Chevrolet
Roush Racing: Amazing that with all the resources available to them Jack Roush has only one Daytona 500 win as an owner. And despite possibly running as many as five cars in the 2011 edition, they will have their work cut out for them to earn their second win. Carl Edwards has been close to earning his first plate win on several occasions and could be the best hope for Daytona glory. Kenseth and Biffle have both earned wins at Daytona, but one has to wonder how legit they are since Kenseth won the rain-shortened "500" in 2009, and Biffle won the 2003 Pepsi 400 at Daytona on fuel mileage. David Ragan had a solid run at Talladega in 2009, but hasn't been a front runner on a plate track since then. Rumors are also in play that Roush is hopeful of running a fifth car for rookie Trevor Bayne. Bayne showed potential at Texas in his Cup debut, but how he'll handle the "rookie treatment" will determine how he'll fare in trying to make the "500."
(+) Carl Edwards (99) Aflac Ford
(+) Matt Kenseth (17) Crown Royal Ford
(+) Greg Biffle (16) Ford
(+) David Ragan (6) UPS Ford
(-) Trevor Bayne (?) Ford
Penske Racing: Didn't play as large a role in last year's "500" as I expected, but can't be overlooked, especially if they hit the bulls-eye with the new aerodynamic noses NASCAR has approved for Dodge in 2011. Don't forget Kurt Busch was a real contender for victory in 2008 despite starting last. Brad Keselowski should be a stronger challenger in his sophmore campaign at Indy. Unknown if Sam Hornish will return, or if they will run a fourth car for possibly Justin Allgaier. They have three locks into the field, while Kurt Busch would get in the show with the champions' provisional, if he is not given 2010 owner points lock from another team.
(+) Kurt Busch (22) Pennzoil Dodge
(+) Brad Keselowski (2) Miller Lite Dodge
(+) TBA (77) Dodge
(+) TBA (12) Dodge
Stewart-Haas Racing: Regressed a little late in 2010, but should bounce back in time for the "500." The big one is still missing from Stewart's resume and you know he'll be determined to add it in in 2011. Newman of course, knows what it's like to win the "500" having done so in 2008.
(+) Tony Stewart (14) Office Depot/Mobil 1 Chevrolet
(+) Ryan Newman (39) U.S. Army Chevrolet
Red Bull Racing: Squad played a potential late spoiler role in last year's "500" when Scott Speed led a handful of laps before fading. Threat of winning will depend on how quickly Kasey Kahne adapts to his new surroundings and on how long it will take Brian Vickers to get back into the groove after having not been in a car since May 2010. A surprise in store here? We'll see.
(+) Kasey Kahne (82) Red Bull Toyota
(+) Brian Vickers (83) Red Bull Toyota
Michael Waltrip Racing: Another under the radar squad, who could shock the stock car world in the 2011 "500." Both Truex and Reutimann have shown potential in past Daytona 500's if not in terms of results. Michael Waltrip may also give it one final go in the "500" and as a former winner is a definite darkhorse if he enters.
(+) Martin Truex, Jr. (56) NAPA Auto Parts Toyota
(+) David Reutimann (00) Aaron's Dream Machine Toyota
(-) Michael Waltrip (-) Toyota
Richard Petty Motorsports: Despite late season financial worries, RPM looks likely to return to the "500" in 2011, but only with a two-car assault. However, one of the returnees is A.J. Allmendinger, who has been able to run upfront in the last two Great American races, placing third in 2009. Marcos Ambrose isn't likely to be great a threat to the frontrunners as his teammate, but he could be a potential darkhorse if crew chief Todd Parrott stays with the team, don't forget Parrott won two "500's" with Dale Jarrett. Team could also be a boon to those not locked into the field currently as they have two available spots, which they likely will not use.
(+) A.J. Allmendinger (43) Valvoline Ford
(+) Marcos Ambrose (9) Stanley/DeWalt Ford
JTG-Daugherty Racing: More likely to be a frontrunner with Bobby Labonte at the controls than with Marcos Ambrose. Labonte back in more competitive equipment and should thrive as a result.
(+) Bobby Labonte (47) Little Debbie Toyota
Furniture Row Racing: "Colorado Kids" took advantage of locked in spot picked up last year from RCR to produce a good enough 2010 to lock themselves into the 2011 "500" on their own merit. With Regan Smith almost winning at Talladega in 2008, one would be a fool to overlook them.
(+) Regan Smith (78) Furniture Row Chevrolet
Front Row Motorsports With Yates Racing: Wheeled and dealed their way to three guaranteed spots in last year's "500." To date, they only have two locked-in entries for the 2011 race, but could still deal its way to three locked entries assuming they run three cars again.
(+) TBA (34) Ford
(+) TBA (37) Ford
(-) TBA (38) Ford
Robby Gordon Motorsports: Robby Gordon will limit his NASCAR involvement in 2011, but will take advantage of his currently held locked-in position to compete in the "500." Has had a few impressive results in the big race, but is not an all day front runner. His challenge may also depend on which manufacturer Gordon chooses to use.
(+) Robby Gordon (7) Speed Energy Drink TBA
Tommy Baldwin Racing: "The Little Team That Could" have scraped their way into the last two "500's" without a locked-in position. Would be hard to bet against them going 3-for-3 in this pursuit.
(-) TBA (36) Chevrolet
NEMCO Motorsports: Has shown ample speed on the plate tracks among the regular "go or go homers" field to feel pretty good about their chances of making the 2011 "500."
(-) Joe Nemechek (87) Toyota
Phoenix Racing: This team has been famous for sneaking up on people and posting top five and top ten results in the "500." Didn't make the show last year, but pull another surprise if they make it in 2011.
(-) TBA (09) Chevrolet
Germain Racing: Team hung tough to make show last year with Max Papis, they will be an even better bet to race their way into the "500" in 2011 with Casey Mears at the controls.
(-) Casey Mears (13) GEICO Toyota
TRG Motorsports: Assuming this team will return to participate in hopefully their second "500" in 2011. Chances of that happening would increase if they maintain their top 35 spot in the owner points.
(+) TBA (71) Chevrolet
Prism Motorsports: Shocked the world last year, when Michael McDowell raced his way into the "500" field. Will face a similiar Herculean-task to qualify again in 2011.
(-) TBA (55) Toyota
(-) TBA (66) Toyota
Latitude 43 Motorsports: Had golden opportunity with guranteed spot in the 2010 "500," but have struggled throughout the year and would have to race its way into the field to make its second "500" in 2011.
(-) TBA (26) Ford
Labonte-Stavola Racing: New team, which if it finds a sponsor will look to make its first "500." Labonte could be able to fall back upon his champion's provisional to make the field.
(-) Terry Labonte (10) Chevrolet
Whitney Motorsports: New team, which debuted last year at Daytona, but was unsuccessful at making the show. Unlikely to fare much better if it returns in 2011.
(-) TBA (46) Chevrolet
Gunselman Motorsports: Made a few races the last few seasons, but has been unsuccessful at qualifying for the "500."
(-) TBA (64) Toyota
America's Racing Team: Nothing much heard about this supposed fan-supported team as of late, would be a miracle if they qualified assuming they appear at Daytona.
(-) TBA (76) Chevrolet