Week 1 -- Daytona
This is it, fellow fans -- the kickoff of the 2005 racing season. Time once again to predict who will take the checkered flag at the Great American Race. Last year's Daytona 500 was a ho-hum affair. Not just because Dale Earnhardt Jr. won, but because it frankly was a dull race for about the first 180 laps. Why is it that the biggest events in the sports world are mostly dull affairs? Daytona, the Stupor Bore, the Worried Series... Oh yeah, they all have their moments, but you can get as much out of them by simply watching the highlights on the 11 o'clock news, or hitting the fast-forward button on your VCR remote. (That's what I did two weeks ago when New England and Philly met in the NawFuL finals and I saved two hours of viewing time.)
Don't get me wrong, I'll watch every moment of Daytona on Sunday, but I'll probably be kicking myself after the wrong guy wins it all. And who will that guy be? Well, that's why we have Glenn's Ten. You'll look back on this list tomorrow night and either tell me I was a genius or wonder what I was drinking when I compiled it. OK, I'll shut up now and get to the race...
GLENN'S TEN:
* Tony Stewart (winner) -- Tony is due for a win in this race, and why not this year? He won his qualifying race Thursday and the Busch race Saturday. He finished second to Dale Jr. last year. He knows how to draft and is just aggressive enough (are you listening Kevin Harvick?) to position himself for the victory without wrecking half the field in the process. When Tony starts hot he usually stays that way, and has the making of being "his season."
THE REST OF THE TOP 10 (in no particular order):
* Jimmie Johnson -- He's looking like Jeff Gordon did at this stage in his career. He runs well everywhere and you always have to think he'll be a contender for the victory. I worry about the shape of his engine after Thursday's wild ride through the infield.
* Dale Earnhardt Jr. -- He won last year. The nature of this race is that he could run strong here every year and never win another one. Don't be fooled by his poor qualifying lap. All the DEI guys qualified low in the field, but look where they start on Sunday... 3rd, 5th, 10th.
* Michael Waltrip -- Michael has a pattern here. When FOX covers the race, Mikey wins. By that note he should win this year, too. But he won't. He'll still be a factor at the finish.
* Kurt Busch -- The defending series champ crossed the line third last year. Unfortunately, he was a lap behind the winners. Kurt is maturing as a driver and won't make the same stupid mistakes this year that cost him a shot at victory in 2004.
* Jeff Gordon -- He'll be somewhere in the top 10, but if it comes down to him or Jimmie, he'll sacrifice position to get his guy across the line in first.
* Carl Edwards -- Keep your eye on the #99 this year. Expect good things. The good things will start today with a top 10.
* Greg Biffle -- I'm starting to think that Biffle is the next Mr. Daytona. He has won a pole at this track and a summer race. Could this be the year he wins the big one?
* Scott Wimmer -- Say what? The #22 has a history of success here. Ward Burton won it all in 2002; Wimmer was in the top 5 last year. He'll find a way to get there.
* Jeff Burton -- The #31 also finds a way into the top 10 consistently at Daytona. Burton's career was revived when he went over to Childress late last season. Now comes the time to get serious about returning to competitive form.
I COULDN'T FIND ROOM FOR... Dale Jarrett (on the pole, but struggled in practices), Ryan Newman (new car, looks good, but something's gonna happen...), Matt Kenseth (maybe top 15), Sterling Marlin (2-time winner past his prime), Bobby Labonte (might help Stewart to victory), Kevin Harvick (liked him better before his primary car became scrap metal), Mark Martin (finished 43rd here last year, and already running into bad luck), Rusty Wallace (hasn't won yet, and will finish his career with the perfect record intact), Joe Nemechek (will the backup car perform? It might...) or Kasey Kahne (needs another year or two to be a real factor).
SENTIMENTAL FAVORITES: Kevin Lepage, Mike Skinner.
