Here are my super early driver rankings for the first race of the 2014 season, the Daytona 500. These rankings are so early, the entry list isn’t even out yet. So, it likely includes a bunch of guys who won’t run, and misses a few others.
Anyway, I compiled them by crunching the qualifying data for the two 2013 races at Daytona and the 2013 spring race at Talladega (rain washed out qualifying at Talladega II last year or I would’ve included that, too). I also crunched the loop data for all four plate races last year. I think these two metrics reflect speed, the ability to pass and the ability (and inclination) to run a lot of laps up front, all of which should give me the best chance to get in the ballpark with race-result predictions.
My results:
- Jimmie Johnson
- Matt Kenseth
- Dale Earnhardt Jr.
- Kyle Busch
- Joey Logano
- Martin Truex Jr.
- Danica Patrick
- Clint Bowyer
- Ricky Stenhouse Jr.
- Paul Menard
- Carl Edwards
- Ryan Newman
- Kasey Kahne
- Marcos Ambrose
- Mark Martin
- Jeff Gordon
- Brad Keselowski
- Denny Hamlin
- Greg Biffle
- Jamie McMurray
- Tony Stewart
- Trevor Bayne
- Aric Almirola
- Casey Mears
- Jeff Burton
- Michael Waltrip
- Kurt Busch
- Justin Allgaier
- Regan Smith
- Austin Dillon
- Kevin Harvick
- Juan Pablo Montoya
- David Gilliland
- David Ragan
- David Stremme
- AJ Allmendinger
- Michael McDowell
- Scott Speed
- Bobby Labonte
- Josh Wise
- Dave Blaney
- J.J. Yeley
- Travis Kvapil
- David Reutimann
- Terry Labonte
- Landon Cassill
- Joe Nemechek
- Cole Whitt
- Elliott Sadler
- Tony Raines
- Mike Bliss(i)
- Brian Keselowski
My results: Daytona DNF’s rules again.
1.Jimmie Johnson
2.Matt Kenseth
3.Dale Earnhardt Jr.
4.Kyle Busch
5.Joey Logano
6.Martin Truex Jr.
7.Danica Patrick
8.Clint Bowyer
9.Ricky Stenhouse Jr.
10.Paul Menard
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