Race<\/strong>: Daytona 500 Preview<\/strong>:\u00a0 Call it the Great American Race, NASCAR’s Super Bowl, or simply its iconic name: The Daytona 500.It’s the race that every fan wants to be at and every driver wants to be in.\u00a0 But with as many as 56 teams hoping to make the field, there will no doubt be some disappointed drivers and owners when the green flag flies Sunday afternoon.\u00a0 The race itself will be 500 miles – 200 laps on the 2.5-mile oval which is noted for its high-banked, 31-degree turns and for the use of horsepower-limiting restrictor plates.\u00a0 While the all-Martin front row of Martin Truex Jr. (P1) and Mark Martin (P2) was set last weekend, the remainder of the field will be established Thursday during the Duel 150 races.\u00a0 Sunday marks the 51st running of the Daytona 500.<\/p>\n 1. Jeff Gordon (+700):\u00a0 Gordon has the most wins among active drivers at Daytona combining both the winter and summer races.\u00a0 He’s won the Daytona 500 three times and took the checkers in Thursday’s first Gatorade Duel.<\/p>\n 2. Dale Earnhardt Jr. (+550):\u00a0 Earnhardt has two wins at Daytona (a 500 and a Pepsi 400) in 18 starts and has a record of consistency on restrictor plate tracks.\u00a0 He’s finished 2nd and 3rd in the 500, along with his 2004 victory, and won last year’s Bud Shootout and Duel 150.<\/p>\n 1. Clint Bowyer (+2600):\u00a0 Statistically, Bowyer has the best average finish among all active drivers at Daytona – a 12.3 in six starts – and has completed every lap he’s run here in the Cup series.\u00a0 Bowyer has a new team at RCR this year and it will take a total team effort to get the No. 33 car to Victory Lane in their first points-paying race together.<\/p>\n
\nDate<\/strong>: Sunday, February 15, 2009
\nTime<\/strong>: 3:30 PM EST
\nTV<\/strong>: 2:00 PM EST on FOX<\/p>\nSafe Bets:<\/h3>\n
Dark Horse:<\/h3>\n