Top Drivers in This Year's Nascar Daytona 500

NASCAR fans, it's time to fasten our seat belts, and hang on, for the 51st running of the Daytona 500! It's been almost eight years now since the tragic loss of my beloved driver, Dale Earnhardt, and the number three ceased to be seen on the oval. I still love Nascar, but since The Man passed, racing just hasn't been the same for my husband and I. We never officially picked another favorite driver, although there are drivers I like and respect. My husband has tried to pick, wavering over the years, between Junior, Jeff Burton and Tony Stewart. While we may not have a favorite driver we agree on, our least favorite is Jeff Gordon, more out of habit these days, than anything else. He does whine a lot less now.

Dale Earnhardt Jr. just never won me over, especially when he started playing around with dying his hair a new color. Mark Martin, who will most likely retire soon, is a good guy, and I do kind of follow Harvick. We know Tony Stewart and of course Gordon and probably Biffle, will be pack factors, so who are my top three Nascar Driver picks for the 2009 Running of the Daytona 500?

I think we will see Bobby Labonte running well this year. He is due for a win on this track, coming in with his closest finish at the Daytona 500 claiming the number two position, back in 1998. Aside from engine trouble and accidents he can be relied upon to run with the pack. If his crew has their act together, and the 43 is prime, Bobby's experienced on this track. If he get's the right break, he might just cross that line first.

Showing my age here maybe, but I guess I gave that away as an Earnhardt Lover, but yeah I think Mark Martin, riding in the Army number eight, might just surprise everybody, and git R done this year. He is another driver over due, well qualified, and hungry, for a first place win at the Daytona 500. With nine finishes in the top five spots over the years at Daytona, it is not too hard to believe it could happen.

My third pick is Jeff Burton. He has been very consistent over the years,and with one win at the Daytona 500 under his seat belt, and with six top five and eight top ten spots as well over the years, this is a driver that's ready to roll that A T & T number 31 across the finish line leading, the pack.

February 15th, watch it as it happens!