Daytona 500 Qualifying: Jimmie Johnson and Stars That Need to Start Strong

With the Daytona 500 just over a week away, the NASCAR Sprint Cup drivers are getting ready for this Sunday’s qualifying presented by Kroeger at 1:05 p.m. ET.

Only the top-two spots in this session will be locked into the event already, with the remaining field determined by the Gatorade Duels at Daytona.

There is so much riding on what has become the Super Bowl of the NASCAR season that starting the season off with a pole or a top-two starting spot may be enough to bring all of the following teams back to the top of the Championship leaderboard.

Jimmie Johnson

After winning five straight Sprint Cup Championships, Jimmie Johnson finished last season sixth in the points, but could turn his fortunes around with a strong start at Daytona.

While the polesitter almost always gets pushed to the back of the pack at some point during the race, the speed it takes to win the pole shows that the car and driver that come out on top will be there as long as they stay of a wreck.

Johnson expects excellence and there is no better way to show the rest of the top division in the sport that the best driver is back then by winning the pole and stealing the Daytona 500.

Dale Earnhardt Jr.

There is never a time where the pressure is off Dale Earnhardt Jr., but it's especially heavy when the star heads back to the track where his father lost his life. While the feeling is very somber, Junior loves racing at Daytona.

After finishing last season in seventh place, the No. 88 team looks to continue the streak of improving every year by starting the season off with his second consecutive Daytona 500 pole.

With the car and the talent to win the pole like he did in 2011, Hendrick motorsports and Dale Jr. may have the right pieces in place to get the sport’s most popular driver back into victory lane and back into serious Championship contention.

Tony Stewart

After stealing the Thunder from Carl Edwards last season, Tony Stewart and the No. 14 team walked away with the 2011 NASCAR Sprint Cup Title and needs to start strong to defend it.

While last season wasn’t Smoke’s best, it was his weekly consistency that made him a serious contender towards the end of the season when his team really figured it out. Stewart bought the team just enough time to make it happen and the chips fell their way.

With the target on their back, Stewart and the boys will be looking to start the season with an impressive Daytona run and that all starts with a great qualifying session.

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