Coke Zero 400: The Top 10 Picks To Win at Daytona With a Bonus Pick

It was the 1979 Daytona 500, the first national televised 500-mile (800km) race that was my introduction to Daytona International Speedway.

Like so many other NASCAR fans, attending a race at DIS was No. 1 on my to-do list.

It wasn't until 1996 that I achieved that goal. It wasn't for the 500, but rather the Nationwide's Goody's Headache Powder 300, and it was still exciting just to be in the stands.

At that time, the Daytona sold out in hours. I was on the waiting list for tickets but heard it was rumored to be several years long, and it's not like it is today.

It wasn't until 1998 that I learned how truly magnificent Daytona really is all lit up at night, and it was well worth the wait.

You see, I made history. I actually was in attendance for the first night race at Daytona and can't believe it's been 12 years now.

Traditionally, the race has always been held on July 4th weekend and always honored our soldiers, past and present, prior to the night race.

The race start was 10:00 a.m., NASCAR tried to beat the heat and the afternoon thundershowers.

Well let's get onto my 11 picks of drivers that could win the 2010 Coke Zero 400. I couldn't eliminate one to make it only 10 picks, so there's a bonus pick.

While I have no actual order to my picks, I'm going out on a limb with my actual pick to win the race; it would be his first win at the track.

It'll be the last slide, then I added two other picks—one that fans would be happy to see finally happen and the other is for the Ford fans.

Just missing the cut are Jeff Burton, Denny Hamlin, Carl Edwards, Greg Biffle, and Juan Pablo Montoya.

I also used the combined statistics for this, but didn't consider the Bud Shootout or the Gatorade Duel results in compiling these driver picks.

Kurt Busch

In 19 races at the track, Kurt has compiled nine top-five and 10 top-10 finishes. He led 200 laps, has an average start of 21.6 and an average finish of 21.6.

Kurt has never won at Daytona, although he did come close in 2008 pushing Ryan Newman to victory and finishing second in the 500.

The way he's been running, with the addition of new crew chief Steve Addington (who's won with Kyle in 2008) and how well his crew works on pit road.

I couldn't leave him off my list, since he's overdue for a win at Daytona and Saturday could be the day he breaks through to victory lane.

Kevin Harvick

In 18 races at the track, Harvick has compiled one win, four top-fives, and seven top-10 finishes, won one pole, led 129 laps, has an average start of 16.7, and an average finish of 15.2.

Harvick's lone win came in a thrilling victory by .020 seconds over Mark Martin to win the 500 in 2007.

He just puts together some really good runs at Daytona. With the season Happy has had so far, I couldn't leave him off, and he just always seems to be there in the end picking up the best possible finish.

Harvick makes a great wingman, pushing drivers to victory at Daytona, but he's also not a driver to just settle for a top-five and just staying in line over the closing laps.

Happy's willing to roll the dice, then gamble for the win and very well could win Saturday night.

Photo Credit: kevinharvick.com

Jimmie Johnson

In 17 races at the track, Johnson has compiled one win, six top-fives, nine top-10 finishes, won two poles, led 59 laps, has an average start of 9.1, and an average finish of 15.4.

It doesn't matter what track they're racing at—Jimmie Johnson always has to be on your shortlist for the win.

He won the 500 in 2006 with Darren Grubb as his crew chief. One of his goals is to get a win at Daytona for crew chief Chad Knaus.

So it'll be no shock to see him get his third straight win in a row Saturday night.

Tony Stewart

In 23 races at the track, Stewart has compiled three wins, seven top-fives, 15 top-10 finishes, led 633 laps, has an average start of 9.8, and average finish of 16.7.

Stewart has won the Coke Zero 400 three times, most recently in 2009, and it's a safe bet that he'll be battling for the win Saturday night.

If I was going to gamble, put down money on a driver to win, it would be Stewart, and it's "Smoke's Time" now.

He typically starts the season slow, but by the time they get to Daytona in July he's red hot, and how cool would it be to see him doing some fence climbing this weekend.

Jeff Gordon

In 35 races at the track, Gordon has compiled six wins, 11 top-fives, 17 top-10 finishes, won three poles, led 574 laps, has an average start of 11.1, and an average finish of 15.8.

Love him or hate him, you can't ignore what Gordon has achieved at Daytona and he's not done yet.

Gordon has won the Coke Zero 400 three times, most recently in 2004.

He could very easily win Saturday night, but I doubt it since, according to my score card, half the field owes him and one of those drivers will shove him out of the way for the win.

Dale Earnhardt, Jr.

In 21 races at the track, Junior has compiled two wins, seven top-fives, 12 top-10 finishes, led 386 laps, has an average start of 11.0, and average finish of 14.9.

Junior won the Coke Zero 400 in 2001, but it created controversy with some fans since they thought the race was fixed for him to win.

He's considered to be one of the best plate racers in NASCAR, but I also think both Stewart and Gordon are just as good.

Junior is a great wingman drafting wise; it doesn't matter up high or on the bottom, and he can draft with anyone.

No doubt we could see Junior celebrating in victory lane, but to do so he has to be mistake-free and crew chief Lance McGrew can't make any mistakes on pit road.

Photo Credit: sports.yahoo.com

Kyle Busch

In 11 races at the track, Kyle has compiled one win, four top-fives, four top-10 finishes, led 238 laps, has an average start of 12.7, and an average finish of 17.6.

Kyle won the Coke Zero 400 in 2008 and came close to repeating as winner were it not for contact with Stewart that ruined his day.

You can't overlook him since he's changed his driving style to be there in the end, as opposed to just trying to win every race.

I like the addition of crew chief Dave Rogers to the team, and I was close to making him my pick to win Coke Zero 400.

Photo Credit: sports.yahoo.com

Jamie McMurray

In 15 races at the track, McMurray has compiled two wins, three top-fives, four top-10 finishes, led six laps, has an average start of 21.4, and an average finish of 23.9.

McMurray won the Coke Zero 400 in 2007; he also won the 500 in February and will be trying to sweep Daytona.

He just seems to set himself up, draft wise, to be there in the closing laps challenging for the win, and he also is another driver that's a good wingman draft wise.

I'm sure in the closing laps, he'll be there battling teammates for the win and will have to avoid Gordon who gets shoved out of the way.

Photo Credit: sports.yahoo.com

Mark Martin

In 50 races at the track, Martin has compiled nine top-fives, 17 top-10 finishes, won two poles, led 251 laps, has an average start of 15.2, and an average finish of 18.0.

Martin is still looking for his first career win at Daytona Cup, and he's my sentimental favorite pick.

Since I think just about every fan, regardless whom your favorite is, would be happy to finally see Martin win.

Martin has come close in 2007 to win the 500, but lost by .020 seconds to Harvick and settled for second.

I've watched his entire career; the man's a legend and just felt this could be his last Daytona race in good equipment.

I couldn't leave him off the list and couldn't figure out who to eliminate to make it 10 drivers. So I just decided to make it 11 drivers and he's the bonus pick.

Photo Credit: sports.yahoo.com

Matt Kenseth

In 21 races at the track, Kenseth has compiled one win, three top-fives, 10 top-10 finishes, led 69 laps, has an average start 22.9, and an average
finish of 17.4.

Probably the most amazing fact about the 2010 season is that Ford has yet to win a race, and if Daytona is the track for the manufacturer to finally win, I think Kenseth gives them the best chance to finally win a race.

Kenseth has won at Daytona before, winning the rain-shortened 500 in 2009, and with the addition of new crew chief James Fennig, look out.

He's been running well, but for whatever reason hasn't broken through to victory lane; I most definitely could see him winning Saturday night.

Photo Credit: sports.yahoo.com

Clint Bowyer

In nine races at the track, Bowyer has compiled two top-five, six top-10 finishes, led 96 laps, has an average start of 21.3, and average finish of 12.3.

Bowyer is actually my pick to win the 2010 Coke Zero 400 and get his first win at Daytona.

I like how he, his crew chief Shane Wilson, and the No. 33 team have been running, and they are so close to breaking through to victory lane.

Bowyer has been drafting well with Harvick, at the 500, and Talladega and figure these two will be running in the top five. Then Harvick will make the move on the final lap, but Bowyer jumps out ahead of him and gets pushed for win.

Now if it's Bowyer behind Harvick, he'll just pull the same move Happy did to Martin and beat him at the line for the win by inches.

Photo Credit: sports.yahoo.com