Daytona 500 Qualifying: Danica Patrick and Drivers with Most to Prove

It seems like just yesterday that Tony Stewart came out on top of one of the most exciting Sprint Cup Series seasons ever. His historic battle with Carl Edwards was the perfect finish to a season that started with 20-year-old Trevor Bayne shocking the world at Daytona.

Even the common fans were left wanting more after last season.

Well, the wait is finally over.

Thursday marks the start of the new season, as the Gatorde Duel, aka Daytona 500 qualifying, gets under way. Three days later, it's officially "on" like Jeff Gor-dahn.

Here's a look at the drivers who have the most to prove next week. 

Danica Patrick

We'll start off with the "duh" choice.

After a 26th-place finish last year in the Nationwide Series, Patrick is ready to give her full attention to NASCAR, and she will even race part-time in the Sprint Cup Series, including Daytona. She has put together three Top 10 finishes in Nationwide, but now that she is done with the IndyCar Series, many will expect a lot from her.

It is possible that no other figure is more important for NASCAR than Patrick, and she desperately needs to prove she belongs and isn't just good for making dirty commercials. That starts with a top finish—or even just some laps near the front—at Daytona.

AJ Allmendinger

Allmendinger has probably the best name in NASCAR, but that's not going to help him fill the large shoes of Kurt Busch. 

The Dinger steps into the No. 22 car for Busch at Penske Racing, but after failing to win a race last season (despite finishing 15th in the Sprint Cup Series), he has plenty of skeptics. He just wasn't able to hold on to several leads that he often had.

If he wants to put the doubters to bed, he'll have to put together a good showing to start the season.

Kasey Kahne

His arrival at Kendrick Motorsports is already a big story, but the fact that there has been about two years of build-up makes it even more anticipated.

That might not be fair to Kahne, but it doesn't really matter.

Now we finally get to see if Kahne really is overrated, or if he just hasn't received the necessary equipment in the last few years. Kahne finished just 14th in the Sprint Cup Series last season, but many believe he has the talent to be Top 5.

If he doesn't achieve something big this year, the Enumclaw, WA native might start losing steam. A win at Daytona would serve as a decent achievement.