Daytona 500 Predictions: Danica Patrick and Drivers Guaranteed to Surprise

The Daytona 500 is the perfect way to ring in the new NASCAR season. It gives the veteran drivers a chance to make a statement that will resonate all year. But it also allows new stars a chance to showcase what they can do. 

This year's running of the Great American Race will be all about surprises, which is a good thing. Underrated, overlooked and new will be the theme of the show. 

So which drivers are going to come out of nowhere with a surprise finish on Sunday afternoon?

Danica Patrick

The darling of the IndyCar circuit makes her Sprint Cup Series debut this week. Patrick is going to re-invent herself on the grandest stage that NASCAR has to offer. 

She is just the third woman to compete in the Daytona 500, and she will become the first to finish in the top 10. 

Cary Estes of Sports Illustrated thinks she has a good chance to impress because of the style needed in the Daytona 500. 

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At most tracks, it would be ludicrous to suggest that a NASCAR newcomer could come in and win right away. But the style of racing at Daytona, where drivers are dependent on forming drafting partnerships with other drivers, dilutes the need for a vast amount of experience.

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While it would be a stretch to call for a win, Patrick has a great chance to finish in the top 8-10 when all is said and done. 

Dale Earnhardt Jr. 

It has been three whole seasons since Dale Jr. won a race in NASCAR. He is going through some growing pains, despite being in his 13th full year on the circuit. 

Earnhardt is always going to be one of the most-talked about drivers simply because of his last name, but he needs to start showing results sooner rather than later. 

Winning would be the ultimate prize, obviously, but just finishing inside the top five would be a victory in itself.

We will see just how good he looks at the Gatorade Duel on Thursday. For now, expect Earnhardt to finish near the top when all is said and done. 

Trevor Bayne

The 21-year-old Bayne shocked the world last year by winning the Daytona 500. He was not on anyone's radar, but ran a fantastic race to become the youngest champion of the Great American Race. 

Following up that victory was not easy for Bayne. He did not finish higher than 17th in a race the rest of the year, and had to miss time due to a spider bite that led to hospitalization. 

Like last year, Bayne is going to enter the race under the radar because of how 2011 ended up. He has all the talent in the world and knows how to conquer the Daytona International Speedway. 

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