Daytona 500 2012: Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Overrated Drivers Who Will Struggle

Every driver in the field will be dreaming of victory when the green flag waves to begin the Daytona 500 on Sunday. There's no race in NASCAR that comes anywhere close to matching the Great American Race in terms of popularity for both drivers and fans alike.

In reality, there can only be one winner and several big names will struggle to gain traction due to Daytona's unique style.

Here are three overrated drivers who won't live up to expectations.

Dale Earnhardt Jr.

Earnhardt's fanbase is unlike anything else in sports. He hasn't won a race in nearly four years, yet his supporters still dwarf those of every other driver. They hoped his move to Hendrick Motorsports a couple years ago would help his results, but it just hasn't happened.

There isn't any reason to think he'll suddenly turn things around at Daytona. Even though he does have one win in the marquee race, his overall results aren't pretty. He loses 10 spots on average from his starting spot to his finishing spot, which is 15th.

It's hard to have faith in a driver who tends to lose ground instead of gaining it in any certain race. And the sample size isn't small, either.

Sunday will be his 13th Daytona 500. His legion of fans won't like it, but expect another mid-pack finish for Junior.

Kurt Busch

Busch made the Chase last season, which almost always leads to high hopes for the following year. Judging by his starting position and past results in the Daytona 500, however, Busch likely won't get off to the start he was hoping for.

He'll start 28th after a poor showing in the Gatorade Duel. While that's not a death sentence in a race like Sunday's, it certainly isn't ideal. It will be interesting to see how early he tries to make his move to the front, knowing an early wreck would be disastrous.

Busch hasn't won in 22 career starts at the track. His average finish in the 500 is 17th. Unless something drastic changes in his car between now and the green flag, he won't be a contender during the final laps on Sunday.

Trevor Bayne

Bayne came out of nowhere to win last year's Daytona 500, becoming one of the most shocking winners in the storied history of the race. While it was a great story, it can't overshadow his poor performances the rest of last season.

As a part-time driver, Bayne didn't finish better than 15th in any other race. That makes his Daytona triumph seem more like a byproduct of the racing style and luck than actual driving skills. It's unlikely he'll be able to match that success this time around.

To make matters worse, he'll start near the back of the field. It's hard enough to have one perfect run, but two in a row in the year's biggest race would take a miracle.

Look for Bayne to be a non-factor, finishing somewhere deep in the pack.