Daytona 500 Odds: Jimmie Johnson and More Stars Who Will Earn Top-10 Finish

Jimmie Johnson is one of several NASCAR stars who are hoping to start off the Sprint Cup Series with a thrilling win at the Daytona 500.

The year's opening race is the most prestigious event in the sport, and even non-racing fans get excited over the race.

Starting the year with a positive finish can be a huge confidence booster for a driver, so let's look at three of them who will earn a top-10 finish at Daytona on Sunday.

Tony Stewart

The man who ended Jimmie Johnson's run of five consecutive Sprint Cup titles is the man to beat at this year's Dayton 500.

Tony Stewart won the championship last season and is hoping he and teammate Carl Edwards can start this season like they finished last year.

Via the New York Times:

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“I thought, man, we’re both picking up right where we left off. I hope it’s that way for both of us. It would be great to start the year off like we finished it last year.”

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Stewart will certainly have a good car on Sunday and will be one of the people battling for first place late in the race.

Jimmie Johnson

There would be no better way for Jimmie Johnson to start another title run than to start off the 2012 season with a Daytona 500 win. Johnson is one of the more talented drivers in the field and will be one of the more motivated drivers at Daytona. 

Johnson is determined to return to the top of the sport after a disappointing 2011 season, saying via the Boston Herald:

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"I’m just upset at the way we lost the championship last year," Johnson said. "At points within the Chase, we had momentum and things going our way. Since the new year, I have been really focused on coming back for 2012."

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Carl Edwards

The Daytona 500 is a race that Carl Edwards has never won in his impressive racing career, and this void in his resume will certainly energize him to be dominant on Sunday.

Edwards' second-place finish in the Sprint Cup series last season will give him some extra motivation to win this weekend.

Via the New York Times:

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“I go out and do the best I can, and I’m a realist. There’s a reality in the world, and the reality is we finished second. So that’s just it. I didn’t really have much trouble with that, but what I had trouble with was the waiting for this season — just sitting around with no racing, trying to get up in the morning and find constructive things to go do, because I’m ready to go race.”

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Edwards will be one of the toughest drivers to beat at Daytona and is my pick to win the race.