Daytona 500 Predictions: Drivers Outside Top 10 Most Likely to Win

Pole position is overrated.

Starting a race in first place or even inside the Top 10 is nice, but it isn’t necessary to drive away with the win.  In fact, three out of the last five Daytona 500 victors began the day positioned 32nd or worse.  In the last 11 500s, only four times has a driver beginning inside the Top 10 triumphed.

Here are the drivers most likely to continue this odd trend on Monday in the 2012 running (odds via Sportsbet Sportsbook): 

5. Kurt Busch – 28th (22-to-1)

Kurt Busch is long removed from his Sprint Cup Series championship back in 2004.  He still managed to finish 11th last year and can’t be underestimated in this event. 

4. Kasey Kahne – 20th (18-to-1)

Kasey Kahne finds himself back where he started. The 31-year-old driver debuted in the Daytona 500 back in 2004.  After a somewhat uneventful 2011 season, winning the sport’s greatest race would be an effective way to erase the memories of Kahne’s past disappointments.

3. Jeff Gordon – 16th (14-to-1)

Jeff Gordon’s kind of a big deal in Daytona Beach.  He has won the event three times in his illustrious career, and it wouldn’t shock a soul if he ended the day in Victory Lane yet again.

2. Kevin Harvick – 13th (11.5-to-1)

Kevin Harvick doesn’t have Gordon’s Daytona resume, but he’s no stranger to the winner’s circle either.  He won the race back in 2007 and coming off a strong 2011 campaign, he’s looking to start this season off with a bang.

1. Kyle Busch – 14th (11-to-1)

The second Busch on this list is the most likely driver outside the top 10 to walk away victorious.  He won the Budweiser Shootout, so he’s off to a great start in 2012.

David Daniels is a featured columnist at Bleacher Report and a syndicated writer.

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