Daytona 500 2015: Drivers Emerging as Contenders During Speedweeks
Speedweeks is a time when drivers can showcase exactly how much work they've put in during the winter. It also serves as a proving ground for what's to come during the Daytona 500 this Sunday.
Several drivers have stepped up to the challenge during the Sprint Unlimited and qualifying. Meanwhile, others have wilted under the pressure or been taken out in one of the two events.
Or, in Clint Bowyer's case, tough luck in both.
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For those who have prospered in Florida, the weekend can't come soon enough. However, failing to flourish during the Budweiser Duels can cause the entire week to come unwound.
Ahead of the Sunday showdown, here's a look at the drivers who have done the most to help their case.
Carl Edwards, Joe Gibbs Racing
Throughout his career, Carl Edwards has done more than enough to prove he's an elite driver. His decision to leave Roush Fenway Racing to come to Joe Gibbs Racing, however, leaves him setting out to form a new identity with the team.
Brad Keselowski, who was one of the top drivers in the sport in 2014, voiced his opinion of Edwards. While some might consider the 2012 champion as one of the best, Keselowski made no bones about his thoughts.
Keselowski said during the Daytona media day:
"I personally think just from watching, and I am not afraid to say it, that Carl Edwards is the best driver in Sprint Cup. That is my personal opinion. It doesn’t make it law or fact but I think to go with that you could probably place an argument for Kevin as the second best.
I have seen what Carl has done in cars that didn’t have the speed. He has a very diverse skill set. He has been able to win at tracks like Sonoma and has won at every type of track and I feel like he does the best job of any driver I have seen out there at taking a car that is not fast and finding speed out of it.
"
So far, Edwards has lived up to that title.
His first time in a JGR machine, Edwards finished third in the Sprint Unlimited. Needing a good time to qualify for the 500 without a provisional spot due to the change of teams, Edwards threw down one of the best times on Sunday.
If this is what he can do with very little experience with the team, it's terrifying to think about what's to come this season. Gibbs' newest superstar might be doing his first backflip with the team on Sunday.
Jeff Gordon, Hendrick Motorsports
What a fitting start to Jeff Gordon's swan song. Even on a day when all of the NASCAR community was up in arms over the group format, Gordon found a way to come out on top.
The No. 24 machine threw down the best time in the final round to take the pole position with teammate Jimmie Johnson starting on the front row. Thanks to those results, neither driver has to worry about where they place during the Duels.
Gordon discussed his mindset heading into what will be his final Daytona 500 as a full-time driver:
Already a four-time champion and three-time 500 winner, Gordon has little left to achieve. But with the fire still clearly in his belly, the 43-year-old driver will be a competitor for a win in the massive race.
Still not convinced? The only other time Gordon won the pole was in 1999, his second victory at Daytona in February. As one of only three drivers to complete the feat in the last three decades—Bill Elliott 1985 and 1987; Dale Jarrett in 2000—Gordon knows all about winning from the top spot.
Martin Truex Jr., Furniture Row Racing
He might not be one of the biggest names in the sport, but Martin Truex Jr. typically has an impact at Daytona. Despite holding just one top-10 result, Truex has started on the front row twice before being met with tough luck.
In 2011, Truex led 17 laps before falling behind to finish 19th. He then narrowly missed out on a top-10 in 2012, finishing 12th after leading seven laps. Last season, he started second before engine troubles derailed him just 30 laps into the race.
This time around, Truex has already proved he can contend again with a second-place result in the Sprint Unlimited. Even after all the turmoil he faced last year, he has a fast car at the right time of the season to finally pull off a shocking win at Daytona.
If he can keep a clean car, it might just be his time. In Daytona, with the "Big One" always lurking, nothing is guaranteed for any driver.
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