This weekend the Sprint Cup Series heads to the hallowed grounds of the Daytona International Speedway, a track where victory is the most prestigious among the stock car racing world. 43 drivers will try to etch their names into history with a win under the lights, but only one will succeed.


1. Kyle Busch

Busch had an off day at Loudon, racing with a bad setup and never cracking the top-10. A late race scuffle with Juan Pablo Montoya added insult to injury, dropping Busch to 25th for the finish. However Daytona is a good place for Busch to rebound. In the Daytona 500 this year, Busch finished 4th after leading the most laps. He also finished second in this race last year by just .005 seconds. If things go his way this weekend, he may just end up in victory lane this time.

2. Dale Earnhardt Jr.

Earnhardt also had late race trouble when Jamie McMurray plowed into the rear end of his car while he was trying to enter pit road. From there he would limp his way around to a 24th place finish. Again though, Daytona is a great place for Earnhardt to recover. He is an excellent plate racer, and he's won at Daytona twice, including this race in 2001.

3. Matt Kenseth

Kenseth's car was off at Loudon, but he had started making a comeback before the final round of pitstops. When the rains came, however, Kenseth was back in 18th, and that would be where he would finish. Kenseth has been stout at Daytona lately though, with six top-10's in the past ten races.

4. Carl Edwards

Like his teammate, Edwards' car was off most of the day at Loudon, but had worked his way back into the top-15 before the last round of pit stops. When the rain came, Edwards was mired back in 17th, giving him a worse finish than he deserved. He hasn't been very stout at Daytona, with just one top-10 finish in six starts. However, that was a 4th place finish in this race last year.

5. Jeff Burton

Burton was consistent as usual at Loudon, charging into the top-10 after starting 31st. When he made his final pit stop Burton fell to 12th though, and that was where he finished. Burton hasn't done very well at Daytona lately though, with only one top ten in the past nine races.

6. Greg Biffle

Biffle was never in contention, spending most of the race on the tail end of the lead lap. When it was finally over Biffle settled for a 21st place finish. In his past two races at Daytona, Biffle has been able to crack the top-10.

7. Jeff Gordon

Gordon had a top-5 car all day long at Loudon, but had to settle for an 11th place finish when other drivers stayed out. Gordon is still searching for his first victory of 2008, and Daytona may be the place to earn it. Gordon has earned six career victories at Daytona, including a win in this race in 2004.

8. Jimmie Johnson

Johnson had a top-5 car all day at Loudon as well, and after others stayed out he still ended up with a solid 9th place finish. He's enjoyed sucess at Daytona in his career. His first career pole came there, and he's earned 8 top-10's in 13 career starts, including a win in the Daytona 500 in 2006.

9. Tony Stewart

Stewart had the car to beat at Loudon, but poor strategy late cost him not only the victory, but a top-10 finish, leaving him 13th. Stewart is also looking for his first victory of 2008, and Daytona is the perfect place for him to do it. He has won this race twice in the past three races, and he also finish 3rd in the Daytona 500 this year after leading on the final lap.

10. Brian Vickers

Vickers continues to be consistent as he tries to work his way into the top-12 in points, as he finished a solid 16th at Loudon. Vickers only has two top-10's in eight starts at Daytona, but his only victory came in a plate race at Talladega in 2006.



Other Notables:

11. Ryan Newman- Newman won the Daytona 500 earlier this year, he should be a driver to watch on Saturday night.

12. Kevin Harvick- Harvick had a good run at Loudon, but had to settle for a 14th place finish. He won the Daytona 500 in 2007.

13. Kurt Busch- Busch earned a much needed win at Loudon, and might make it back-to-back wins at Daytona, where he finished 2nd in the Dayton 500 this year.

14. Martin Truex Jr.- Truex earned a good top-5 finish at Loudon, finishing 4th. Though he hasn't had good finishes at Daytona he has run well in plate races in the past, having learned from former teammate Dale Earnhardt Jr.

15. Michael Waltrip- Waltrip earned his best finish in over three years at Loudon, finishing 2nd to Kurt Busch. Walrtip may carry that over to Daytona as well, where he's earned three of his four career victories.