Daytona 500 predictions: Who will win 2025 NASCAR Cup Series ...

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Daytona 500 trophy: Harley J. Earl Trophy is ready for Sunday's winner

The Harley J. Earl Trophy is kept on display at Daytona International Speedway. A smaller replica is given to each Daytona 500 winner.

Who ya got?

In a lot of races at a lot of tracks, you can make an educated guess. At a Daytona 500, you simply delete the word educated.

Three of the last four winners — Michael McDowell, Austin Cindric and Ricky Stenhouse — weren't in the upper rungs of the odds board beforehand, and while you're tempted to label them as "surprise" winners of the Great American Race, there's no such animal anymore.

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That's not to say there aren't drivers in quality equipment possessing a knack for this big-pack style of racing. And that explains the picks of our Daytona 500 staffers below.

Here are our picks for this year's Daytona 500.

Daytona 500: The News-Journal's 2025 Great American Race coverage in one place

Chris Boyle: Is this Chase Elliott's year to finally win Daytona 500?

Now 29, Chase is in the midst of his competitive prime. However, he's won just once across the last two seasons despite posting 18 top-five finishes.

Luck has often eluded Elliott at Daytona. He's crashed out seven times in 18 Cup Series starts, and he has an average finish of 21.3. So, call this more of a hunch than a measured, analytical choice. But it just feels like he will get it done here eventually.

What better time than now?

Chris Vinel: Ryan Blaney will show oddsmakers know what they're talking about

He's been too quiet this week.

Ryan Blaney finished middle of the pack in qualifying. He finished middle of the pack in his Duel. He'll start the Great American Race 16th. Not low, but not high.

But entering race day, his previous track record is too strong to ignore.

He's won here before (2021 summer race). And he's cracked the Daytona 500 top 10 five times, including two occasions as the runner-up (2017, 2020). He's a betting favorite for a reason.

Or maybe it all means he'll be middle of the pack.

Ken Willis: Rowdy Victory Lane after Daytona 500 is in cards

His 2024 season was such a slog at times, you're tempted to list Kyle Busch as a longshot heading into the 500.

After 19 straight seasons with at least one win, last season produced a big bagel, and you have to believe he wants to come off the truck hot and put '24 behind him as quickly as possible. Does "want to" equate to horsepower?

No?

OK, then let's label this one a hunch, but if you're playing a hunch, might as well play it on a guy with Kyle's pedigree, not to mention his track record.

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