DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – Confidence among NASCAR drivers is abundant and necessary – especially when taking on the prestigious Daytona 500, which kicks off the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series season Sunday.
The odds of winning the race are slim for most drivers, and if they’ve already won once – like defending champion Denny Hamlin, 2015 winner Joey Logano and 2010 winner Jamie McMurray – it’s even more challenging to finish first again.
But to stay positive and motivated, they have to believe they at least have a chance to be competitive. So For The Win asked some of this year’s drivers why they think they’re going to win the Daytona 500 this weekend.
1. Jamie McMurray, No. 1 Chip Ganassi Racing Chevrolet
Sam Riche / The Indy Star
“I would say because I’ve won before. I think if you look historically, the same people tend to run well at plate races, and it’s been that way, unless someone new comes in that runs well. I think the same people run well at these, and I think you can knock it down to about eight or ten people that will win on Sunday. And I’m in that category.”
2. Brad Keselowski, No. 2 Team Penske Ford
Jasen Vinlove-USA TODAY Sports
“There’s a multitude of reasons. I would say the fact that we won the last points event here [2016 Coke Zero 400] is good, so there’s history. There’s also the now, which is we qualified third, and I feel like we ran The Clash as probably the best car. We led a lot of laps, which is, I would say, exuding confidence in the present situation. I feel like life is very much – especially in motor sports – a pendulum swing. … I’m a big believer that if you do the right thing time over time over time, even though you might not get rewarded, eventually you will.”
3. Austin Dillon, No. 3 Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet
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“It just feels right. I feel like this is it, this is the time. And I feel like I’m at a really good, comfortable place in my life mentally, and hopefully it just comes to me. I’m working hard, and I’m going to be aggressive in the race and do what it takes to win.”
4. Denny Hamlin, No. 11 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota
Jerry Markland/Getty Images
“I’m going to win on Sunday because I feel like I have the knowledge to win, and I think that there’s probably five to six drivers that have the knowledge to win. Now, multiple people can win because of circumstances, but I think that there’s only five or six that really have the skillset to consistently win on superspeedways.”
5. Ty Dillon, No. 13 Germain Racing Chevrolet
AP Photo/Terry Renna
“I’m determined to win, and I think coming out of the gates strong in my rookie season would be quite the story for sure. Obviously, it’s going to be really tough being a rookie, [but] this is my third Daytona 500 so I have some more experience than the other rookies. But anything can happen, that’s why I’m going to win.”
6. Daniel Suárez, No. 19 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota
Mike DiNovo-USA TODAY Sports
“We are working hard, and I guess everyone is working hard like us. But I think I have a really good team behind me, and they’ve been doing an amazing job in the shop. Everyone at the shop has been working super hard, and I feel like we have a good chance to be competitive and to put ourselves in a good position.”
7. Joey Logano, No. 22 Team Penske Ford
Peter Casey-USA TODAY Sports
“I prepare better than everyone else by doing everything – watching films, learning about other drivers, studying your notes with your team, talking about a lot of different things, working with your spotter. To me, that’s what gives me confidence is when I know I’m prepped better than everyone else. At least at the end of the day, I can’t say I didn’t work hard enough. That’s what gives me confidence and that’s why if you ask me that question, I say I’ll beat everyone.”
8. Chris Buescher, No. 37 JTG Daugherty Racing Chevrolet
Matthew O’Haren-USA TODAY Sports
“The Daytona 500 is such a prestigious race, and we have a great team. This new team, the 37, is coming together really well – just awesome people, just a really genuinely excited, happy, family-oriented group. It’s an awesome atmosphere to come here and be a part of, our cars draft well. … It’s just going to be an enjoyable year, and we’re going to be competitive. Why not start off with a win at the Daytona 500?”
9. Jeffrey Earnhardt, No. 33 Chevrolet SS for Circle Sport with The Motorsports Group
Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports
“I feel like my life depends on [winning]. There’s a ton of pressure. Obviously, what my grandfather [Dale Earnhardt Sr.] did at Daytona and how many times he fought to try and win the Daytona 500 and finally winning it – they’ve got his statue out front – he did so much here. Then Dale [Earnhardt] Jr. is one of the main racers here, as well, and improving his excellence at superspeedway racing. And it means people automatically think that I’m the same way, but I’ve got to learn just like everyone else.”
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