2006 Daytona 500 Predictions: Is it Tony Stewart's Year?

Move Over Dale Earnhardt Jr and Jeff Gordon, There May Be Another Restrictor Plate King in Town!

What's the one thing that you remember about the last two Daytona 500's? Is it Dale Earnhardt Jr's widely celebrated win in 2004 and Jeff Gordon's late race heroics in 2005, or is it the fact that Tony Stewart led the most laps in each of those events? Unless you are a hardcore Stewart fan, it's improbable that it is the latter.

No driver has led more NASCAR laps or miles at Daytona since 2004 than Stewart. In 2004, Stewart seemed well on his way to his first Daytona 500 triumph as he led 97 laps in the 200-lap event, only to be overtaken by Earnhardt Jr with 20 laps remaining. A year later Stewart led 107 of 203 laps only to watch Gordon rejoice in his third Daytona 500 victory.

And we all recall how Stewart eradicated the field last July at Daytona. He won the pole and led 151 of 160 laps en route to his first career NASCAR restrictor plate win.

So now we've not only determined that Stewart is fast at Daytona, but obviously he's frustrated too. Those two f -words bode well for Stewart's chances. Motivation was a key factor in my selecting Stewart to win his first Daytona 500. He's undoubtedly overdue.

Earlier in Stewart's career, restrictor plate racing wasn't considered his strong suit as he was either really good or really bad. Over the years he's learned the ways of the draft and knows when and when not to make his move. Though he doesn't have the wins to show it, he's been just as good as Earnhardt Jr and Gordon as restrictor plate racing over the last couple of years.

Among the 2006 Daytona 500 favorites are Earnhardt Jr, Gordon, Jimmie Johnson, and Kevin Harvick.

Who are the sleepers?