Crew Chief Prediction - Daytona 500 Top Ten Finishers

Listed below are my choices for tomorrow's Daytona 500. Please note that the "Official" Statleader Projections will be posted shortly. Ladies and Gentleman, my prediction for the top ten:

1. Jeff Gordon
2. Dale Earnhardt Jr
3. Kurt Bush
4. Tony Stewart
5. Kasey Kahne
6. Ryan Newman
7. Jeremy Mayfield
8. Bobby Labonte
9. Kyle Bush
10. Martin Truex Jr

Why Jeff Gordon? Primarily because this is a restrictor plate race and Gordon does well in restrictor plate races. While a 15th position starter has never one the Daytona 500,10 through 14 have won 7 out of 62 Daytona races. Plus, Gordon has been on a bit of a streak at Daytona, finishing 8th in last year's 500, and winning the Pepsi 400. Note that 3 times in the last 6 years the winner of the Pepsi 400 and gone on to win next Daytona 500. ('98-'99: Gorden, '99-'00: Jarrett, and '02-'03: Waltrip). Add to this the fact that Gordon has won at Daytona 5 times in the last 10 years (20 races), he must, as much as it pains this Tony Stewart fan, be the choice to take the flag.