With the Daytona 500 just days away, the excitement for the new NASCAR season is building. As the sport’s biggest race approaches, the question remains—who is best positioned to take the checkered flag? Kevin Harvick and his cohosts tackled this topic on Kevin Harvick’s Happy Hour podcast, each offering their predictions for Sunday’s race.
Harvick led the discussion by naming Ryan Blaney as his pick to win. The former Cup Series champion praised Blaney’s speed and enthusiasm, noting that the Team Penske driver has established himself as a strong superspeedway competitor over the years. Harvick believes Blaney is on the verge of securing marquee victories that will elevate his status even further.
“I think it’s time for him to capitalize on those big races,” Harvick said. “Maybe it’s this year, maybe not, but he’s got the experience now. Winning a championship is one thing, but getting those high-profile wins takes a driver to that next level of superstardom.”
Harvick has high expectations for Blaney this season, even beyond Daytona, predicting that 2024 could be a breakout year for him.
However, his cohosts had different opinions on who will take the win at the Great American Race.
Kaitlyn Vincie put her faith in Denny Hamlin, a three-time Daytona 500 winner who recently underwent a crew chief change, pairing with Chris Gayle for 2024. She cited Hamlin’s strong performance during The Clash and believes he is poised for another victory in NASCAR’s biggest race.
“I think he gets his fourth one on Sunday,” Vincie said.
Meanwhile, Mamba Smith went with a different approach, choosing Chase Elliott as his pick. Smith pointed out that Elliott appears to have a new energy this season, carrying a different level of confidence. The Hendrick Motorsports driver was recently seen at the Super Bowl, and Smith believes he’s in the right mindset to open the season with a statement win.
“I do think he’s going to have a good year, and I think it’s going to start off really strong,” Smith said.
The highly anticipated Daytona 500 is set to kick off Sunday at 2:30 p.m. ET on FOX. With top contenders ready to battle on the superspeedway, fans can expect an action-packed start to the NASCAR season.
