NASCAR Cup Series racing is back today! That means only one thing, right? The 2023 Daytona 500 is today racing fans! Now we can still be excited about the return of racing, but we need to make sure you’re ready for a few things. Especially things like “the big one” and maybe even some “riding around” early on in this race. Don’t worry though if you still don’t have an idea on who to pick as a winner, I will be giving you my best guess on who pulls into victory lane this evening.

Early Stages of the 2023 Daytona 500

If you’ve ever watched one of the races in the past at Daytona or Talladega, you know what I’m about to say. However, if you’re a new NASCAR fan then there are a few things in these early stages you need to be ready for once the green flag drops. The first stage of this race is going to be a lot of “research” I say research because these guys have been on the track in a pack during practice. With that being said though they haven’t been in a pack the size of the whole starting field.

We are going to see a lot of calculated decisions and patience early on during the 2023 Daytona 500. It’s a five-hundred-mile race and these are the best of the best in stock car racing. They have the best spotters, and crew chiefs behind them, planning and precisely calculating ever possible move. So, don’t be surprised to see a very “boring” race. These drivers may even fall into line and just “log some laps” as Clint Bowyer says. At least until the stage breaks start to approach. Thats’s when the drivers will start to be weary of the one big thing no one wants to see.

The Big One

DAYTONA BEACH, FLORIDA – FEBRUARY 20: Kyle Larson, driver of the #5 HendrickCars.com Chevrolet, Erik Jones, driver of the #43 FOCUSfactor Chevrolet, Noah Gragson, driver of the #62 Beard Oil/South Point Chevrolet, and Todd Gilliland, driver of the #38 First Phase Credit Card Ford, spin after an on-track incident Series 64th Annual Daytona 500 at Daytona International Speedway on February 20, 2022 in Daytona Beach, Florida. (Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images)

The big one, is the one thing everyone is either waiting for or trying to avoid. It’s almost a given at tracks like Daytona. Depending on the timing of the race, the aggression is going to pick up depend on the team motives. You are going to see a moment or maybe a few moments were fans and teams alike are holding their breaths together. If they want stage points each stage then those moments will be a bit more frequent.

If your driver can make it through unscathed each time an accident occurs, his chances of winning the 2023 Daytona 500 will increase. Especially once either the first big one occurs or the only big one occurs. The big one is going to take out more than a handful of possible winners. So, with that being said, the drivers and teams need too and will have their plans. The big question is no if the big one will happen but when the big one will happen?

The Final Stage and Winner? Maybe

The final stage has been historically as of late at least the interesting stage of this race, The most moves are attempted, which also means the series of accidents are about to pick up as well. So, chances are the eventual winner will start his journey up to the front. Being careful to not be to fast about it but fast enough you don’t run out of laps. The reason behind that is you would much rather be coming off turn four after five hundred miles of racing on the offensive than on the defensive. Especially coming for the checkered flag of the 2023 Daytona 500.

Now with that being said, I think it was Kyle Busch who said earlier this Daytona week that you’d have a better chance of picking the winning lotto numbers then picking a Daytona 500 winner. Honestly, though he’s right I mean a rookie won his first career cup series race in this even last year. Who predicted that, well no one. So, take my pick with a very little credibility. The winner of the 2023 Daytona 500 is going to come from outside of the top thirty starting positions. There are two veteran drivers back there Kyle Busch who has never tasted victory lane in the Daytona 500. Oh, and some seven-time series champion, and prior Daytona 500 winner Jimmie Johnson. If they can stay out of harm’s way and make it the distance either of these drivers have what it takes to wheel themselves to victory lane.

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Chris Prince

What's up, everyone? My name is Chris Prince. I have been a part of Belly Up sports for a little bit now. I am the head of the best department which is the racing department. I have a beautiful wife and I have three awesome sons in whom I am trying to instill the love of motorsports. If you want to know anything else feel free to ask!

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