Daytona 500 2000 - Keep an eye on these five Sunday

Keep an eye on these five Sunday
by Matt Yocum, Special to ESPN.com


	Rusty Wallace is always strong at Daytona, but hasn't found Victory Lane yet.

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. -- Many call the Daytona 500 the "Super Bowl" of stock car racing. While the excitement levels may be similar, the last time I checked, there weren't 200,000 fans in the Georgia Dome last month. But, as sit here and pondered, while staring at my computer searching for a top-five list this week, I can't seem to get that football theme out of my mind.

How about a list of the top drafting drivers of all-time. Nah. If I did that one, it would turn into ESPN's "Matchup of the Millennium." You know, that show that matches up two great football teams with old video. I think the Pittsburgh Steelers of the '70s beat the San Francisco 49ers of the '80s.

Sure, we could pair up Richard Petty and David Pearson and have them take on Dale Earnhardt and Jeff Gordon here at Daytona International Speedway. At least Gordon would find a drafting mate with the "Big E." He certainly can't get people to work with him this week. Did you see Sunday's Bud Shootout?

Those four may be best drafting dudes in the business. But, sadly, we cannot do that one. Not enough video tape.

"I know," my editor said. "How about the five best restrictor-plate drivers?"

Nope. Too easy. Earnhardt, Earnhardt, Earnhardt, Earnhardt and Earnhardt.

I know. I just tell you all what everyone wants to know Sunday. Who can win the Daytona 500. Works for me. And with 43 cars in the field, this list isn't in any particular order -- just five drivers who should be up front all day.

Rusty Wallace
I'll start with my darkhorse in the race -- No. 2 Miller Lite Ford Taurus of Rusty Wallace. Wallace should have won last year's 500, but Rusty lost a game of chicken with Jeff Gordon while overtaking the wounded No. 10 car of Ricky Rudd. A lost gamble on pit road then sealed his fate. Wallace's blue deuce has led in four straight 500's, but he has posted only three top-five finishes in restrictor-plate racing. Two fifth-place finishes in the 500 mark his career-best days. Last year, he led 104 of 200 laps.

Bill Elliott
Elliott is a two-time winner of the Great American Race. He drove the blue-badged T-Bird to victory in '85 and '87. Elliott probably also had the '97 race won, but a late-race caution and three Hendrick Chevys squashed his chances for a third triumph. Elliott has renewed enthusiasm after Thursday's victory in the Twin 125 qualifier. He has a crew chief by committee strategy, and it's working from the looks of things. Brother Ernie Elliott has turned up the wick in the powerplant department, so if lady luck falls his way, Bill could be awesome again.

Ricky Rudd
Rudd is already finding success as the pilot of the Robert Yates' 28 rocket, winning Thursday's second Twin 125. And Rudd's best 500 finish is a third in 1981, when he drove a DiGard prepared car with a -- you guessed it -- a Robert Yates powerplant. He could have won the Bud Shootout, but finished on his roof. Look for the 28 to be a factor in the 42nd running of the 500.

Dale Jarrett
Jarrett is a two-time winner of the series' biggest event. Last Saturday, DJ led a Yates' sweep of the front row by winning the Daytona 500 pole. But history hasn't been kind to front-row starters. Only three times has a driver won from the front row. Gordon won last year's race as the pole-sitter, but Elliott is the only other front-row winner ('85 and '87). DJ looks like a good bet to be No. 3 His car seems to handle well down the straightaways with that beefy stump puller under the hood, read that to be Yates power. He seems to be able to pull up on a pack of cars without help, which is big at Daytona in the restrictor-plate era.

(Have you notice that the previous four names all drive Fords? Why you might ask? Well have you driven a Ford lately? They have won everything so far during Speedweeks. I could go with another Ford in the final spot, but I'm not.)

Dale Earnhardt
The last name on this list. One guy not driving a Ford who can win this thing is always a threat at Daytona --Dale Earnhardt. He could take a Country Squire wagon and draft it to the front. Sure his Chevy might not be as potent at last years, but the "Man in Red" recorded a remarkable average finish of 1.5 in four plate races last year. Earnhardt starts 21st, his worst start at Daytona since July '92, and his second-worst start in nearly two decades. Two years ago, he posted the biggest win of his career. No. 2 will be sweeter and it could still happen this weekend.

No matter who wins Sunday, it will be a big one. Who will it be? Take your pick.

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