Posted by Sam Salo in NASCAR on February 20, 2012  |  0 Comments More from this author  |

Sports are about to get good.

In clearer terms, that simply means that the first points race of the 2012 NASCAR season, the Daytona 500, is just days away.  Count your milliseconds.

Since racing is about to commence, it's time to bust forth Sprint Cup power rankings.  The rankings lists the top twelve drivers leading into this particular race, based on this writer's humble, yet accurate (I'm supposed to know my stuff, right?), opinion.  The format follows a qualifying grid lineup, with the top driver being giving the power rankings pole position for the week.  

Now, if fans everywhere can put their hands in the air, say "boogity boogity boogity!" and get all excited, it's time to rank those fine NASCAR men and their racing machines for the Daytona 500.

FRONT ROW

Position #1: Tony Stewart

Tony Stewart enters the 500 as 2011 Sprint Cup champion extraordinaire, restrictor plate ninja, and Bud Shootout runner-up by mere inches.  The force is with him.  A Daytona 500 trophy is one of the only pieces of racing lore left for Stewart, and he's bound to get one someday.  That someday could well be in five days.

Outside pole

Position #2: Kyle Busch

Positions two and three are a toss-up, but readers are bound to start getting fidgety at the journalism if the Bud Shootout winner is placed too low.  Kyle won the Bud Shootout, but before that, he avoided approximately 1.4 million wrecks and saved his car approximately 423,987 times.  Give or take a few hundreds.  He's a robust pick for a 500 win.

ROW 2

Position #3: Jeff Gordon

Several factors make Gordon a keen driver to watch.  Firstly, he's Jeff Gordon.  No stats required.  Secondly, he was perhaps the strongest car in the Bud Shootout, missing the checkers by, lo and behold, being too agressive and causing a whiz-bang pileup.  Thirdly, he's handily outrunning his Hendrick teamates, which shows that he's got good restrictor plate mojo heading into the 500.  Expect a very agressive charge for the win.

Position #4: Jamie McMurray

McMurrary was a victim of one of the many flashy wrecks in the Bud Shootout; otherwise, he was one of the stoutest contenders all night long.  McMurray consistently shows great strength on restrictor plate tracks, and he has experience in taking the checkers at the Great American Race.  He'll be good, really good.

ROW 3

Position #5: Kevin Harvick

Harvick, like fifty percent of the Bud Shootout field, fell prey to a wreck.  Before that, he was his usual fast self at a restrictor plate track.  Harvick is always a main contender at Daytona and Talledega, and Sunday will be no different.  Expect a strong race with a similarly robust Richard Childress teammate helping along.

Position #6: Trevor Bayne

Eyes of all sorts will be on Bayne this weekend, watching his quest to repeat as 500 champ.  He's already locked into the field via a strong qualifying run, and whatever other struggles in the Cup Series may be, he's always a restrictor plate force with excellent Wood Bros. power.  He'll have the stuff for another Daytona triumph.

ROW 4

Position #7: Kurt Busch

Kurt Busch is one of the restrictor plate elite, and it won't matter come Sunday whether or not he's in second-teir equipment or not.  He put on an excellent showing in his new machinery in the Bud Shootout, and he's set to provide Phoenix Racing new highs in restrictor plate success.  Look for good contention in the 500.

Position #8: Joey Logano

Though many will undoubtedly think this a very odd placement, Logano ran excellently in the Shootout (before a wreck, of course) and routinely runs with the leaders at restrictor plate venues.  He came within a push of winning last July's Daytona event, and he won the prior day's Nationwide race.  If he wins battle number one on Sunday--survival--he'll be a prime force to be reckoned with.

ROW 5

Position #9: Dale Earnhardt Jr.

Many will undoubtedly cry foul, and perhaps use not-so-nice vernacular, at this placement.  It's not a bad ranking; Earnhardt is certainly a main contender at restrictor plate races, no matter what other success--or lack thereof--he's having in the year.  Of late, he's looked good at plate races, but not great.  Look for top-10 contention on Sunday, and if he can catch a run with a Hendrick teammate like Jeff Gordon, look for a push at a win.

Position #10: Carl Edwards

Although he has the pole for Sunday's race, Edwards' forte has never been restrictor plate racing.  He's decent, no doubt, but he's never been able to parlay excellent Roush power into a Daytona or Talledega win.  All of that aside, he's come close several times, most notably last year's second-place 500 run, and he'll be a contender on Sunday for sure. 

ROW 6

Position #11: Matt Kenseth

Kenseth has a spot of success on plate tracks, winning the rain-delayed 2009 Daytona 500. Matching his usual style, Kenseth tends to be strong, yet quiet, in his plate-racing form.  He might not get a win, but he was strong in the Bud Shootout, and he'll have a fast teamate or two to help him get a good shot off at the checkered flag.

Position #12: Jimmie Johnson

Getting Five-Time on the list feels like a bit of a necessity, because he's won, well, five championships and drives for engine powerhouse Hendrick Motorsports.  However, plate racing is least on Johnson's resume of driving strengths, and he hasn't shown during Speedweek thus far that he's on Jeff Gordon's level of performance.  If he survives until the fifteenth round, look for him to parlay Gordon's strength into a shot at the win.

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