Fantasy NASCAR Guide: Who to Watch in My Top 10 for Daytona 2025

Kyle Larson – The Freak of Nature

🟢 Team: Hendrick Motorsports (#5 Chevrolet)
🏆 2024 Season: Won at multiple track types, always a contender
💡 Best Track Type: Literally anything with four wheels

Why He’s a Contender:
Kyle Larson is the guy who could probably win a race in a shopping cart if you gave him enough horsepower. Seriously, there’s no track type where he isn’t dangerous. Short tracks? Dominates. 1.5-mile ovals? Check. Road courses? Yup.

The only problem? Superspeedways like Daytona haven’t exactly been his thing. He’s never won a Daytona 500, and his aggressive driving style doesn’t always translate well in the pack racing chaos. But Hendrick cars are fast, and if he finds himself at the front late, he’s absolutely capable of stealing one.

🔴 Biggest Risk:
He’s got no chill. Larson only knows one speed, which means he either wins big or wrecks spectacularly.

🏁 Bryan’s Take:
Kyle Larson is like the guy who aces every test but forgets his car keys half the time. He’s wildly talented but occasionally self-sabotages.

7️⃣ Chase Elliott – The People’s Champ

🟢 Team: Hendrick Motorsports (#9 Chevrolet)
🏆 2024 Season: Solid year, won at road courses
💡 Best Track Type: Road courses, short tracks

Why He’s a Contender:
If NASCAR was a high school, Chase Elliott would be the class president. The guy is hands-down the most popular driver in the series, and for good reason—he’s talented, humble, and always a threat on race day.

Daytona has been hot and cold for him. He’s had strong finishes, but like a lot of drivers, he’s been on the wrong side of “The Big One” more than a few times. That said, if Hendrick cars are as fast as they usually are, expect him to be in the mix late in the race.

🔴 Biggest Risk:
Elliott is weirdly passive at times. He’s great at staying clean, but he doesn’t always make bold moves when it counts.

🏁 Bryan’s Take:
Elliott is like that guy who everyone likes, but no one can explain why. He’s just solid, smooth, and always in the mix.

8️⃣ Denny Hamlin – Mr. Daytona

🟢 Team: Joe Gibbs Racing (#11 Toyota)
🏆 2024 Season: Playoff contender, won multiple superspeedway races
💡 Best Track Type: Superspeedways, short tracks

Why He’s a Contender:
Look, if you’re picking a Daytona 500 lineup, you’d be an idiot to ignore Denny Hamlin.

He’s won this race three times (2016, 2019, 2020) and is arguably the best superspeedway racer in the field. He knows how to time his runs, control the draft, and avoid getting wrecked when it matters most.

Love him or hate him (and let’s be honest, a lot of people hate him), you can’t deny that he’s an elite threat at tracks like Daytona and Talladega. If he wins, don’t be shocked.

🔴 Biggest Risk:
He’s a magnet for drama. If there’s a post-race fight, Hamlin is probably involved.

🏁 Bryan’s Take:
Denny Hamlin is like that coworker who’s great at their job but still manages to annoy everyone in the office. You respect him, but… ugh.

9️⃣ Alex Bowman – The Underrated Assassin

🟢 Team: Hendrick Motorsports (#48 Chevrolet)
🏆 2024 Season: Quietly racked up solid finishes
💡 Best Track Type: Intermediates, superspeedways

Why He’s a Contender:
Bowman is the most slept-on driver at Hendrick Motorsports. While Larson and Elliott get all the attention, Bowman is out here consistently running well and picking up wins when people least expect it.

He’s had some solid superspeedway runs in his career, and while he’s not a Daytona 500 favorite, don’t be shocked if he’s hanging around the top five when the checkered flag flies.

🔴 Biggest Risk:
He’s not aggressive enough. If he’s in second place on the last lap, he might just settle for it instead of forcing the issue.

🏁 Bryan’s Take:
Bowman is like that dude in the group project who does all the work but lets everyone else take credit. He deserves more respect!

🔟 Martin Truex Jr. – My Old Flame (That Just Won’t Leave)

🟢 Team: Tricon Garage (#56 Toyota)
🏆 2024 Season: Retired (kinda?)
💡 Best Track Type: Intermediates, short tracks

Why He’s a Contender:
Truex was my fantasy main driver last year, and when he announced his retirement at the end of 2024, I figured, “Well, that’s that.”

But NOPE. Turns out, he’s back for ONE MORE RACE—the Daytona 500. And not only that, he’s reunited with Cole Pearn, the crew chief who helped him win his 2017 championship.

Truex has never won a Daytona 500, and this could be his last shot. If there’s any “storybook ending” potential, this is it.

🔴 Biggest Risk:
Let’s be honest—he’s here for fun, not points. But hey, that might make him even more dangerous.

🏁 Bryan’s Take:
Truex coming back is like an ex texting you “Hey, you up?” at 2 AM. You moved on, but now you’re reconsidering everything.

Final Thoughts on Part 2

Denny Hamlin is the clear Daytona 500 favorite, but don’t sleep on Larson or Elliott if Hendrick cars are fast. Also, if Truex pulls this off, I might just unretire him as my main driver in spirit.

🔥 Part 3 (Drivers 11-15) coming soon! We’ve got some wild cards, rising stars, and guys who are just waiting for their big moment. Stay tuned! 🚀🏁