Celebrity picks to win the Daytona 500

Author:
SI Staff
Publish date:
Feb 10, 2010

Celebrity picks to win the Daytona 500

Patrick Dempsey

"Jimmie Johnson. My bet's on him coming out of the box really strong and winning this year. It's a matter of time before he wins another championship -- he's been dominating and he's winning like crazy. It's amazing to keep that kind of focus for that many years. It's pretty spectacular, really."

Jim Belushi

"This is the year of the elder statesmen like Brett Favre, Mark Martin and me. So I'm picking the No. 5 Chevy."

Leeann Tweeden

"I have always been a fan of Tony Stewart and his amazing driving ability. Basically put him in anything with four wheels, and I wouldn't bet against him. Tony proved to everyone last year that he is just as competitive being an owner/driver, instead of just being a driver. Go Smoke! :)"

William Fichtner

"David Reutimann, because sometimes good things happen to good people. That, and the fact he's a great driver and he's due!"

Lauren Bosworth

"My pick is Kyle Busch. He is my favorite driver and I'd love to see him win this year's Daytona 500."

Tim McGraw

"Since my song 'Southern Voice' refers to the 3 car driving it, I'm rooting for the son of NASCAR's greatest hero, Dale Earnhardt Jr."

Bucky Covington

"After getting to know a few of the drivers this year, I would have to split my money three ways and put it on Dale Earnhardt Jr., Kasey Kahne and Elliot Sadler. But, I'm pulling for Sadler. With him and his wife expecting their first child, I think the family could use the win!"

Kristen Dalton

"David Ragan's UPS Ford looks like it will deliver the goods -- a big win in the Great American Race."

Ben Roethlisberger

"Jimmie Johnson, because he's a friend and the best."

Mike Modano

"Jimmie Johnson -- he's simply a winner. I had the pleasure of meeting him a couple of years ago and he is as impressive a person as he is a driver. I've been a fan ever since."

Kerry Rhodes

"I'm going with Jimmy Johnson, he's the man right now, nobody is beating him...and you know what they say, if you can't beat 'em, join 'em."

Darius Rucker

"Jimmie Johnson is the hottest driver in the best car. He's my pick."

Dario Franchitti:

"First of all, I'd have to go with my Chip Ganassi Racing teammates Juan Pablo Montoya and Jamie McMurray. I'd like to see those guys do it and put a smile on Chip's face."

Mario Batali

"Jimmie Johnson is a 4-peat NASCAR hero, captain of the carburetors, the Teddy Roosevelt of the track , the Cole Porter of the oval road, the Abe Lincoln of the accelerator. There's simply no better performer on the grand stage in any sport."

Jeff Probst

Doesn't matter what he's driving or which team he's working for, I always put my money on Tony Stewart. When you put Tony Stewart at Daytona, a visit to Victory Lane is a good possibility."

Lindsey Vonn

"I got to meet Brian Vickers once and he's a really cool guy, so I'm rooting for him. Also the team manager promised I'd get a ride in the car after the Olympics, so it would be awesome to do it with the champ!"

Steve Harwell

"Kurt Busch. I always expect to see the blue 2 in the top five. He just needs to stay out of trouble and he will win."

Dr. Garth Fisher

"As a plastic surgeon, I expect Tony Stewart to win the Daytona 500 by a nose."

Eric Church

"Kasey Kahne. I've spent some time with Kasey in the offseason and I think he is going to have a breakout year. No better way to get it started than by winning Daytona."

Janet Evanovich

"I'm going with Juan Pablo Montoya. He's a talented, gutsy driver and I like the sexy Columbian accent."

Reggie Bush

"I am all for Team Red Bull! Brian Vickers is a get-it-done kind of guy and I think he will be battling all the way through the race and be right there at the end to make it very, very interesting."

Dara Torres

"Mark Martin. We old people have to stick together. Seriously, at 50, Mark motivates me to keep chasing my dreams. I hope to meet him some day. He is a great inspiration."

Tim Morehouse

"Restrictor-plate races like this are wide open, and I love the way Kasey Kahne drives on superspeedways."

Travis Pastrana

"As much improvement as the Red Bull team made last year plus the fact he turned down my offer to launch a rally car so he wouldn't get hurt, I think Brian Vickers is hungry and ready to take Daytona."

Cris Collinsworth

"Joe Gibbs' Racing will win so I'll go with one of his drivers, Joey Logano. Joe is one of the greatest NFL coaches. If he could lead a team to three Super Bowl victories, he can lead Joey and his crew to victory at the Daytona 500."

J.J. Redick

"Jimmie Johnson. "He's the greatest athlete of our time."

Bill and Jim Germanakos

"I like Jimmie Johnson, and his Hendrick Motorsports, Lowes Chevrolet... to bring it home... Whoop whoop!! -- Jim Germanakos<br>I'll go out on that limb that Jim avoided and pick the Richard Petty - Budweider Ford of the #9 - Kasey Kahne. -- Bill Germankos

Joe Girardi

"Tony Stewart because he is -- in my estimation- -- the best driver in the field."

Cal Ripken Jr.

"My pick is Tony Stewart. When I drove the pace car at the Daytona 500, I spent some time with Tony and really enjoyed it. I have gained a great appreciation for the drivers and the skills that they possess."

John Force

"I hope it's a Ford, so you've got to look at Roush and his boys. But you've got to admit that Jimmie Johnson is a bad hombre and Jeff Gordon still ain't out of it. Also, Dale Earnhardt Jr. is overdue> He's ready to pop out of it."

Brad Miller

"Tony Stewart because he's my favorite for every NASCAR race."

Martin Brodeur

"Jimmie Johnson is my pick for this year's 500. His consistency as a winner year in and year out makes him one of the sport's truly great drivers."

Dan Uggla

"Jimmie Johnson. The guy is a stud. Fourteen wins in two years? How can you go wrong with JJ?"

Colt Ford

"I think that Dale Jr. Is gonna win this year. He really struggled last year, but he has always run well at Daytona. I just think he will get it figured out this year. Ya'll know it's in his blood!"

Gerald Wallace

"I pick Tony Stewart to win this year's 500."

Bruce Jenner

"I've raced Fords for Jack Roush so I've got to go with Carl Edwards."

Allen Covert

"I'm picking Kevin Harvick to win the Daytona 500. I recently saw his house on CMT Cribs and I think he needs a little extra cash to expand his go kart track. So a win at Daytona might help him out."

Michael Strahan

"Carl Edwards is due for a Superspeedway win. He is my Subway teammate and is going to have a great year, starting with his first Daytona 500 victory.

Mark DeRosa

"Since he did not have a good season last year, I think Carl Edwards will come out firing and win Daytona this year followed by the backflip to get the NASCAR season started."

Adam Everett

"If I had to choose someone I would go with the sentimental favorite Mark Martin. But if I were to pick who I think will win, well that's easy, Tony Stewart."

Dennis Wideman

"Jimmie Johnson. Safe bet I know, but he's going to win. He's real serious about his training, he works out really hard, you can tell he wants it."

Derek Morris:

"Kevin Harvick. In my opinion, he's the best racer in the world."

George Parros

"I guess I'll have to vote for Brian Vickers because more than any other driver, he shows the most willingness to grow facial hair."

The Band OAR

"Who do we want to win the Daytona 500? A guy who's been a great friend to our band for many years and introduced us on stage during the 2009 NASCAR Rev'd Up show in Charlotte -- our buddy Brian Vickers."

Sheldon Souray

"Sam Hornish, Jr is my pick because he has such a cool name."

Tom Browning

"Dale Jr. has always done well on the high banks of Daytona, and his name is synonymous with the track. Plus, he drives a Chevy."

George Martin

"I'm pulling for Michael Waltrip because he's already won the Great American Race twice, and he supports A Journey for 9.11, my charity supporting rescue and recovery workers now ill."

Tim Thomas

"Denny Hamlin. Because everybody is saying this could be the year for him and if it's true this is the year, he is going to have to start it out with a good showing at Daytona."

Jake Delhomme

"Rooting for Elliott Sadler to win the Daytona 500. He's my favorite driver, and I think he's the best driver out there." -

Scott Reeves

"Ryan Newman is going to win his second Daytona 500 because he's got the skills and due to the fact that his wife is so sweet."