It only seems like yesterday that NASCAR was in Daytona preparing for the start of the 2011 season.  My how the time has flown by.

Look at what we have seen this year:  two first-time winners, the return of a dominant team, on-track, and off-track encounters, and a new points system creating some of the best racing seen in years.

Now, it's come full circle.  It's time to go back to the Daytona International Speedway to do more racing at the famed track.  Difference is this race is 40 less laps, 100 less miles, but more intense and more fun to watch.

Since 1998, the summer event at Daytona has run under the stars and the lights.  It's provided exciting moments and joyous occasions.

Nights like Dale Earnhardt Jr. winning after the passing of his father, to Jeff Gordon out running all the Coca-Cola C2 cars to give free Pepsi Edge to America.  A photo finish in 2007, then a wreck in 2009 are just some of the exciting finishes this race has seen under the lights.

How exactly will Saturday night's race pan out.  We don't know, and neither do our writers.

Here's who they've decided will win the Coke Zero 400:

 

Misan Ayuka:  Trevor Bayne

Bayne shocked the world when he won the Daytona 500 in his second.  After getting sick Bayne is back better then ever and the Daytona 500 champion is ready to prove he is no one hit wonder.

 

James Broomhead:  Matt Kenseth

It’s plate track time, so you’re guess is probably better than mine. Personally the shorter Daytona race at night is one of the highlights of the NASCAR calendar, and like in February how well your car runs will be outweighed by how well you can draft with someone else. The Fords were good in the 500, so I’ll put by faith in the blue oval to make good again.

 

Kelly Crandall:  Clint Bowyer

This was a tough one. I was torn between my two previous restrictor plate track picks. They are both due for wins here at Daytona and both have come close and it shouldn't be any different this Saturday night.

In the end I decided to go with my Talladega pick Clint Bowyer who finished second by not even a hair to Jimmie Johnson.  Bowyer has led nearly every plate race the last few years but has also had something do him in near the end.  With this new style of drafting and his win last fall at Talladega, it appears he's gaining more confidence and skill at the plate tracks and is becoming quite the contender, just like his teammate Kevin Harvick.

Saturday night though, Bowyer should finally be the guy in victory lane.

Author Note:  Kelly is once again in Daytona as part of her summer vacation.  But, this year she's in the media center representing Speedway Media.

 

Billy Fellin:  Kurt Busch

Ladies and gentleman, the 22 car is here to play. After the dominating fashion in which he won the road course at Sonoma, I'll take him to follow it up with a victory at Daytona.

He was solid all day long at the Daytona 500, tag-teaming with Regan Smith. I think Busch solidifies his Chase standing with a victory on Saturday night.

 

Michael Hirshbein:  Kyle Busch

No reason given.

 

Christopher Leone:  Dale Earnhardt Jr.

Two words:  IT'S TIME!!

 

Kara Martin:  Dale Earnhardt Jr.

It is his time to shine.

 

Ryan O'Hara:  Jeff Gordon

Gordon has the momentum and as long as he stays out of the Big One, I think he'll have a good finish. It's a toss up now with the new surface, but expect some surprises on Saturday night.

 

Dustin Parks:  Tony Stewart

I had more trouble picking this race than last week.  Do I go with Gordon, running the opposing soda?  Maybe Earnhardt Jr. who's back at a track that's kind to him?  What about Kyle, or Kurt...Harvick or Bowyer?

Finally, it dawned on me.  Summer time is when Stewart always seems to turn up the heat, no pun intended, on the track.  He won back-to-back here racing for Gibbs, which started his infamous fence climbing celebration.  Then he won here again a few years ago after Kyle blocked him one too many times, sending him into the fence.

For the third straight year, he's running Burger King on the car.  First time those colors were on the No. 14, it saw victory lane here.  I'm hoping for an encore, and if so, I'm ordering a Double Whopper to celebrate my first win this season.

 

Sal Sigala Jr:  Dale Earnhardt Jr.

Its time that Earnhardt gets the monkey off his back and gets into victory lane.  This is as good as it gets for him, since the team has shown major improvements from last season.

With Infineon behind him its get up and go time with 10 races left until the Chase.

 

Rob Tiongson:  Dale Earnhardt Jr.

Daytona seems to be the place of magic for "Little E." In July of 2001, the first race run since his father's death during the Daytona 500, Junior captured the checkered flag in dramatic style. Just seven months later, he won another race at Daytona, albeit in the Nationwide Series.

When it comes to dramatics for victories, Earnhardt and Daytona go together synonymously. So it wouldn't surprise me based on fate and his track record at this mammoth speedway that the series' most popular driver wins on Saturday night.

Standings following Sonoma:

Kelly Crandall (567) Marcos Ambrose finished fifth (2)

Sal Sigala Jr. (557) Jeff Gordon finished second (2)

Billy Fellin (542) Jeff Gordon finished second (2)

James Broomhead (520) Marcos Ambrose finished fifth (1)

Christopher Leone (518) Robby Gordon finished 18th (2)

Michael Hirshbein (504) Marcos Ambrose finished fifth (2)

Kara Martin (501) Marcos Ambrose finished fifth (1)

Misan Ayuka (482) Tony Stewart finished 39th (2)

Rob Tiongson (480) Tony Stewart finished 39th (1)

Ryan O'Hara (478) Marcos Ambrose finished fifth (1)

Dustin Parks (476) Jeff Gordon finished second (0)

 

Final Thoughts:  This isn't your typical Saturday night race that everyone sees at their local short track, most of them being dirt, during the summer.  NASCAR does things big when they return to Daytona.

There is nothing like an Independence Day weekend at the 2.5-mile trioval that has made NASCAR infamous.

What's going to happen Saturday night is unpredictable, but we all won't miss any action.  TNT has the broadcast beginning at 6:30 p.m. ET with "Countdown to Green."  One hour later, it is the return of "Wide Open Coverage."

 

Summary of Picks:

Dale Earnhardt Jr-4

Trevor Bayne-1

Kyle Busch-1

Kurt Busch-1

Clint Bowyer-1

Jeff Gordon-1

Matt Kenseth-1

Tony Stewart-1