It's so interesting how one unexpected occurrence could lead to over one week of discussion.  The Daytona 500 saw many stories after the checkered flag fell.  None were bigger than 20-year-old Trevor Bayne pulling off the upset of the decade and winning the big one.

Other stories came about that were more subtle, or not focused on as much.  The fact that RCR had engine failures in two of it's cars, or the fact that all four Hendrick cars wrecked during the event.

But now, Daytona has ended, and in essence the real season begins.

Over the horizon lies a flat track that is anything but typical.  Wide-sweeping corners meet with a dogleg in the backstretch to create a unique racing facility at the Phoenix International Raceway.

This track played host to an incredible meltdown, and a huge triumph when it was last run.  So how exactly will this race turn out?

Our writers are hoping for a victory, as no one picked Bayne to win.  Many are hoping for a rebound as only two of the 12 participants finished in the top-10, with the final three not even finishing the race.

Could this race lead to a rebound? We shall see, but for now, here's our 12 writers making their picks for the Subway Fresh Fit 500.

 

Misan Ayuka (The Misan Ayuka Report):  Kevin Harvick

Kevin Harvick may have blew up in the Daytona 500 but does it matter?  Harvick was fast before his engine went kaboom.At Phoenix he has recorded two victories.  RCR is back and expect Harvick to pick off where he left off last year.

 

James Broomhead (The Checkered Flag):  Denny Hamlin

All week I've been trying to work out whether we learned anything from Daytona to used at Phoenix, and the answer is always "no."  So, with that I'm picking Hamlin.

He's a go-to guy for flat track results, and if he really is going to fill the "Challenging Johnson" role that's been carved out for him, then this is the sort of race, at the sort of track, he needs to be winning.

 

Kelly Crandall (Speedway Media):  Jimmie Johnson

Struggled with this one, there were a few drivers that were going through my mind. But in the end, guess you can never go wrong with Five-Time. 

 

Summer Dreyer (Next Time By):  Carl Edwards

 Edwards is on a role right now. After winning the last two races of 2010, he finished second in the Daytona 500 and may have been able to pull off the victory had the start-finish line been about 100 yards further.

Edwards also has a pretty solid record at Phoenix with one win, 5 top 5s, and 9 top 10s in 13 starts. Plus, Edwards is the most recent winner there after winning at this track in the semi-final race last year.

 

Billy Fellin (Bleacher Report):  Carl Edwards

I'm going with the 99 this week because he is riding a huge wave of momentum. 2nd in the Daytona 500 and Phoenix was where he started his two-race win streak at the end of last season. Gimme that Aflac duck this weekend to cross the stripe first.

 

Michael Hirshbein (FanVsFan):  Kyle Busch

No reason given.

 

Christopher Leone (OnPitRow.com):  Denny Hamlin

All week I've been trying to work out whether we learned anything from Daytona to use at Phoenix.  The answer:  no.

With that, I'm picking Hamlin for the win.  He's a go-to guy for flat track results, and if he's really going to fill the "Johnson Challenging" role that's been carved out for him, then this is the sort of race, at the sort of track, he needs to be winning on.

 

Kara Martin (Speedway Media):  Carl Edwards

With a second place finish last week in Daytona and solid finishes in Phoenix in the past, Edwards is poised to take the checkered flag and make his first trip to victory lane in 2011.

Edwards spent most of the 2010 season standing on the outside looking in to the winner's circle, but kicked it up a notch by winning the last two races of the season, including Phoenix. He has started the new year strong and is ready to win. Look for him to be a strong contender throughout the entire season.

 

Ryan O'Hara (Speedway Media):  Jeff Gordon

Listen to the podcast of Thursday's episode of "Next Time By" on BlogTalkRadio.com for his explanation.

 

Dustin Parks (All About Horsepower):  Denny Hamlin

Simply put, this places owes him a win.  He had it in the bag last fall until that pit stop, and the frustration boiled over.

Daytona is done, and now Hamlin can focus on the rest of the season.  Picking the FedEx Freight Toyota for this week.

 

Sal Sigala Jr. (3 Wide and 1 To Go):  Denny Hamlin

This may not be Hamlins best track, but after the meltdown by driver and crew chief during the last three races of last season's chase that cost him the championship.

Hamlin needs to redeem himself, and now that Daytona is behind him this should be the week for at least a top-five finish.

 

Rob Tiongson (FanVsFan):  Carl Edwards

Last week, I went with the sentimental favorite. This week with the race at Phoenix, I'm going with the realistic and best shot for victory at this facility.

Anyone who needs to know why I picked Edwards needs to remember how he captured the checkers last fall and that he's been hot as of late finishes wise.

 

Standings after Daytona:

Kelly Crandall (40) Kurt Busch finished fifth (0)

Billy Fellin (40) Kurt Busch finished fifth (0)

Misan Ayuka (31) Tony Stewart finished 13th (0)

Sal Sigala Jr. (31) Tony Stewart finished 13th (0)

Summer Dreyer (28) Clint Bowyer finished 17th (0)

Kara Martin (21) Dale Earnhardt Jr. finished 24th (0)

Rob Tiongson (21) Dale Earnhardt Jr. finished 24th (0)

Ryan O'Hara (17) Jeff Gordon finished 28th (0)

Dustin Parks (17) Jeff Gordon finished 28th (0)

Christopher Leone (9) Jeff Burton finished 36th (0)

James Broomhead (3) Kevin Harvick finished 42nd (0)

 Michael Hirshbein (3) Kevin Harvick finished 42nd (0)

 

Final Thoughts:  The Daytona 500 is often seen as a race in itself, as so much preparation goes into it, and so much emphasis goes on winning it.  Now, with the first race of the season over, teams can now get into the heart of the schedule, and be ready to go for everything they can week in and week out.

It will be quite a change from the "two-car tango" from a week ago, because at Phoenix, when two cars tango, one gets moved out of the way.

Coverage of Sunday's race is on FOX starting at 2 p.m. ET.

 

Summary of Picks:

Carl Edwards-4

Denny Hamlin-4

Kyle Busch-1

Jeff Gordon-1

Kevin Harvick-1

Jimmie Johnson-1