The NFL season is once again over, but there is still plenty of reason to be excited. Take for example the upcoming 2022 Daytona 500, which will be held this coming Sunday at the Daytona International Speedway. Of course, the likes of Denny Hamlin, Kyle Larson, and Chase Elliott are unsurprisingly attracting most of the attention as the favorites, but everyone knows how wild and unpredictable races at the Daytona International Speedway is. That is also to say that a sleeper is always going to be a threat to the rest of the field in every Daytona 500 edition. Will any of the three sleepers below take home the crown on Sunday?
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Sleeper Picks and Predictions for the Daytona 500 NASCAR Cup Series Race on February 20, 2022
Where: Daytona International Speedway, Daytona Beach, Florida
When: Sunday, February 20, 2022, green flag at 2:30 PM ET
Broadcast: FOX
Line: View current odds for Daytona 500
Erik Jones (+5000)
It’s easy to overlook Erik Jones, especially for people who trusted him in 2021 only to get left frustrated over and over again. Overall, Jones had six top 10s and zero wins in 36 starts in 2021. But that doesn’t mean Jones won’t have a good 2022. He is definitely worth a look for those hunting for sleepers, considering he’s already scored a win at the Daytona International Speedway before, beating the rest of the field for the checkered flag in the 2018 edition of the Coke Zero Sugar 400. Overall, Jones has a win and three top 10s and five top 20s in 10 career starts at the Daytona International Speedway.
Chase Briscoe (+5000)
Although Chase Briscoe doesn’t have much experience racing at the Daytona International Speedway, he is still someone that deserves a look. In 2021, his first full season as a NASCAR Cup Series driver, Briscoe managed to sneak inside the top 10 a total of three times. Moreover, in Briscoe’s four career superspeedway starts, he’s cracked the top 20 three times, which includes his pair of top 15s last year at Talladega.
Cole Custer (+5000)
The 2020 Rookie of the Year did not make a lot of noise in 2021, as he’s only finished inside the top 10 just two times across 36 starts. But there’s always a chance for a rebound for Cole Custer, who finished 11th in the 2021 edition of the Daytona 500, even recording one lap led. The Stewart-Haas Racing driver also has a top 10 and three top 20s in eight career starts on superspeedway tracks.
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