Three underdogs who could win the Sprint Unlimited
When the NASCAR Sprint Cups Series fires up for the season-opening Sprint Unlimited Saturday night (FOX, 8 p.m. ET) at Daytona International Speedway, it's no surprise who the favorites will be.
Defending series champion Kevin Harvick is a three-time unlimited winner, as is his Stewart-Haas Racing teammate Tony Stewart, while Dale Earnhardt Jr., Denny Hamlin and Jeff Gordon are two-time event winners.
Look for the usual suspects up front when the flag drops under the lights at Daytona.
But with a 25-car field, there are several drivers below the radar to look out for as well.
Here are three drivers who could make some big noise on Saturday night:
JAMIE MCMURRAY -- Always a big-event threat, Jamie Mac has won the Daytona 500, Brickyard 400, Sprint All-Star Race and the fall Charlotte race. He's also extremely good at restrictor-plate tracks, where he's won twice at Daytona and twice at Talladega. Do not be surprised if McMurray and second-year teammate Kyle Larson hook up at the end, with one of the Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates Chevrolets pushing the other to victory.
AUSTIN DILLON -- Ever since the halcyon days of the late Dale Earnhardt, Richard Childress Racing has had strong cars at restrictor-plate tracks. As a rookie in 2014, Dillon won the pole for the Daytona 500 and finished ninth. He followed that up with a top-five finish in the July Daytona race. And he finished in the top 15 in both Talladega races as well. Just imagine the noise if the black No. 3 could win again at Daytona. The house would be rocking.
CLINT BOWYER -- Two of Bowyer's eight career Sprint Cup race victories have come at Talladega, and he had two top-three finishes there last year, as well as a top 10 in the July Daytona race. After a disappointing 2014 season, Michael Waltrip Racing and Toyota have redoubled their efforts to get back up front. A victory in the first race of the year would be a great way to start.
VIDEO: Look back on the 2014 edition of the Sprint Unlimited
