Five to watch: Dark horse picks for Daytona 500

By Maggie MacKenzie and Brad Norman

Clint Bowyer

In 20 starts at the superspeedway, Bowyer has had 10 top-10 finishes, with his last Daytona 500 effort resulting in a seventh-place showing. With Michael Waltrip Racing in his rearview mirror, Bowyer brings his superspeedway smarts to HScott Motorsports.

Austin Dillon

Dillon enters the Daytona opener in his third full-time season with Richard Childress Racing and is strong at both this track and in this event. His two previous Daytona 500 races ended with top-15 results -- ninth in 2014 and 14th in 2015 -- and RCR has been strong at restrictor-plate tracks.

Kurt Busch

Busch has raced under the radar at the 2.5-mile track, but has recorded three runner-up results at the 'Great American Race' with a total of 12 top fives, 15 top 10s and 290 laps led in his 29 starts at Daytona. The 2004 champion is coming off a strong 2015 season, so expect his No. 41 Stewart-Haas Racing Chevrolet to be racing toward the front at the 500 as he seeks his first win at a restrictor-plate track.

Greg Biffle

The oldest driver in the garage doesn't feel his age, and he's quietly produced four consecutive top-10s in the Daytona 500. A starting spot in the top 15 means he could surge to the front of the pack early.

Ryan Newman

Newman's won this one before (2008), and although his results at the restrictor-plate track have slipped lately, he still packs ECR engine power under the hood of his No. 31 Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet -- and Childress drivers have had plenty of speed in the season-opener over the past few years.