10 stories to watch for on Sunday at Daytona

The winter's quiet is over and the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series begins in earnest Sunday with the sport's most prestigious event, the Daytona 500 (2:30 p.m. ET, FOX, MRN, SiriusXM). Plotlines run deep for the 61st edition, so we're expanding our usual "Five to Watch" preview. Here are 10 stories to keep an eye on in Sunday's Great American Race.

Fountain of Youth Up Front

Daytona 500 qualifying produced a first-time Busch Pole winner in 21-year-old William Byron, who will lead the Hendrick Motorsports contingent as the four fastest qualifiers. "First accomplishment for us for the year," Byron said, before also making it clear that there was more to do in his first season paired with veteran crew chief Chad Knaus. Hendrick Chevys have ruled qualifying for five years running, but haven't claimed a 500 title since 2014 with Dale Earnhardt Jr. Relying on teamwork within the aerodynamic confines of Daytona will be key to finding another one.

Wild Mustangs

The sorting-out of Ford's new model for 2019 has gone with hardly a hiccup so far in Daytona's Speedweeks. Ford may have conceded a point to Chevrolet on qualifying day and in the Advance Auto Parts Clash, but Thursday's Gander RV Duel qualifying races were a Mustang romp, with 1-2-3 finishes for the Blue Oval crowd in each 150-miler. Any concerns over growing pains for the Fusion's replacement have faded as Stewart-Haas Racing and Team Penske have shown early strength. There may be no clear-cut pre-race favorite for the 500, but the top candidates likely drive Fords.

Predictive Duels

Thursday's 150-mile qualifying races were relatively calm affairs, with drivers opting to take care of their primary cars for Sunday's main event. Their discretion produced primarily single-file racing, but with flurries of activity on restarts and with the checkered flag within grasp. The jury is out on whether more drivers will try to mount challenges to the main pack in Sunday's 500, but with stage points and most importantly, the Harley J. Earl Trophy, in the balance, expect more drivers making an effort to mix things up.

Power in Penske

While the Daytona 500 carries no guarantees, oddsmakers have already fixed their sights on Team Penske. Teammates Brad Keselowski and Joey Logano rank as the favorites. Fellow Penske driver Ryan Blaney also checks in near the top of the board as a 14-1 pick.

The Menard Factor

Wood Brothers Racing, a Team Penske affiliate, has its own reason for optimism in driver Paul Menard and its No. 21 Ford. Menard led 51 of the 59 laps in the preseason Clash before a late-race crash (more on that later) sidelined his hopes. An additional help for the team's Daytona hopes: The addition of veteran spotter Joey Meier, who expertly navigated Brad Keselowski to multiple wins in the restrictor-plate racing discipline. Having Meier's reassuring voice in his ear should provide Menard with an extra edge.

Crash Cart

Though he'll be starting among his Hendrick brethren near the front, Jimmie Johnson has had an eventful Speedweeks already with primary roles in triggering a pair of wrecks in preliminary events. Johnson's No. 48 Chevrolet became crossed up with Paul Menard's No. 21 in the late going of the Clash, lifting him to victory. In Thursday's first Duel, Johnson's car sent Kyle Busch's No. 18 Toyota spinning, touching off an angry radio salvo. Johnson issued apologies in the hopes of moving past both incidents, but drivers tend to have long memories, especially when close-quarters racing rears up.

Rowdy's Missing Piece

Kyle Busch has wins at every venue on the Monster Energy Series schedule -- including Daytona International Speedway, in July 2008. Busch can count 51 wins in NASCAR's top division, but the elusive prize is the Harley J. Earl Trophy reserved for the 500 winner. His campaign for winning the Great American Race has been robust all Speedweeks long. If his No. 18 car is as strong and the stars somehow line up, a lifelong dream would be reality.

The Plate's Final Spin

Sunday's Daytona 500 will mark the final race for restrictor-plate racing as we knew it. The speed-limiting devices will be replaced by a tapered spacer and other aerodynamic changes that will keep horsepower in check for the sport's largest speedways. The new package will debut at Talladega Superspeedway in April and return to Daytona International Speedway in July.

Relinquishing Repeats

Austin Dillon will challenge for his second straight Daytona 500 win Sunday, but he'll also be aiming to buck a historical trend. Not since Sterling Martin prevailed in the season opener in 1994 and '95 has a driver gone back-to-back in the 500's Victory Lane. The last time an organization notched consecutive Daytona 500 wins occurred much more recently, with Jimmie Johnson (2013) and Dale Earnhardt Jr. (2014) scoring the repeat for Hendrick Motorsports.

Cinderella Stories

The equalizing nature of racing at Daytona, plus its tendency for unpredictability, often opens the door for underdogs to capitalize on top-10 finishes and even flirt with the top five. Bubba Wallace roared to a memorable runner-up effort in last year's 500, and Chris Buescher landed in an impressive fifth. Friday's Gander Outdoors Truck Series opener produced career-best results for three drivers in the top 10. If attrition becomes a factor in Sunday's feature, the likelihood of upset bids will be ripe.