RELATED: Full Sprint Unlimited results | Speedweeks schedule
If Saturday night’s Sprint Unlimited at Daytona International Speedway is any indication, count Denny Hamlin, Joey Logano and Paul Menard in for the 2016 Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup — and one of them into the Championship Round.
Since 2013, the top three finishers in the season-opening exhibition race at the World Center of Racing have all gone on to qualify for that year’s Chase.
Not only that — but each of the past two seasons saw a driver from that trio reach the Championship 4 race at Homestead-Miami Speedway since that format debuted in 2014.
2015
1. Matt Kenseth
2. Martin Truex Jr. (Made Championship 4)
3. Carl Edwards
2014
1. Denny Hamlin (Made Championship 4)
3. Kyle Busch
2013
2. Greg Biffle
3. Joey Logano